• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Ready to taste the best food in Istanbul? Satisfy your cravings for local food and culture with highlights along the way, together with a foodie host. Enjoy 10 delicious and typical tastings that range from sweet to savory as well as drinks on a tasty food tour in Istanbul.

Destination

Istanbul, Turkey

Category

Food Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Türkçe, 中文, Deutsch, Español, Italiano, Português

Included

• Private Guide
• 10 Local Food & Drink Tastings
• Vegetarian Options Available
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 13 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at in front of the Espresso Lab Cihangir - Istanbul to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. 10 Tastings

   This tour includes 10 food and drink tastings. Your local host has hand-picked each one of the tastings based on their love for food, and knowledge of the city. Enjoy only the most authentic bites the city has to offer!

4. The Classics

   A food tour in Istanbul would not be complete without the most typical and beloved dishes in town. Enjoy a bite of the ultimate classics, Turkish delight and dürüm and taste them in their true local flavor!

5. Locals’ Favorites

   Discover more of the local cuisine by trying some of the ultimate locals’ favorites food treats. Try unique food, typical of Istanbul picked by your local host and hear why they love it so much!

6. Typical Drinks

   With drinks included as part of the tastings this real experience comes with a real local spirit! Your local host will quench your thirst with a selection of drinks like coffee, unique beverages, and alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) cocktails, wine and beer

7. City Highlights

   This tour is more than just food, it’s a cultural experience! In between food stops, discover city highlights for a well-rounded experience that will satisfy your appetite for Istanbul. From food, drinks, must-sees and local hot spots; this tour has everything on the menu!

8. Vegetarian Alternative

   Looking for a vegetarian alternative? It’s possible! The tour has been created with alternative tastings to fit your preferences. Just let your host know!

9. Special Diet or Allergies?

   If you follow a special diet or have an allergy to a specific food, let your host know! They’ll make sure to take that into consideration so you can have an enjoyable and safe experience

10. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Graham🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Kemal)

8 March 2025

Kemal is a confident, cosmopolitan guy who takes pride is making sure you have a great day out. He's quick to build rapport and seems to build lasting friendships with many of his tour groups. It is impressive how quickly he could customise the itinerary based on the weather, season and your preferences - he truly knows Taksim's food scene very well. His standard route for 10 Tastings of Istanbul is through Taksim, focusing on classic street food from mainstream chains. He also spontaneously worked in the chance to try Turkish wine at a nice place in Pera, and a delicious quince dessert which would otherwise be easy to miss. If you want exposure to more inventive regional cuisine, it would be worth discussing the itinerary in detail in advance. No matter what, there's no avoiding how meaty Turkish cuisine is, so considering the timing of the tour carefully and don't plan it eat much before and after this tour!10 Tastings of Istanbul with Kemal

Unknown

(About local Emre)

5 March 2025

Wij hebben genoten van de foodtour. Emre spreekt goed Engels (in Canada gewoond) en Duits. Emre was erg vriendelijk, informatief en behulpzaam. De tour was niet zwaar en we hadden 10 stops. We lieten ons de hapjes goed smaken. Emre vertelde ons dan wat informatie over de gerechten en over bepaalde historische gebouwen. Erg handig en leuk om Istanbul zo te verkennen.Super foodtour, informatief en lekker

Na Dine

(About local Emre)

1 March 2025

Danke für die tolle Tour,sehr gut gestaltet für mich und meine Jungs auch sie durften dank Emre ein wenig der Geschichte von Istanbul Kennenlernen und es wurde köstlich verpackt.Herzlich, informativ und hunorvoll

Miqelle

(About local Tolga)

22 February 2025

Tolga took over from Emre who we originally booked with but had the flu. An avid traveler himself, Tolga was super interesting to listen and talk to. Not only did he do a fabulous job with showing us Turkish street food and classic dishes, he also knew a lot about history and historical context of the region. Emre too was helpful—even though he didn’t conduct the tour he gave us extremely useful tips about Istanbul. So much better than any canned tour of the attractions. So much better than Get Your Guide

Arianna🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

18 February 2025

My Husband and I are so grateful to have met Emre our first day in Istanbul, his food and exploration recommendations literally shaped the rest of our itinerary and showed us the local side of Istanbul! Emre introduced us to authentic Turkish food at places we would never know existed. We had a lot of fun walking around, we learned so much history which only someone who grew up there could share with us. Emre is also incredible with sharing more local food recommendations and places to buy your favourite souvenirs (more affordably). Emre, The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Unknown

(About local Emre)

