Eat Like a Local: Istanbul Food and Culture Tour with Dinner at Local Family Home

3 Hours 30 Minutes

Mobile Ticket

Hotel Pickup Offered

English

Language Offered

Overview

For the true essence of Turkish heritage, eat like a local and explore the streets of Sultanahmet during this guided small-group Istanbul food and culture tour. Step inside a local's home to meet the family and enjoy an evening experience of Turkish hospitality. The 4-hour night begins with a 3-course dinner of traditional dishes and concludes with an expedition into the backstreets of Istanbul. You'll witness a backgammon or football game along the way and even have a chance to take a puff from the shisha pipe. People are limited to 12 on this tour, so you can receive more personalized attention from your guide.

Small-group tour with a maximum of 12 people ensures personalized attention
4-hour Turkish food and culture tour with an expert local guide
Visit a typical Turkish family home in Istanbul's Sultanahmet neighborhood
Feast on a 3-course home-cooked meal while chatting with friendly hosts
Learn about the city's cosmopolitan culture while exploring the backstreets
Take part in popular Turkish pastimes: football, backgammon, drinking tea or smoking a shisha pipe!

Inclusions & Exclusions

Departure & Return

What To Expect

After you meet your guide in the Sultanhamet district, head by foot to your local family's home for your small-group food and culture tour in Istanbul. Savor an evening to learn about the heritage of Turkish cuisine and, of course, fill your belly with plenty of home-style delights.Arrive and meet your hosts as you absorb the delectable smells emanating from the kitchen. The meal of the night will vary depending on available ingredients, but prepare for a 3-course dinner that will leave you satiated. A typical appetizer is a thin soup called çorba (usually prepared using lentils) and a classic entree is minced meat and eggplant served with a side salad and rice. Since Turks have a soft spot for sweets, save room for dessert which includes tasty pastries served with mint tea.During dining, enjoy casual conversation about a typical day in the life of an Istanbulite. Then, learn more about the food you're eating as your bilingual guide helps translate with your friendly hosts. After experiencing warm Turkish hospitality, savor the waning moments as you bid farewell to your hosts.Next, step outside into the evening air for a walk along the lesser known streets of Istanbul where tourists are few and far between. Cruise through neighborhoods with elegant wooden homes and learn about the diverse cultures that led Istanbul to be named the city of a thousand faces. Hear how Turks, Armenians, and Greeks all converged here making this a true east meets west Cosmopolitan city. Continue to a local joint to meet some cool locals and gaze out over the Marmara Sea. Here, delve into Turkey's sporty culture and see televised football games and people playing backgammon. Perhaps challenge a local to a backgammon match. The last highlight of the day is a Turkish staple: sipping strong tea and experiencing a rich puff from the shisha pipe. From here you can request from your guide directions back to your hotel or any other location you wish to go.

Eat Like a Local: Istanbul Food and Culture Tour with Dinner at Local Family Home

Inclusions & Exclusions

Departure & Return

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

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