Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and cultural capital, straddling two continents across the Bosphorus Strait. Once the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, it's a city of stunning mosques, grand bazaars, and vibrant neighborhoods blending East and West.
Top food tours
Guided experiences that show you Istanbul through its food.
Book a food tour in Istanbul
Compare availability and prices for guided food experiences.
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Cooking classes
Take a piece of Istanbul home with you.
Istanbul Cooking School
Hands-on Turkish cooking class including a guided Spice Bazaar visit to select ingredients, followed by cooking a full Turkish meal: meze, soup, main course (often stuffed vegetables or köfte), and dessert. The class ends with eating the meal you cooked.
Ottoman Palace Cooking Workshop
A premium cooking class focused on recreating authentic Ottoman palace recipes researched from historical sources. Learn to make dishes once prepared for sultans, including unique Ottoman desserts, complex pilav preparations, and rare meat dishes from the palace kitchen tradition.
Turkish Breakfast Masterclass
Learn to prepare a full traditional Turkish breakfast spread (kahvalti), one of the world's great breakfast traditions. Make Turkish scrambled eggs with tomato (menemen), fresh börek, and learn about the cheeses, olives, jams, and honeys that make up the spread.
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Book tours and cooking classes at least a few days in advance — small-group experiences sell out quickly.
Come hungry — most food tours include 5-8 tastings.
Bring cash for unscheduled stops the guide may recommend.