18 February 2025

كانت تجربة الأكل مع امرى في إسطنبول رائعة جدًا! خدنا في أماكن مميزة جدًا، بعضها ما كناش هنكتشفه لوحدنا. الأكل كان لذيذ جدًا ومتنوّع، جرّبنا أكلات تقليدية وطعمها كان فوق التوقعات. غير الأكل، الرحلة كانت كمان درس في التاريخ، كل مكان زرناه كان ليه قصة وحكاية بتخلينا نقدّر الأكل والثقافة أكتر. بصراحة، أنصح أي حد بيحب الأكل والتاريخ إنه يجرب الجولة دي، تجربة تستاهل كل لحظة!A great Adventure

pennymorriss

(About local Emre)

9 February 2025

Emre is the perfect host for a tasting tour. We learned so much from him, and his love for the city comes through in the stories he shared - I feel as though I know much more about the history and character of the neighbourhoods we walked through than I would have learned otherwise. All the tastings and stops were thoughtful and both my teenage daughter and myself enjoyed every bite and sip. We also have a long shopping list of treats to go shopping for to bring back for family at home. Lovely afternoon and highly recommend. Fun, knowledgable and dekicious tour

Michelle

(About local Ugur)

4 February 2025

Ugur took us to places frequented mainly by locals and with him, they treated us very well. He was very considerate of our picky teenagers, and adapted the tour and food as we went along. Everything was delicious and Ugur explained the various dishes and their preparation. He also answered our questions and sent us recommendations on things we were interested in afterwards. I only wish we had booked more tours with him.Unique experience

John

(About local Emre)

1 February 2025

What a great way to spend an afternoon! Emre clearly loves sharing Istanbul with new friends. He not only introduced us to some of the most yummy and historic eateries and shops in Beyoğlu, he also shared many other interesting cultural and personal highlights that helped us get beneath the surface layer of the city. Emre is super personable, it was like spending the day with an old friend. Eat, walk and chat your way around Beyoglu

Katalin🇫🇷 France

(About local Gülce)

31 January 2025

The food tour with Gülce was very nice! She took us to many traditional street food spots, often historic in their own right, and gave some nice background info for each place and dish. We had a good time trying so many different well seasoned and tasty foods, thank you!Beautiful tour with delicious local food!

Mailin

(About local Faruk )

29 January 2025

thesealeys

(About local Emre)

21 January 2025

Emre was excellent. He took us to at least 10 places, we tried cheeses, kebabs, Turkish Delight, and so many other great things. Emre had so much information about the food and also the history of Istanbul and Turkey. We chatted about everything under the sun! One of us wanted to see bookstores and Emre managed to find several for us along the route.Fantastic tasty informative tour

Tim🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

20 January 2025

Unsere Food Tour mit Emre war ein Highlight unseres Istanbul-Besuchs! Wir probierten eine Vielzahl köstlicher Gerichte und lernten gleichzeitig viel über die Kultur und Geschichte der Stadt. Das absolute Highlight für mich: der Adana-Wrap bei Dürümzade – ich träume heute noch davon! Wer Istanbul kulinarisch (aber auch geschichtlich) entdecken möchte, sollte diese Tour nicht verpassen!Eine wundervolle Tour!

Viktoria

(About local Emre)

11 January 2025

Sehr gute kulinarische aber auch historische Tour. Man lernt nicht nur die Geschichte des Essens sondern sehr viel über Istanbul selbst. Emre weiss viel, spricht super Deutsch und hat uns in viele kleine, lokale Restaurants geführt die nicht sofort entdeckbar sind aber dennoch super Essen hatte , was ich geschätzt habe.Food & History

Tony🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Emre)

3 January 2025

We have had a fantastic food tour with Emre. It was well planned and informative, showing us different areas of Istanbul and a variety of food all of which we intend to revisit. Would highly recommend this trip. Definitely worth it if you are visiting Istanbul. Excellent Food Tour

Jason🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

2 January 2025

Emre is so much more than a food tour guide. He is passionate about his country, culture, and cuisine. The food selections were 10/10. We were so happy and soooo full. Emre just oozed information about what we were seeing and experiencing as we walked through Istanbul neighborhoods. Literally EVERYONE knew him. We couldn't turn a corner without someone acknowledging him. We talked about everything from food to architecture to history to politics. Best tour we have ever taken. Emre, the unofficial mayor of Instanbul

Jason🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lorena)

2 January 2025

Many thanks to Lorena for the amazing food tour! We had actually tried a decent amount of local food before meeting up with her so she created a totally custom adventure for us. She walked us through neighborhoods and back streets that were almost tourist free. We left the tour feeling like we really got to see and experience food and restaurants that were not the mainstream. We were so full too! Thank you Lorena!Custom food tour away from the tourists

Frederike

(About local Lorena)

1 January 2025

We really enjoyed the tour with Lorena! She is an experienced traveller who lives in Istanbul and knows a lot about the city. She cooperates with local businesses - we really appreciated that and we enjoyed the delicious food we got to try! Unfortunately, the tour is really really expensive for what you get and you have to decide as a group to either eat vegetarian or meat at some places - it is not possible to combine both (e.g. order two different dishes) if only some people from your group are vegetarian.Tasty Istanbul!

