Istanbul: Street Food Tour on Asian & European Sides Ferry

Summary

Breakfast near Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus ferry, Kadikoy food markets, Karakoy fish wrap and kunefe dessert

You’ll start your Istanbul street food tour with breakfast by the Spice Bazaar before crossing continents by ferry for tastings in Kadikoy’s markets—pastrami, lahmacun, mussels—and Kurdish coffee brewed over charcoal. End your day back in Karakoy with fish wraps and warm kunefe dessert topped with Maraş ice cream. Expect laughter, local stories, and flavors you’ll remember long after.

What’s the experience like?

“You can’t rush kaymak,” our guide Cem said, grinning as he watched us eyeing the creamy mound at the dairy shop near Eminonu Square. I’d never tasted buffalo cream before — it’s almost like eating a cloud that’s somehow rich and sticky at the same time. We dipped sesame bread into honey and pistachio paste while the market outside buzzed with early chatter and the clink of tea glasses. I tried to say ‘menemen’ properly (eggs with tomatoes and peppers), but Cem just laughed and poured more çay for everyone. It felt like breakfast at someone’s home, not a tour.

The ferry ride from the European side to Kadikoy was honestly one of my favorite bits. There’s something about the wind off the Bosphorus — it smells faintly salty but also sweet from all those simit vendors. The city looked different from the water, soft morning light bouncing off domes and minarets. On the Asian side, we wandered through Kadikoy market where locals barely glanced at us (which I liked). Cem handed me a slice of pastrami so thin it melted on my tongue, then grape leaves stuffed with rice and spices — I always thought I didn’t like those until now.

Lunch was this blur of flavors: lahmacun straight from a wood oven (I burned my fingers a little), mussels stuffed with spiced rice that tasted nothing like what you get back home, then Iskender kebap drowning in tomato sauce and yogurt. We stopped for coffee at a Kurdish-run café; they made it over charcoal in copper pots. My fortune was apparently “full of travel,” which made me laugh because… well, here I am. If you don’t drink coffee, there’s some wild pistachio thing you can try instead — honestly not sure how to describe it but it’s worth a sip.

We ferried back across the Bosphorus to Karakoy where everything felt faster somehow — more horns, brighter colors. The fish wrap was messy in that good way (pomegranate molasses everywhere), eaten on a curb outside a family-run shop. Dessert was kunefe: warm cheese under crisp noodles soaked in honey syrup with cold Maraş dondurma on top. I still think about that first bite — hot and cold together, sweet but not too much. The whole Istanbul street food tour left me full but also kind of grateful for these small moments between bites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Istanbul local food markets tour

• Meet group and tour briefing
• Walk to dairy store for breakfast shopping
• Enjoy local breakfast near Spice Market
• Take ferry from Europe to Asia side
• Visit Kadikoy food market and taste local dishes
• Coffee break at Kurdish family cafe
• Ferry ride back to Karakoy
• Stroll Karakoy back streets and try fish wrap
• End tour with Kunefe dessert and Maraş dondurma

Top questions

How long does the Istanbul street food tour last?

The tour covers breakfast to dessert across both sides of Istanbul; expect several hours including ferry rides and market stops.

Is ferry transport included in this Istanbul street food tour?

Yes, round-trip ferry tickets between European and Asian sides are included.

What foods are included on this guided street food tour?

You’ll try kaymak with honey, menemen, pastrami, lahmacun, stuffed mussels, Iskender kebap, Turkish coffee or tea, fish wrap, kunefe dessert and Maraş dondurma.

Are vegetarian options available during this Istanbul food tour?

The main tastings focus on meat and seafood; some vegetarian items like menemen or cheese may be available but options are limited.

Where does the Istanbul street food tour start?

The group meets near Eminonu Square close to the Spice Bazaar on the European side of Istanbul.

Is lunch provided or do we buy our own food?

Tastings throughout—breakfast items, lunch foods and desserts—are included as part of your booking.

Can children join this Istanbul street food experience?

Yes; infants can ride in prams or sit on laps and public transport is nearby for families.

Does this tour include local guides?

Your guide leads you through markets on both sides of Istanbul sharing stories behind each dish along the way.

What’s included

Your day includes tastings of kaymak with honey and sesame bread for breakfast near Eminonu Square; menemen eggs; pistachio pastes; Turkish tea; round-trip ferry tickets across the Bosphorus; slices of pastrami; lahmacun fresh from a stone oven; stuffed mussels; Iskender kebap; Kurdish-style Turkish coffee or wild pistachio brew; a fish wrap in Karakoy; plus kunefe dessert served with Maraş dondurma ice cream before heading back—all guided by a local expert who shares stories at every stop.