Eat your way through Istanbul with the company that wrote the book on its food, tracing the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar and then ferrying across the Bosphorus to the Asian-side market streets of Kadikoy. You meet the masters behind the counters, the kokorec grillers, the pickle makers, the borek bakers, and eat roughly a dozen specialties most cruise passengers never find. Crossing between continents for lunch is a bucket-list flourish only Istanbul can offer.
What to expect
Expect a 6-hour-plus walk with a serious eater's pace, plenty of standing and walking, and a small group of fellow food travelers. The route weaves through the Grand Bazaar's 4,000 shops and the Spice Bazaar before a public-ferry hop to Kadikoy's market lanes. You will eat a lot; come hungry and wear walking shoes. Tours sell out, so book well ahead.
Good to know
Confirm the meeting point relative to Galataport; the Grand Bazaar end is a short tram ride away. This is a full-day commitment, so it suits an overnight call or a long port day; check it fits inside your all-aboard before booking. Cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. The Grand Bazaar is closed Sundays, which affects scheduling.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Istanbul — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Istanbul
- Hagia Sophia + the upper gallery mosaics with a licensed Byzantine historian
- A private classic yacht charter up the Bosphorus between two continents
- The Blue Mosque + Hippodrome + Basilica Cistern on foot with a guide
- Topkapi Palace + the Harem + the Imperial Treasury
- An imperial Turkish bath ritual at Mimar Sinan's Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam