Istanbul: Food Tour Across Europe & Asia with Ferry & Markets

Summary

Old City breakfast, Bosphorus ferry ride, Kadıköy market eats

You’ll start your day tasting Turkish breakfast near Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar before crossing the Bosphorus by ferry to explore Kadıköy’s lively markets and street food scene with a local guide. Expect fresh baklava, strong coffee, stories you won’t find in any guidebook — plus plenty of laughter along the way.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the swirl of voices and smells outside the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü — like someone turned up the color on Istanbul. Our guide, Ece, waved us over with a simit in one hand and a grin. She led us through a maze of stalls where the air was thick with roasted coffee and something sweet I couldn’t place. We sat down at this old tea house (the kind with wobbly tables and men playing backgammon) for Turkish breakfast: cheeses, honey that tasted almost floral, olives so briny they made me wince. I tried to say “menemen” right — Ece laughed and said I sounded like her uncle from Izmir.

After breakfast, we hustled onto the Bosphorus ferry — honestly, I thought it’d be just transport but it was more like a moving postcard. The breeze smelled faintly of salt and diesel; seagulls squabbled overhead. Crossing from Europe to Asia took maybe 20 minutes but felt bigger somehow. On the Asian side in Kadıköy, everything shifted: younger crowd, louder music drifting out of bakeries, fruit sellers shouting prices I barely understood. Our guide pointed out where she buys baklava for her family — we tried some there too (still warm, pistachio everywhere). At one point I got sticky syrup on my fingers and just licked it off because everyone else did.

The food tour kept rolling — dolma stuffed grape leaves at a market stall, then tantuni wraps sizzling on a grill that sent up clouds of spicy steam. Someone handed me kokoreç (I googled it later; better not to know in advance), but honestly? It was good. We stopped so often that lunch blurred into afternoon snacks. Ece told stories about her childhood here — how her dad would sneak her bites of künefe when her mom wasn’t looking. There was this odd moment where we all fell quiet sipping strong Turkish coffee; you could hear the tram bell somewhere nearby and smell rain coming in off the sea.

I still think about that view from the ferry as we headed back — city lights flickering on both continents at once. The Taste of Two Continents tour isn’t fancy or staged; it’s just real life in Istanbul with a full belly and new friends who laugh at your attempts at Turkish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Istanbul food tour across two continents

• Meet in Eminönü near Spice Market
• Enjoy Turkish breakfast at local market
• Take ferry across Bosphorus to Kadıköy
• Explore Kadıköy market and taste foods
• Sample Turkish coffee and baklava
• Taste street foods like dolma and kokoreç
• Return ferry from Kadıköy terminal

Top questions

How long is the Taste of Two Continents food tour?

The tour lasts most of the day, covering breakfast through late afternoon across both European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

Does this Istanbul food tour include vegetarian options?

Yes, there are vegetarian options available at most stops but not suitable for vegan or gluten-free travelers.

Where does the food tour start and end?

The tour starts near Eminönü by the Spice Bazaar (Old City) and ends at Kadıköy Ferry Terminal on the Asian side.

Is return ferry ticket included?

Yes, your return ferry ticket from Kadıköy back to Eminönü or Karaköy is provided by your guide.

How much walking is involved on this Istanbul food tour?

The total walking distance is about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles), mostly short walks between stops.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Children aged 5 years or younger can join free; infants and small children can use strollers.

What types of foods are sampled during the tour?

You’ll try Turkish breakfast items, menemen eggs, simit bread, baklava, dolma grape leaves, tantuni wraps, kokoreç street food, and more local specialties.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes, multiple tastings throughout the day add up to a full lunch experience included in your booking.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting your English-speaking foodie guide near Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar for a traditional Turkish breakfast with tea or coffee before hopping on a Bosphorus ferry to Kadıköy. All tastings—breakfast items, snacks like baklava and tantuni wraps—plus lunch portions at various eateries are covered along with several local drinks. Return ferry tickets are provided by your guide so you can head back whenever you’re ready.