Experience food tours in
Istanbul with Withlocals

"We got so lucky to spent half of the day with our tour guide Emre. He took care of us, took us to super interesting and not tourist delicious spots that were a real hidden gems! It is amazing when a local truly loves his city and wants to share its beauty with you and show you the best of it! We hit several spots for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, deserts and of course coffee. Emre was providing us with history hints, his personal experience back from his childhood and all that made this tour unforgettable. We highly recommend Emre ❤️ Next time we are in Istanbul - we are doing another one with him for sure! Thank you Emre! "

"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!"

"Emre is the best! He is very knowledgeable, personable, and knows the best places to eat and explore the many foods of Istanbul. I highly recommend him."

"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. "

"Lorena was an absolutely fantastic tour guide. She turned a rained day for eleven jet-lagged people into a fun and unique experience walking through the Kadiköy neighborhood. We sampled a lot of different foods and drinks in the this beautiful neighborhood. Highly recommend booking with Lorena for any tours during your stay in Istanbul. "

"Deniz was a WONDERFUL guide. Yes, we ate a lot of great food, but we also learned so much about the culture and spoke openly about issues impacting citizens. Deniz was welcoming, communicative, and so helpful. Dont' hesitate to book with her! "

"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! "

"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!"

"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! "

"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! "