Tastes & History of Istanbul

Our tour begins with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, an area that was once the center of Byzantine civic life. We continue to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white 17th century Iznik tiles. After visiting Blue Mosque, we stop for a short break to taste traditional Turkish tea in a charming garden.

Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorus Bridge - Istanbul

Flower Mall - Beyoglu - Istanbul

Fish Market - Istanbul

Spices - Spice Market

Meze Plates

Chora Church Museum

Gourmet details: Drinking tea is an essential part of daily life in Turkey. Almost everywhere you go you will be offered a glass. The tea is prepared by brewing it in boiling water and serving it in delicate, small, clear glasses to show the deep red color and to transmit the heat to the hand. As we relax with Turkish tea we can also taste the most common tea snack—simit. Simit is a pastry similar to bagel, and covered with sesame seeds.

After a tea break we visit Hagia Sophia, often described as the greatest work of Byzantine architecture.

The forth largest building in the world that was made as a church, is now a museum that glitters with mosaics and art treasures that fill every corner. From here we drive to the shore of Golden Horn for lunch.

Gourmet Details: Kebabs and charcoal grills are two of the most famous constituents of Turkish cuisine. At a restaurant overlooking the Golden Horn we enjoy these two staples along with traditional bread served as a starter with special tulum cheese, miniature lahmacun, and fresh salad.

After lunch we walk to the nearby Spice Market. The Spice Market which was built as part of the Yeni Cami complex and has since been an exciting covered market filled with the fragrant scent of spices from the Orient. From here we transfer to the modern city center of Taksim. We walk along Istiklal Street to the Fish Market.

Gourmet Details: Once a fish market that served the local residents, nowadays we find the Istiklal entrance to the market occupied with small fast food shops. Here we choose among numerous varieties of authentic fast food preferred by locals—midye tava (fried mussels on a stick), kumpir (baked potatoes with different fillings), mercimek kofte (mashed red lentil balls wrapped in a lettuce leaf), and many other types of meze (Turkish appetizers).

After we stroll through adjacent Nevizade Street, famous for its pubs and taverns. In the evening this street is packed with people who meet to chat over a glass of beer or to enjoy freshly prepared mezes with raki, a traditional anise flavored Turkish spirit.

* To make the price of the tour more reasonable, we use a taxi for transportation when there are two people participating.

Note: The Spice Market is closed on Sunday, Hagia Sofia is closed on Monday.