Culinary Backstreets of the Bazaar Quarter
5.0 / 5 · 143 traveler reviews
The area around Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is a maze of historic hans, workshops and tiny eateries serving the merchants and artisans who work here every day. On this full-day tour, we’ll explore its backstreets through the food and people that keep the neighborhood’s traditions alive. We’ll begin with tea and pastries in the courtyard of an 18th-century religious school before sitting down for menemen with sweeping views over the Grand Bazaar. From there, we’ll taste döner at a tiny kiosk and seasonal home-style dishes at a neighborhood esnaf lokantası. As we continue through Ottoman-era trading inns and craft districts, we’ll meet traditional artisans and taste freshly baked flatbread, kokoreç and other local specialties. We’ll finish with a milk-soaked cake with Albanian roots — a sweet ending to a day spent discovering the Bazaar Quarter beyond the storefronts.
Your experience
Stop 1
Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter is one of the world’s biggest open-air commercial centers and a historic center of small craftsmen who still carry on their tradition in the atmospheric caravanserais. On this 5-hour Grand Bazaar food tour, we will eat with these craftsmen.
What’s included
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Breakfast
- Tea and coffee
Meeting and pickup
We will meet at the entrance of Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi, just off Yeniçeriler Caddesi. Look for the main archway entrance that leads into the tea garden area.
Before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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