Alessandro

(About local Emre)

31 December 2024

Taking a guided food tour of Istanbul is a great idea on its own, but if you take it with Emre it becomes a great memory. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, he was a fantastic guide into the food scene of Beyoglu and also provided us excellent advise for the following days. Not to be missed!!Best way to begin a trip in Istanbul

Janine🇺🇸 United States

(About local Gülce)

30 December 2024

Gulce was knowledgeable, friendly, engaging. Her English was excellent. She answered our battery of questions with veracity. Fabulous tour

Berber

(About local Emre)

29 December 2024

The foodtour with Emre was fantastic. He took us to unique places that you would normally walk past or not even pass by because of the small streets. Knowing the history of the neighborhood was also a nice addition to this tour. We would recommend it to everyone, even people who are known with this area.Amazing tour with hidden gems

anusha

(About local Emre)

28 December 2024

Emre, our guide curated the tasting tour very well for us. He took into account a last minute request for vegetarian options as well. After the tour, Emre stood in the rain & helped us get a cab back to the hotel. He was friendly as well as informative. I would definitely recommend him to my friends when they visit Istanbul.Tasting Tour

Chance

(About local Emre)

28 December 2024

Emre took us to a number of different places while speaking of the background of the food and neighborhood. I found it to be a nice way to get acquainted with such things.Fun food tour with kind guide

Esther🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tolga)

26 December 2024

Tolga was an awesome tour guide, showing us all the best and hidden spots in Kadikoy. He had so many fun and historical stories to share that brought the food to life and gave us a window into the gastronomy of Istanbul which was exactly what we hoped for! He's super knowledgeable and very talented as a tour guide! We were absolutely full by the end--so make sure to go with an empty stomach! You will not be disappointed!Kadikoy food tour highly recommended!

Nazeera🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Deniz)

25 December 2024

We booked Deniz and requested for a meat heavy local cuisine tour. We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour and even took a ferry to the asian side of Istanbul. We enjoyed exploring each spot and learning about the dishes and most importantly tasting the food! We highly recommend Deniz as he shares her passion for food and focuses on the authentic local experience. Deniz is a ray of sunshine full of smiles

Kyle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

23 December 2024

Emre was amazing and very knowledgeable! In just 3 hours I felt like I got so much history and culture as well as incredible food in my system...I would highly recommend this tour and Emre to be your guide! Emre was awesome!

Paul

(About local Emre)

11 December 2024

Emre was the perfect host. His knowledge of history and personal accounts of being raised and living in Istanbul were captivating. He showed us food delights that we would certainly never had found by ourselves. Highly recommended!

Maryanne🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

9 December 2024

The food tour with Emre offered us an opportunity to try dishes and see parts of the city we would have never explored. So many interesting and unique dishes! Emre was also very helpful in providing excellent recommendations for restaurants we would not have been aware of otherwise. He even called the restaurant requesting a table with a view on the terrace for my birthday. He went above and beyond and it made our experience one I will never forget. A memorable experience

Unknown

(About local Emre)

9 December 2024

Our tour with Emre was an absolute highlight of our trip to Istanbul! From start to finish, he was attentive, knowledgeable, and incredibly kind. Traveling with a 5-year-old can be challenging, but Emre went above and beyond to ensure that our son felt included and engaged throughout the experience. His thoughtful accommodations made the tour enjoyable for the whole family. Emre's passion for Turkish cuisine and culture was infectious. We tasted a wide variety of delicious foods that we never would have discovered on our own, and every bite came with a story or insight that deepened our appreciation for Istanbul's rich culinary heritage. His depth of knowledge and approachable style made learning about the culture feel fun and immersive. Our time in Istanbul was brief, but this tour made it unforgettable. If you're considering a food tour in Turkey, book with Emre — you won't regret it. It's an experience we’ll be talking about for years to come!Fantastic food tour

John

(About local Tolga)

8 December 2024

I have taken two tours with Tolga and he has proven both times to be immensely knowledgeable and easy to interact with.Great tour guide!

