Lonely Planet Experiences: Istanbul Sightseeing Street Food Tour with a Picnic

Join your guide and small group near Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar to begin your 3.5-hour food tour. Then, set off through the colorful streets to discover the city’s tastiest and most typical street eats.

Stroll around the fringes of the Spice Bazaar to explore the enticing food stands. Stop at the most interesting stalls and try some locally loved staples such as pastirma, artisanal cheeses and chunks of melt-in-the-mouth Turkish delight from Istanbul’s oldest sweet makers.

Chat to the friendly traders, and watch as your guide selects assorted street snacks for you to sample during the next stage of your tour — a boat ride to Istanbul’s Asian side.

Foods bought will depend on the season, but may include such mouth-watering morsels as simit (bagel-like bread sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds), halva (sweets made with sesame flour and honey), olives and cheeses.

With snacks duly purchased, walk to the nearby portside at Eminönü, and take the ferry across the Bosphorus to the Üsküdar district.As you sail, perhaps sample the goodies chosen by your guide, and admire the stellar views as you cross the waters between Europe and Asia.

Step ashore and stretch your legs along the scenic Üsküdar waterside. Pass bustling cafés and stop at a tea house that offers a stunning vantage point over the Bosphorus and Maiden’s Tower, a medieval watchtower rising from a small island.

Sink your teeth into delectable Turkish delight and enjoy a cup of traditional tea as you chat with your guide about the influences that have shaped Turkey’s cuisine.

Afterward, ride the metro back to Eminönü, where your tour finishes. If you wish, get restaurant recommendations or directions back to your hotel from your guide before saying goodbye.