Istanbul Food Tour: Two Markets, Two Continents

Eat across two continents without planning the route or the ferry

A full-day Istanbul food tour that crosses the Bosphorus by ferry to explore the markets and backstreets of Karaköy on the European side and Kadıköy on the Asian side, stopping at a dozen or more small eateries along the way. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee and tea are included. A live English-speaking guide leads the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Istanbul's markets and neighborhoods

• Start at Perşembe Pazarı for breakfast
• Wander Karaköy market streets
• Stop for tea in Ottoman caravanserai
• Take ferry across Bosphorus to Kadıköy
• Explore Kadıköy food market
• Taste Turkish coffee and regional specialties
• Visit hidden stops with local bites
• Discover culinary spots in Moda neighborhood
• End tour with a sweet treat

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Karakoy 30m
2. Bosphorus Strait Entry included 45m
3. KadIkoy CarsIsI Entry included 2h
4. Karakoy 45m
5. Moda Park 45m

What’s included

• Seasonal Turkish breakfast.
• lunch.
• snacks.
• coffee and tea.
• bottled water.
• live English-speaking guide for the full six and a half hours.
• ferry crossing across the Bosphorus.

Times

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• Monday to Saturday 09:30 10:30

Information

Full-day Istanbul food tour crossing the Bosphorus to sample a dozen small eateries in Karaköy and Kadıköy, from breakfast through afternoon tea.

Group Up to 7

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts. See the exact address

Book up to 1d before

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Confirmation Confirmation within 48 h

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Pets welcome Public transport nearby

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

You'll start in the historic Perşembe Pazarı market with a seasonal Turkish breakfast, then wander through the mariner market streets and stop for tea in an Ottoman-era caravanserai. The guide handles the timing and the stops. You just follow and eat. From there, a ferry carries you across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy on the Asian side, where the city's richest food market sits waiting. This neighborhood holds the highest concentration of traditional food shops and eateries in Istanbul, and you'll taste your way through it: Turkish coffee, tantuni, lahmacun, Aegean-style meze, and whatever the season offers.

After Kadıköy, the route continues toward Moda, a lesser-explored culinary corner where neighborhood favorites and hidden stops appear along the way. The tour ends on a sweet note, literally, before wrapping up after six and a half hours. Bottled water keeps you hydrated between stops, and the guide knows which eateries matter and which ones to skip. The ferry ride itself is part of the day: you cross the Bosphorus Strait with the group instead of figuring out the boat schedule on your own.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many places do we actually eat at on this Istanbul food tour?

You'll visit a dozen or more small eateries across both neighborhoods (Karaköy, Kadıköy and Moda) stopping for breakfast, coffee, snacks, lunch and tea as the guide leads you through the markets and backstreets.

What's included in the price for this two-continent food tour?

Breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee and tea are all included. Bottled water comes along as well. You pay one price and eat throughout the day without stopping to order separately at each place.

Do I need to know Istanbul or speak Turkish to join this tour?

The guide speaks English and leads the entire route, so you don't need to navigate the markets yourself or order in Turkish. The guide knows the eateries, the specialties and the timing.

How do we get across the Bosphorus during the tour?

You'll take a ferry from Karaköy on the European side to Kadıköy on the Asian side as part of the tour. The guide handles the logistics. You just board with the group.

What kind of food will we eat? Is it heavy or light?

The tour includes Turkish breakfast, regional specialties like tantuni and lahmacun, Aegean-style meze, Turkish coffee and tea, plus snacks and lunch. It's a full day of eating, so pace yourself across the dozen stops.

Operated by Culinary Backstreets Walks. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

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