Saathvika🇮🇳 India

(About local Emre)

2 December 2024

1

My husband and I had a lovely evening with Emre showing us around some of the iconic and legendary food joints in Istanbul! The manner in which he explains the history of the restaurant and origin of the food and gets the food for us with so much love and warmth, speaks volumes about the passion he has for Turkish food and the endearing person that he is! We told Emre that we are pure vegetarians and he curated the entire tour to suit our requirements accordingly. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and would definitely recommend this tour to those wanting to get the best first-hand local food experience of Istanbul! Cheers!An outstanding food tour with Emre!

Samantha🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

1 December 2024

Emre went above and beyond to welcome us to Turkey, explain a bit of history, and share some incredible food! He even shared his local favorites in the area! Thanks for a great tour! Don’t miss out on the Turkish delights!

Alicia

(About local Emre)

1 December 2024

This was a wonderful learning and tasting experience! Emre did an amazing job sharing his love for the city and the food. Loved going to see the more local areas and learn the history along the way-and the food was amazing! Such a variety of selection with friendly establishments along the way!Excellent experience in Istanbul

Sharan🇮🇳 India

(About local Emre)

30 November 2024

A massive city such as Istanbul with its centuries worth of culture can be daunting to explore for a first-time tourist. There are several points I would like to highlight on how Emre went out of his way to make this special for us. Firstly, he shared so many valuable tidbits beyond the scope of his tour to help us acclimatise with Istanbul. From tips on restaurants to find vegetarian food near our hotel to currency exchange, his suggestions were super helpful. Now, to the tour in itself, Emre was flexible and quick to accommodate a last minute time advancement and we could begin a few minutes earlier. Since the two of us are from India and strictly vegetarian, Emre could customise to meet our dietary requirements with ease. While the delectable food choices ranging from sweets, savories, beverages and snacks, may be the true hero of the tour, the choice of places to sample these delicacies have a legacy of their own with their own tales which Emre brings about in the most endearing fashion. The walk between the multiple places that we visited in Cihangir and Beyoglu was comfortable and the company of a guide such as Emre who keeps you light hearted makes the tour even more enjoyable. Emre's true value doesn't just lie in his deep knowledge of the food items, the best places to get them, what the ingredients are or where they are sourced from alone. He charms you with his warmth and makes you fall in love with his love and passion for Istanbul, its culture and most importantly, its food. Thank you, Emre for this core-memory for life!Emre - The Sultan of Curating Food Tours!

Brian🇫🇷 France

(About local Emre)

29 November 2024

Excellent tasting tour through parts of Cihangir, Taksim, Istiklal, Beyoğlu, and Karaköy. Varied selection of sweet and savory dishes, but all delicious. Emre is an excellent guide--very knowledgeable, easy to converse with, and able to make adjustments on the fly if needed. Highly recommended! The 10 Tastings of Istanbul with Emre

Rex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

25 November 2024

My wife and I did the 10 Tastings of Istanbul Tour with Emre, and we would highly recommend him. He’s a wonderful person who is passionate about the local food scene, and loves conversation beyond food. Emre was wonderful!

Unknown

(About local Emre)

24 November 2024

Emre was fantastic. Our tour with him was the first activity of our 2 week vacation across Turkiye and he provided an unparalleled exposure to local Turkish culture that enhanced the remainder of our trip. He provided not only an excellent exposure to food in Istanbul, but also information on places to visit on our other stops throughout the trip. He introduced us to local Turkish customs, provided recommendations on Hammam experience, shopping (tea, spices, etc). This is a great way to explore more local neighborhoods (Beyoğlu, Cihangir and Galata neighborhoods) and we overall preferred this area over old town. Emre is very relatable and will develop the perfect experience for you. Highly recommend.Best exposure to Turkiye food culture

David🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Lorena)

21 November 2024

We had an incredible experience on this Turkish local food tour! Lorena was exceptionally knowledgable, not only about the delicious food we sampled but also about Turkish culture, history and traditions. She went above and beyond to answer all our questions even those that were outside the scope of the food tour, which made the experience even more enriching. Her passion and deep understanding of Turkish cuisine and culture truly shone through. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for an authentic insight to Istanbul! Turkish Delight!

