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.
As the sun sets, Istanbul lights up, the heat of the day fades, and the tourist crowds start to thin out. This is the time to enjoy the city at its atmospheric best on a private tour with a local! Take in glittering highlights and the local ambiance that only the evening brings out in Istanbul.
Kadikoy is the place to be! Explore one of the hippest neighborhoods in Istanbul and discover it bite by bite. Go to up & coming places and try one of the best Turkish dürüm kebap (wraps), street food in a hipster little pop-up restaurant, and a nice beer or cocktail in a local hip bar.
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!
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
Michele
About local
27 February 2025
The best guide ever!
Hands down, Ayşenur is the best guide I have ever had! She customized my tour perfectly. Her friendly, fun and engaging approach made her extensive knowledge range even more palatable. Thank you so much for an amazing tour and I look forward to next. (There will absolutely be a next time!)
A Magical Evening in Istanbul: City Tour
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
