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.
Leave the city buzz & enjoy a private Day Trip to the Princes Islands or to the Bosphorus shores of Istanbul. Fancy a meal and drinks on board? No problem! Prefer a bite at a local restaurant? Sure! Want to groove to your own music? The stereo is yours! All aboard. Get ready for a unique experience!
Want to see the best of Istanbul? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Istanbul!
You’ve probably heard that Istanbul is well-known for Hagia Sophia, but do you know the stories and origin behind it? Or how much influence it has on the locals daily life? On this private city tour, you are in for a cultural treat!
Alternative Istanbul: Street Art Tour on the Asian Side
288 reviews
3 hours | art & culture tours | Istanbul
Want to escape the touristy crowds and mingle with the locals? Follow me to Yeldeğirmeni neighborhood! Step into Istanbul's Asian side to discover this hip district and get ready to walk among the cool street art. On this private tour, you can absorb all the artistic vibes of Istanbul!
The best local things to do in Istanbul for 3 days! The extraordinary Blue Mosque, incredible Hagia Sophia and vibrant Grand Bazaar; you’ll be able to explore all the highlights of Istanbul in 72 hours. Use the list below to find exactly what to do in Istanbul for 3 days. Day 1: Mosques & museums The perfect introduction! Istanbul is home to some of the most famous mosques and monuments in the world. With stunning cultural and religious gems to enjoy all over the city, you’d be a fool to miss out! Discover the amazing sites Istanbul has to offer with the amazing Blue Mosque, incredible Hagia Sophia and historic Topkapi Palace. Something a little different! Visit Little Hagia Sophia, a small, non-touristy working mosque where you can catch a glimpse of a traditional space where the locals go to practice their religion. You’ll never forget your first day in Istanbul! Day 2: Markets & bazaars Brace yourself for shopping! There’s something for everyone to buy in Istanbul. Immerse yourself into the local culture as you go shopping in Istanbul’s impressive Grand Bazaar. Or head for the nearby smaller Arasta Bazaar to shop like a local! Discover gorgeous Turkish treasures in the French Passage, a shopping arcade that was once a historical port. Time for musicians and artists! Head to the vibrant Galata Tower and search for traditional Turkish souvenirs to take home. Or look for musical favorites in an old-school music shop and record store! Day 3: Food & drink Turkish delights! There’s no better way to explore Istanbul’s food and drink than with a trip to the bustling local food markets. Stroll through a colorful street market looking at stalls piled high with spices, fruits, and vegetables. It’s an amazing way to count down the last of your 72 hours in Istanbul. Time for lunch! Discover the local and authentic tastes of Istanbul with some delicious Turkish street food. Try yummy houmous and tasty falafel, meaty shish kebab, and delicious traditional desserts. You can even relax with a soda and some roasted chickpeas to snack on. A delicious end to your time in Istanbul!
What other travelers love about our local experts
Graham
About local
8 March 2025
10 Tastings of Istanbul with Kemal
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!
The 10 Tastings of Istanbul
Marina
About local
16 February 2025
Terrific
Our 3 hour tour with Neslihan was amazing: we laughed a lot, seen a lot, learnt a lot and ended up with a list of recommendations for the rest of our trip. Neslihan loves the city and it’s infectious! She knows it’s history and culture and shares her knowledge in a light and engaging way: surprised just how much we’ve learnt whilst having fun! Could not recommend Neslihan highly enough.
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Istanbul
j
About local
6 February 2025
Art, life, language & eats: perfection!
Alp was clear, concise and timely with communications. He allowed our group of two to ask many questions and make requests.
We toured during February’s 1st snow and Alp graciously continued to guide us stopping a few extra times for hot beverages and warmth.
He was quite knowledgeable about Turkey’s broad history, current events, Europe & Asian sides as well as extensive details on the who:what:why:when of the STREET ART.
The community jewels (restaurants, stores, architecture, etc.) were welcome additions to our journey.
We enjoyed this modern glimpse into the heartbeat of Turkey.
Alternative Istanbul: Street Art Tour on the Asian Side
Darren
About local
3 February 2025
Don't miss doing this in Istanbul!
We were looking for a reason to explore the Asian side of Istanbul, and found this tour. We're so glad we did it! We had a wonderful afternoon with Alp - his tour is more than just street art, we went to a couple of local cafes, learned about culture and history, and even got some great shopping tips. Alp is a friendly, knowledgeable guy, and adjusted the pace where we wanted to stay a bit longer & take photos, or move on to the next things. I can't recommend this tour highly enough!!
Alternative Istanbul: Street Art Tour on the Asian Side
