Top Istanbul Food & Drink

See Istanbul lit up for the night as you sail between Europe and Asia on this lively Bosphorus dinner cruise, aboard a spacious double-decker boat. Soak up the atmosphere as whirling dervishes spin and belly dancers twist and shake, while Istanbul’s historic skyline glides by. Your package includes dinner, performances and round-trip coach transfers from central hotels: alcoholic drinks can be purchased at the cash bar.

Discover Istanbul’s European and Asian sides—and taste a range of delectable Turkish delicacies—on this full-day, small-group tour. Meet your guide in the morning in Istanbul’s Old City, and be sure to come hungry: you have a day of feasting ahead of you. Explore a spice market, and enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast, before crossing the Bosphorus to trendy Kadikoy. Sip Turkish coffee, visit multiple restaurants, and discover Istanbul’s must-try dishes.

Taste 10 of Istanbul's top culinary treats on this half-day private food tour. Your guide will walk you through a carefully curated itinerary of the best must-taste foods, including raki, durum, and baklava, among others. This private tour means undivided attention from your guide and plenty of chance to ask questions. You'll find some new favorites and places you'll want to return during the rest of your stay in Istanbul.

Awaken your culinary senses with this small-group Turkish food night tour in Istanbul. This tour explores Istanbul’s off the beaten path eateries, letting you discover the best of Turkey’s traditional tastes. Visit a barbecue restaurant and roast kebabs over an open flame, savor classics from a ‘simit’ bakery and enjoy live music and delicious meze at a ‘meyhane’ (Turkish tapas bar). This small-group food tour is limited to 15 people, for more personalized attention from your guide.

Get to know the complex food culture of Istanbul on this guided street food walking tour. Explore the Pera neighborhood and visit some of the hidden passages and streets including the Flower Passage, Hazzopulo, and Asmali Mescit. Stop at traditional meyhanes and food markets and sample a wide range of cuisine, including snacks, desserts, and drinks.

Discover Istanbul’s delectable bites and illuminated sights by night on this food tour. Alongside a knowledgeable guide, head to the bustling Taksim Square, home to the mighty Monument to the Republic, in order to sample Turkish specialties from multiple eateries. Feast on Turkish dishes like icli kofte (spiced meat and nuts), sample an authentic Turkish kebab, and satisfy your sweet tooth with baklava, a traditional Turkish dessert. Round-trip hotel transport is included on this small-group tour, limited to 14 food lovers.

Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, and see the ancient Basilica Cistern. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight.

Experience the rich flavors, fragrant spices and decadent sweets that characterise Turkish cuisine on this 4.5-hour Istanbul street food tour, including hotel pickup and drop-off. Explore the sights, scents and tastes that make the city unique, as you browse the vibrant Kadikoy Market on Istanbul’s Asian side, stroll along the Galata Bridge and discover the atmospheric Galata district. Best of all, you’ll get to sample plenty of local specialties along the way, from pide (Turkish pizza) to simit (bagel-like bread), to the best baklava in Istanbul.

Turkey is full of culinary delights, and you get to try a lot of them on this private guided food tour around Istanbul. As well as popular items, your local guide introduces you to foods that you may not discover without insider knowledge. As it is a private tour, it is fully customizable to suit your needs—and appetite. There is lots of walking and eating, so come hungry and wear comfy shoes!

Cruise the stunning Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn and experience three of the best Istanbul sights on this adventure-filled full-day sightseeing tour. This tour takes you on a boat ride on the Bosphorus Strait to savor spectacular sights of bridges, palaces, mosques and fortresses. Stop at Dolmabahçe Palace for a guided tour and explore the alluring scents and colors of the Spice Bazaar. Visit Rüstem Pasha Mosque on top of Camlica Hill and capture wide views of the skyline. Plus, enjoy a delicious 3-course meal along the beautiful shoreline.

Experience Istanbul’s timeless sights on a full-day tour of the city’s stunning historic places. Listen for the ancient echoes of pounding hooves and charioteers at Hippodrome Square and spot the distinctive tiles of the Blue Mosque. See the Byzantine mosaics and minarets of Hagia Sophia, then follow in the footsteps of powerful sultans, courtiers, and generals at Topkapi Palace. Finish your tour in the vibrant Grand Bazaar, browsing bright displays of handicrafts, carpets, and souvenirs.

Uncover the sacred practice of the mystical Sufis at an authentic Mevlevi Sema Ceremony held at Istanbul’s Hodjapasha, and witness the 800-year-old tradition that has been preserved on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Be mesmerized by the bizarre yet beautiful sight of the Whirling Dervishes as they perform their unique spiritual rituals during an hour-long show, including a live orchestra and 360-video projections.

