Istanbul Food and Culture Walking Tour

Your culinary adventure begins in Central Istanbul near Taksim Square. Follow your guide on a walking through the city to gain a unique insight into the local food culture and try some yummy bites (all tastings at own expense).

Stroll along Istiklal Avenue, a bustling pedestrian street that’s home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and clubs, art galleries, cinemas, libraries, cafes, patisseries and chocolatiers. Stop by some of these places to taste some traditional bites like cream puffs, chocolates, sausages and juices.

Next, visit the main circle of restaurants on the avenue, named Cicek Pasaji (Cité de Péra), which opened as a theater in 1876. Your next stop will be a small fish market, where you can taste kokorec (grilled, spiced lamb intestines).

As you pass street vendors, sample some fried or stuffed mussels or kumpir, a huge baked potato that you can stuff with your choice of toppings including butter, cheese, yogurt, a couscous-like bulgur wheat called kisir, corn, peas, olives, hot dog slices, pickled veggies and hot sauce.

Continue your walk to St Anthony of Padua Church (Sant'Antonio di Padova Church) and the Pera Museum. Then, at Pera Square, experience the beautiful view of the Golden Horn, where famous poet Pierre Loti wrote much of his poetry. Feel free to buy a glass of local Turkish tea here before heading down a narrow street where vendors serve lamb liver over a charcoal grill.

Next, visit the oldest patisserie in Istanbul, Markiz, where you can sample Turkish coffee while enjoying the atmosphere. Your last stop will be a series of cafeterias serving both international and local cuisine, a popular hangout among locals.