Istanbul Old City Food Walk: Spice Bazaar, Eminonu Fish Sandwiches & Baklava
Day tour
Food tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul
1N (Participation Duration)
Boat - Cruise Ship,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Eminonu has been Istanbul's trading waterfront for a very long time, and it still works like one: ferries, porters, wholesale coffee roasters and a spice market built in 1664 to fund a mosque. This walk covers the old city side, then crosses the Golden Horn.
We start with balik ekmek - mackerel grilled on a boat rocking at the quay and put into bread with onion and lemon - which is the most Istanbul thing you can eat. Then into the Spice Bazaar and, more importantly, the Tahtakale lanes behind it, where Istanbul actually shops: pastirma, Turkish delight cut from the block, dried fruit, pistachios, cheese, and a coffee roaster that has been grinding on the same corner for over a century.
We taste pistachio baklava, made properly with forty sheets of pastry and clarified butter; menemen or a simit with cheese; and Turkish coffee brewed in sand. Your guide explains how Ottoman court cooking, Anatolian village cooking and Greek, Armenian and Jewish traditions all fed into what you are eating.
We finish by crossing to Karakoy on the ferry, with tea on the deck and gulls following the boat.
Small group, maximum 10 guests. Ferry fare included.
We start with balik ekmek - mackerel grilled on a boat rocking at the quay and put into bread with onion and lemon - which is the most Istanbul thing you can eat. Then into the Spice Bazaar and, more importantly, the Tahtakale lanes behind it, where Istanbul actually shops: pastirma, Turkish delight cut from the block, dried fruit, pistachios, cheese, and a coffee roaster that has been grinding on the same corner for over a century.
We taste pistachio baklava, made properly with forty sheets of pastry and clarified butter; menemen or a simit with cheese; and Turkish coffee brewed in sand. Your guide explains how Ottoman court cooking, Anatolian village cooking and Greek, Armenian and Jewish traditions all fed into what you are eating.
We finish by crossing to Karakoy on the ferry, with tea on the deck and gulls following the boat.
Small group, maximum 10 guests. Ferry fare included.
Meeting point:
View on map
Eminonu tram stop, T1 line, Fatih, Istanbul
We meet at the Eminonu stop on the T1 tram line, beside the ferry piers. Your guide will have a small sign with your name.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Balik ekmek: Mackerel grilled on a boat at the quayside and served in bread with onion, lettuce and lemon, eaten standing by the water.
Stop 2 - Tahtakale lanes: The wholesale streets behind the bazaar where Istanbul shops - pastirma, cheese, olives, dried fruit - with your guide translating as you go.
Stop 3 - Spice Bazaar: Built in 1664 to fund a mosque. Turkish delight cut from the block, pistachio, sumac, Maras chilli, and a proper explanation of which spices are worth buying.
Stop 4 - Turkish coffee: Brewed in sand at a roaster that has been on the same corner for over a century, served with a piece of lokum.
Stop 5 - Pistachio baklava: Made with forty sheets of hand-rolled pastry and clarified butter, at a shop that ships it around the world.
Stop 6 - Ferry across the Golden Horn: A short public ferry crossing to Karakoy with tea on deck, fare included.
Stop 7 - Karakoy finish: A last stop for kunefe or a cheese-and-pastirma plate on the Karakoy side, with your guide's map of where to eat next.
Stop 2 - Tahtakale lanes: The wholesale streets behind the bazaar where Istanbul shops - pastirma, cheese, olives, dried fruit - with your guide translating as you go.
Stop 3 - Spice Bazaar: Built in 1664 to fund a mosque. Turkish delight cut from the block, pistachio, sumac, Maras chilli, and a proper explanation of which spices are worth buying.
Stop 4 - Turkish coffee: Brewed in sand at a roaster that has been on the same corner for over a century, served with a piece of lokum.
Stop 5 - Pistachio baklava: Made with forty sheets of hand-rolled pastry and clarified butter, at a shop that ships it around the world.
Stop 6 - Ferry across the Golden Horn: A short public ferry crossing to Karakoy with tea on deck, fare included.
Stop 7 - Karakoy finish: A last stop for kunefe or a cheese-and-pastirma plate on the Karakoy side, with your guide's map of where to eat next.
Tour price includes
• Small-group English-speaking local food guide (maximum 10 guests)
• All food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• Turkish coffee and tea
• The public ferry fare across the Golden Horn
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout
• All taxes and service fees
• All food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• Turkish coffee and tea
• The public ferry fare across the Golden Horn
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout
• All taxes and service fees
Tour price excludes
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off unless stated
• Additional drinks beyond those included
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for your guide (appreciated but never expected)
• Meals and purchases outside the programme
• Additional drinks beyond those included
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for your guide (appreciated but never expected)
• Meals and purchases outside the programme
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. Tours run rain or shine; the bazaar and most lanes are covered.
Other notes
Runs daily at 10:00.
On scams, plainly: Istanbul has a well-known set of them. Never order from a menu without printed prices, never accept an invitation from a stranger to a bar, and use metered taxis or an app. Your guide pays for everything on this tour, and part of the point of it is that you will know afterwards how to eat here without being overcharged.
Transport: Istanbul's ferries require an Istanbulkart and no longer accept cash. Your guide handles this for the included crossing. Note that the city ferries and the private operators use different piers at Eminonu.
Ramadan: during Ramadan the old city fills after sunset and the atmosphere around Sultanahmet between about five and seven in the evening is extremely crowded. Our morning tour is unaffected, but ask us when you book if your dates fall inside it.
Many traditional esnaf lokantasi are lunch-only and closed on Sundays; we build the route accordingly.
Dietary needs: tell us at least 48 hours ahead. Vegetarian is straightforward in Turkey, with a whole category of olive-oil dishes. Halal is the default here.
Entirely on foot plus one ferry, about 2 km on flat but crowded streets.
On scams, plainly: Istanbul has a well-known set of them. Never order from a menu without printed prices, never accept an invitation from a stranger to a bar, and use metered taxis or an app. Your guide pays for everything on this tour, and part of the point of it is that you will know afterwards how to eat here without being overcharged.
Transport: Istanbul's ferries require an Istanbulkart and no longer accept cash. Your guide handles this for the included crossing. Note that the city ferries and the private operators use different piers at Eminonu.
Ramadan: during Ramadan the old city fills after sunset and the atmosphere around Sultanahmet between about five and seven in the evening is extremely crowded. Our morning tour is unaffected, but ask us when you book if your dates fall inside it.
Many traditional esnaf lokantasi are lunch-only and closed on Sundays; we build the route accordingly.
Dietary needs: tell us at least 48 hours ahead. Vegetarian is straightforward in Turkey, with a whole category of olive-oil dishes. Halal is the default here.
Entirely on foot plus one ferry, about 2 km on flat but crowded streets.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| 大人 | $69 |
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