Taste the flavours of two continents, Beşiktaş and Üsküdar
We, at Tooistanbul.com, and Turkish people, are truly passionate about food, and one of the things we worship here in Istanbul, and you’ll quickly realize it is the food profusion everywhere, at any time of day or night. There is no time to eat!
Turkish gastronomy, shaped under the Ottoman Empire, is one of the richest in the world. It is in Istanbul, the crossroads of civilizations and megalopolis of more than 16 million inhabitants, that one finds the greatest gastronomic heritage of this ethnic and cultural diversity.
We invite you to spend a day with us and discover the central districts of Beşiktaş and Üsküdar making stops to taste many specialties. We will show you our Istanbul, an Istanbul full of contrasts and flavors through a young deeply secular neighborhood to a more conservative and familial neighborhood. These areas provide a true picture of Turkey and you will better understand its history and current events.
THE DAY :
We start the day by discovering the Beşiktaş neighborhood located just steps from the Dolmabaçe Palace on the European side. Historically it was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, and the port of its naval fleet.
Today it is one of the most vibrant and secular districts of Istanbul. Mainly populated by students and people from the Turkish middle class, here life is spent outside. The food and odors are everywhere! After drinking tea and eating Turkish breakfast’s specialties, we will go in its historical çarşı (market) and we will taste its street food, one of the most abundant and rich in the city. We eat different specialties like one of the famous döner in town, or midye dolma.
We also dwell on the cultural aspect of the neighborhood and the important role it has played and continues to play on the identity of the city!
We will then go to Üsküdar on the Asian side. This is one of the oldest and most conservative districts of the city, it concentrates the largest number of mosques in Istanbul and really contrasts with Beşiktaş. We will take you in its vibrant market where we will taste local products such as cheeses, olives, Turkish delights, and many other specialties. We will also visit one or two iconic mosques, and finish our walk by drinking some tea facing a breathtaking panoramic view of Istanbul.
This day will take you out of the beaten tracks and the touristic attraction to see two completely different sides of the city. It is likely that you will better understand Istanbul’s population divided ideologically, but united in culture and cuisine. And one last thing: if you join us, think of coming on an empty stomach!
MORE INFORMATION :
The walk starts at 10:30 am to end around 5:30 pm. We will send you the meeting place after confirmation.
We welcome a maximum of 8 participants per visit. It is also possible to privatize the day if you wish for one person or even a group.
We will enjoy a wide variety of products during the day, there is something for everyone, even for vegetarians.
The price is 65 € per person and includes all the products that we will enjoy as well as transportation. It is possible to pay on the day of the walk by cash.
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