Nikolai

(About local Emre)

19 November 2024

The tour with Emre was great. 10 different delicious food stops. From cheese, over sweets and coffee to Adana and fish. Emre is very friendly and kind. You will have fun, get good food and get to know the city. Thank you, Emre!Great Food Tour with great Guide

Precia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

19 November 2024

Emre was fantastic. We’ve done lots of food tours and Esme was one of the best we’ve had, for sure. The day before he sent me a message with just general tips for Istanbul (transportation, money exchange, etc.) I was a little worried about Turkish food. But Emre made it all make sense and shared its history and our surroundings too. A good combination of standing at food stalls and sitting inside restaurants. And restrooms too. He took photos of us and posed the food well too. He provided us with SO many recommendations to try for the rest of our trip. And even checked back in with us the next day. He loves Istanbul and it shows. Emre is a great new friend to have in this city!Great food! Great guide! Great stories!

Unknown

(About local Emre)

18 November 2024

I was traveling, with a group of 6, for three weeks. All 6 persons said that Emre’s Food Tour of Istanbul was the best experience of the entire trip. Emre has been the most helpful guide and communication has been phenomenal. Much Success to you, Emre!Back Roads with Emre

Tammo

(About local Emre)

17 November 2024

Tolle Tour, super Host, sehr zu empfehlen!Emre ist großartig!

Neil🇺🇸 United States

(About local Dilek)

14 November 2024

Dilek was great! Thanks for speaking spanish, she showed great foods that we wouldn't have known or tried in Istanbul. She speaks spanish also which is a really big plus!Awesome food guide!

Emily🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Faruk )

12 November 2024

My husband, our three teenagers and I loved the food tour with Faruk! He introduced us to Turkish cuisine in a low-key and accessible way, and he even threw in some history as we walked from restaurant to restaurant. My 13 year old came home saying “I really like Turkish food” and I give Faruk the credit! Highly recommend this tour!Great Family Food Tour

Manisha

(About local Emre)

12 November 2024

This was an amazing tour - Emre was so much fun to walk the city with and taught us so much. I’m not sure we would have gone to a single place he showed us without him, and each was a truly a gem. Definitely would book again!Such a great tour!

Christoph🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

10 November 2024

Wir hatten das Vergnügen, die Food Tour durch Istanbul mit Emre als unserem Guide zu erleben, und es war einfach fantastisch! Emre hat uns nicht nur zu den besten lokalen Restaurants und Ständen geführt, sondern uns auch einen Einblick in die kulinarische Vielfalt und Geschichte der Stadt gegeben. Jede der 10 Kostproben war ein Genuss und perfekt ausgewählt. Die Tour war gut organisiert, Emre hat auf alle Fragen geantwortet und die Atmosphäre war angenehm und entspannt. Wir empfehlen die Tour allen, die authentisches türkisches Essen und Kultur erleben möchten – ein Highlight unserer Reise!Ein kulinarisches Highlight in Istanbul!

Katherine🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kemal)

10 November 2024

Fabulous Food tour with Kemal, he was extremely knowledgeable of the history & Cuisine of Istanbul. Took us to some great little spots off the beaten track.

Heike🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

9 November 2024

Diese Stadtführung war unglaublich toll. Emre ist mit soviel Herzblut dabei, das es einfach nur Spaß macht. Er hat uns so viele tolle Plätze gezeigt, das war unglaublich interessant. Außerdem waren wir in super vielen sehr leckeren Restaurants und Café´s. Es war einfach nur wunderbar. Emre hat uns auch per What`s App noch so viele Tipps geschickt, das wir das alles in der kurzen Zeit gar nicht mehr machen konnten. Wir werden aber auf jeden Fall nochmals nach Istanbul reisen. Emre redet perfekt deutsch und ist super nett und man merkt wie er seine Stadt und seinen Beruf liebt. Ich kann die Führung mit Emre nur empfehlen. Besser kann es nicht sein.Besser kann eine Stadtführung nicht sein!

Patrick🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Emre)

9 November 2024

Emre hat uns einen fantastischen Abend bereitet. Perfekt abgestimmt auf unsere Wünsche hat Emre uns eine vielfältige Auswahl von typischen Gerichten kosten lassen und uns dabei auch viele interessante Details über die Geschichte der jeweiligen Stadtteile erzählt. Für alle, die auf ihren Reisen auch gerne kulinarische Erfahrungen machen wollen, gehört eine Tour mit Emre auf jeden Fall zu Ihrem Istanbul-Besuch dazu.Der Geschmack von Istanbul - mit Emre

Adam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Emre)

9 November 2024

Emre was fun, knowledgeable, engaging and took us on a food tasting adventure. While we had already tried a few of the dishes, he took us to places that were either much more authentic or just better quality overall. Lots of history and dialogue throughout the tour in addition to lots of laughs. Can't recommend him highly enough!Fun experience with Emre