Tour Highlights
- Take a public ferry ride with the locals to Asia.
- Cruise the Bosporus and photograph both sides of Istanbul including the historic Maiden’s Tower and the old Istanbul peninsula with Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sopia and Blue Mosque adorning the skyline.
- Browse the local food and fish markets on the Asian side of Istanbul.
- Sample many kinds of street food of stuffed mussels, , Lahmacun, Tantuni, Baklava, Maraş ice cream, olives, pickled vegetable cocktail, beef pastrami, olives, goat cheese and more...
- Dine at a local restaurant for dinner and enjoy the delicious local food your food expert guide order for you.
- Taste Kurdish and Turkish cuisine of Southeast regions of Turkey.
- Try and learn to make nargile ( hookah) in a 300 year old Madrasah made popular by locals. ( Please note that hookah smoking is optional).
- Relax and drink cay (tea) from a tulip shaped glass like a local.
- Enjoy the many great photo opportunities along your journey.
Tour Details
Tour style: Walking tour. Boat cruise. City orientation. Local lifestyle. Turkish and Kurdish cuisine and drinks. Storytelling. Hidden gems.
Appeals to: Travelers who like to explore attractions off the tourist trail, food lovers, those interested in Ottoman history, photographers.
Inclusions: English speaking local food guide. Travel on public tram. Bosporus public ferry crossing (return). Food sampling at the market at nine stops. Four soft drinks over the evening. Nargile ( hookah smoking ).
Exclusions: Extra food and drinks not included above. Shopping expenses.Tipping to the guide. ( recommended amount 10-20 USD per person )
Group size: This tour is available to depart daily for a maximum of 10 people.
Special notes: Our meeting point is a short walk from the Karakoy tram station. The public tram system starts at 6am and finishes around 12am.Children aged 6 to 11 years are 55 Euro per child. Children above the age of 12 are charged full price. Parents of children under 6 years are advised to book a private tour.
Appeals to: Travelers who like to explore attractions off the tourist trail, food lovers, those interested in Ottoman history, photographers.
Inclusions: English speaking local food guide. Travel on public tram. Bosporus public ferry crossing (return). Food sampling at the market at nine stops. Four soft drinks over the evening. Nargile ( hookah smoking ).
Exclusions: Extra food and drinks not included above. Shopping expenses.Tipping to the guide. ( recommended amount 10-20 USD per person )
Group size: This tour is available to depart daily for a maximum of 10 people.
Special notes: Our meeting point is a short walk from the Karakoy tram station. The public tram system starts at 6am and finishes around 12am.Children aged 6 to 11 years are 55 Euro per child. Children above the age of 12 are charged full price. Parents of children under 6 years are advised to book a private tour.
Tour Schedule
Duration: Between 5 & 6 hours
Meeting point: Karakoy İskelesi ( Karakoy ferry pier ). Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah, Rıhtım Cd. No:13, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul - Location
Starting time: 18:00 PM
Approximate finishing time: 23:00 PM
Finishing point: This tour will end near the Karakoy pier at a local cafe for a tea/coffee and shisha/hookah smoking. Your guide can help you how to get to get back to your hotel.
Please meet your guide at 6pm ( 18:00) at the entry of the Karakoy İskelesi ( Karakoy pier ) on the right side of the entry to pier under the yellow sign “ Karakoy İskelesi “
Our guide will come to you and will ask if you are waiting for the tour.
If you come by tram, please get off at Karakoy tram station. Please face the direction to where the Galata tower is on the hill, walk off the tram station and turn right side with crossing the traffic lights. Walk along the water on the left side as the pier is two minutes walking distance. If you turn your back to the pier and you are seeing the Afrodit restaurant in front of you then you are at the right spot. 😊
If you come by a taxi. Please tell the taxi driver " Karakoy İskelesi Şehir hatları " ( NOT TURYOL). He will drop you off on the bridge and you can walk to the pier in two minutes.
Meeting point: Karakoy İskelesi ( Karakoy ferry pier ). Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah, Rıhtım Cd. No:13, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul - Location
Starting time: 18:00 PM
Approximate finishing time: 23:00 PM
Finishing point: This tour will end near the Karakoy pier at a local cafe for a tea/coffee and shisha/hookah smoking. Your guide can help you how to get to get back to your hotel.
Please meet your guide at 6pm ( 18:00) at the entry of the Karakoy İskelesi ( Karakoy pier ) on the right side of the entry to pier under the yellow sign “ Karakoy İskelesi “
Our guide will come to you and will ask if you are waiting for the tour.
If you come by tram, please get off at Karakoy tram station. Please face the direction to where the Galata tower is on the hill, walk off the tram station and turn right side with crossing the traffic lights. Walk along the water on the left side as the pier is two minutes walking distance. If you turn your back to the pier and you are seeing the Afrodit restaurant in front of you then you are at the right spot. 😊
If you come by a taxi. Please tell the taxi driver " Karakoy İskelesi Şehir hatları " ( NOT TURYOL). He will drop you off on the bridge and you can walk to the pier in two minutes.
Itinerary
Our meeting point is the Karakoy Iskelesi located in the modern part of Istanbul known as Galata. Once we meet at the pier we will get on the local ferry for a twenty minutes ferry ride to Asian side. On the ferry you will have a great view of the Asian and European sides of Istanbul and have the opportunity to take photos along the way. On arrival to Asia we then stroll in the Kadikoy district visiting local food markets and mazes of streets that are lined with local shops selling just about anything! From here we walk to the fish markets and taste the delicious mussels stuffed with rice and spices. Have a break in a local café where you can learn popular board games of backgammon or Okey. By now you will feel hungry and luckily your guide knows a very nice restaurant in Kadikoy which specializes in home cooked foods from the Kurdish area of south eastern Turkey. This includes vegetarian and gluten free options. With full stomachs we head back to Europe via the public ferry. Take in the great view of Istanbul by night. We then take a will try Turkish dessert in Europe before taking the tram to a 300 year old madrasah which has been converted to a local café. Here we relax for a drink and take in the lifestyle of the locals. Try the fruity flavors of the nargile washed down with authentic Turkish beverages like Turkish cay, Turkish coffee, sahlep or boomba tea. Your guide can even show you how to make the best nargile in Istanbul. The madrasah is the last stop of the tour and is situated on the major tramline so you are welcome to depart the tour at anytime.
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