Simit
A ring of bread covered in sesame, sold from street carts at any hour. It is a common breakfast with tea.
Istanbul
What to eat in Istanbul
- Simit
- Balık ekmek
- İskender kebab
- Turkish breakfast
Data checked on November 2, 2026
Balık ekmek
A grilled fish sandwich eaten by the water near Eminönü and Karaköy.
İskender kebab
Sliced doner on bread with tomato sauce, butter and yogurt, a classic lunch.
Turkish breakfast
A spread of cheeses, olives, eggs, jam and bread, served with tea. It is a long, slow meal.
Baklava
Layered pastry with pistachio and syrup, eaten in the afternoon with tea or coffee.
Turkish tea and coffee
Tea comes in small tulip glasses all day. Coffee is made in a small pot and served with the grounds.
Every itinerary on this site keeps a lunch break after 12:30, so there is room for a proper meal in the middle of the day.
What a meal costs
- Meal in an inexpensive restaurant
- TRY 600
- Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant
- TRY 2,700
- Coffee
- TRY 218.83
Besides the sights
- A traditional hamamA bath with a scrub and massage in a historic bathhouse in the old city. Book ahead in the high season.
- Galata Bridge at sunsetWalk across at dusk, past the anglers, with the skyline of mosques ahead of you.
- A whirling dervish ceremonyA short evening performance of Sufi music and turning, shown in several venues in the old city.
- A day on the Princes' IslandsFerries leave for the car-free islands in the Sea of Marmara, a quieter day away from the city.
- A craft workshopShort classes in lamp making, perfume or Turkish coffee, offered by local studios.
Markets in the stop base