Experience Istanbul like a pro, when you buy a skip-the-line combination ticket for the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern. Upon arrival at each location, your guide escorts you past the long queue for fast entrance. After a brief overview, you’re ready to explore at your own pace. Enjoy the freedom to see the three world-famous attractions in any order that works for you. (Note: Cistern admission at 11am only.)

Discover traditional techniques to making a perfect cup of Turkish coffee during this small-group coffee tour and coffee-making class in Istanbul. Alongside your professional guide, enjoy learning the craft of coffee production at a shop, plus sip delicious coffee at a few local establishments. Continue your java journey at a spice bazaar, where you will uncover the Ottoman secrets to store coffee and visit several of Istanbul's favorite coffee joints. Numbers are limited to 15 coffee connoisseurs, to maintain a more intimate experience with your guide. 

Enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner as straddle two continents on a 4-hour dinner cruise in Istanbul.The leisurely nighttime route along the Bosphorus takes you past the most iconic landmarks of both the Asian and European sides of the city. While you dine, enjoy live belly dancing, folk dancing, and whirling dervish performances. Afterwards, you’re free to join in the dancing.

Whether tucking into a tasty kebab, feasting on mezes or indulging in sweet baklava – Turkish cuisine is a treat for adventurous foodies. Uncover Istanbul’s culinary secrets on this 3-hour cooking class and learn to cook your traditional dishes under the guidance of an expert chef.

Step aboard a cruise between Europe and Asia on the Bosphorus to enjoy dinner and shoreline views. Eat a 3-course menu of traditional Turkish meze accompanied by soft drinks and alcohol. In addition to enjoying views of the sites on shore—such as the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Bridge and the Bosphorus Bridge—enjoy a show of traditional Turkish entertainment.

Set sail along the Bosphorus, the meeting point of Europe and Asia, on this evening cruise. Experience Istanbul at its most atmospheric as you cruise past the illuminated city skyline and admire landmarks including Dolmabahce Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, and the Maiden's Tower. While on-board, tuck into a 3-course dinner and enjoy a variety of entertainment including whirling dervishes, belly dancing, and DJs.

Discover Istanbul on a full-day tour that travels on foot and public transit to historic landmarks and local cultural hubs. Start by touring the Hippodrome, Serefiye Cistern and Grand Bazaar, then take a break for Turkish coffee, pastry and hookah (tobacco pipe). Visit the book and paper market Sahaflar Çarşısı, which started in the Byzantine era, then tour Istanbul University. Continue to Suleymaniye Mosque, the Spice Bazaar and the Church of St George before winding through the districts of Fener and Balat — the old Greek and Jewish neighborhoods.

Sample some of Istanbul’s favorite foods on a relaxed evening walking tour. Meet an expert local guide and visit much-loved food stops as you stroll through historic Sultanahmet to Taksim Square across the Golden Horn. Absorb the evening bustle and sights of Sultanahmet; enjoy sunset views of the city from the Galata Bridge; and try staples such as fried mussels and ‘baklava,’ the seductively sweet honey-soaked filo parcels that are a Turkish favorite, along the way. Numbers are limited to 14, ensuring personalized attention from a guide.

Marvel at the mystique of whirling dervishes as they gracefully dance the ceremonial ‘sema’ Mevlevi at the emblematic Hodjapasha Dance Theater in Istanbul. Enjoy a cultural evening in Istanbul during this age-old performance of choreographed spiritual dancing accompanied by traditional music and Persian chanting. Before the show, set the mood with Turkish delight and a drink at the bar. Then, admire the dervishes as they elegantly twist and turn in their white flowing gowns.

Many cruises either don’t serve any alcohol or make the prices at the bar insanely expensive. This Bosphorus Strait Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show provides an alcohol menu with dinner, so you can relax and enjoy your night without worrying about shelling out a ton at the cash bar. Plus, along with dinner, you’ll enjoy live Turkish entertainment and stunning views of the area.

Rather than spending the night in your Istanbul hotel room, experience a more decadent side of the city with this dinner package. Feast on a rich, four-course dinner of traditional Turkish cuisine and enjoy hypnotic performances from some of the city’s award-winning belly-dancers. Belly dancing has a long history in Turkey, distinguished from other regions by its energy and use of turkish zils (cymbals). Because this grand performance goes all night there are limited seats available, so make sure to book in advance.

Stroll through Istanbul with the guidance and commentary of a private guide on this food-focused excursion. Your guide will provide facts about the city's culinary culture and history, and you'll stop along the way to taste traditional Turkish delicacies. Highlights include the Spice Bazaar, the back streets of Eminonu, and the Kadikoy fish market.

Experience somber battlefields and historic World War I memorial sites during this guided day trip to Gallipoli from Istanbul. With an expert guide, visit heartbreaking sites on the Gallipoli peninsula where Australian, New Zealand and Turkish soldiers lost their lives during a merciless WWI campaign. Hear rare stories about the fallen troops at famous sites including Lone Pine, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu Cemetery and the Nek.