Istanbul Food Tour: Spice Bazaar to Kadikoy Market

Walk the Spice Bazaar and Kadikoy Market, tasting your way across two continents in a single morning and afternoon.

A private Istanbul street food tour that starts with traditional Turkish breakfast in the Old City, walks through the Spice Bazaar, then takes the public ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy on the Asian side. You stop at bakeries, grill houses and street-food stands for börek, lahmacun, döner, kokorec and meze, finishing with Turkish coffee or tea and baklava or künefe. All food tastings and public transport are included.

The experience

The tour begins with a traditional Turkish breakfast in the Old City before you walk through the Spice Bazaar area, tasting simit, Turkish delight and local snacks as you go. The Spice Bazaar itself is the anchor. You move through it slowly, stopping at stalls and vendors rather than rushing through as a tourist would. This is where the day's rhythm sets: you eat small, you taste often, you move at a pace that lets the flavors land.

After the Old City, you take the public ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy on the Asian side. The ferry crossing is part of the experience, not just transport. It gives you the water and the skyline between the two continents. Once in Kadikoy, you explore the market itself, stopping at bakeries for fresh bread, grill houses for kebap and iskender, and street-food stands for lahmacun, döner, dürüm and kokorec if you want to try it. You also taste meze and whatever seasonal dishes are available that day. The stops are real neighborhood places, not restaurants built for tourists.

The tour wraps with Turkish coffee or tea and a sweet (baklava or künefe) to finish the day. Walking distance is moderate with plenty of breaks built in, so you're not covering ground quickly. You're stopping, eating, and moving on when you're ready. A professional licensed guide leads the whole thing in English, and all the food tastings and public transport are already paid for.

What’s included

• Breakfast.
• Turkish coffee or tea.
• snacks at the Spice Bazaar including simit and Turkish delight.
• lunch at Kadikoy Market with choices like börek, lahmacun, döner, dürüm, kokorec and meze.
• a sweet like baklava or künefe.
• public ferry across the Bosphorus.
• tram and local transport.
• professional licensed tour guide in English.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small Group TourGuide in English · 10:00Small group budget option: this is not a private tour, so you will have a group tour experience with a maximum of 12 people. Pickup is included.

Private Food TourGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 7h, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 65 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate9 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (3 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Private Trip Turkey

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you want the flexibility to linger at stalls that catch your interest or skip a stop that does not appeal to you. The small group option keeps costs lower if you are comfortable sharing the experience with other travelers and moving at a set pace through each market.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I eat on this Istanbul food tour?

You start with a traditional Turkish breakfast in the Old City, then taste simit, Turkish delight and local snacks at the Spice Bazaar. In Kadikoy Market, you stop for börek, lahmacun, döner, dürüm, kokorec, meze and seasonal dishes at bakeries, grill houses and street-food stands. The tour ends with Turkish coffee or tea and baklava or künefe.

Do I need to arrange my own ferry ticket to cross the Bosphorus?

No. The public ferry across the Bosphorus is included in the tour, so your guide handles it and you travel with the group. It is part of the day's itinerary, not something you book separately.

How much walking is involved in this food tour?

Walking distance is moderate with plenty of breaks, so you are not covering long stretches without stopping to eat or rest. The pace is built around tasting and exploring the markets, not speed.

What is Kadikoy Market like, and why does the tour cross the Bosphorus to get there?

Kadikoy Market is on the Asian side of Istanbul and is known for its bakeries, grill houses and street-food stands serving local specialties. Crossing the Bosphorus lets you experience food culture on both sides of the city in a single day, which is the tour's main idea.

Can I do this tour if I am vegan or vegetarian?

The tour focuses on traditional Turkish street food, which centers on meat and animal products. Depending on which option you choose, vegan and vegetarian options may be limited or unavailable at several of the food stops, so this tour may not suit a fully plant-based diet.