Today we’ll weave through the narrow alleys, bustling markets, and hidden living monuments of the Old City. We’ll visit food shops, restaurants, bakeries, and grill joints throughout the day, so bring your appetite and skip breakfast at the hotel. Once we’ve thoroughly munched our way through the city, we’ll return to the hotel to rest up and digest before our next gastronomic adventure. Tonight, we’ll meet with an international journalist who, over mezze and drinks, will lead a discussion on the history of Turkey and present-day affairs. 

Istanbul is lined with magnificent, Byzantine-era fortifications—massive stone walls and towering fortresses that once served as imposing barriers. We’ll enjoy breakfast al fresco, picnicking between the walls where a moat once ran alongside a local farmer whose centuries-old gardens now fill the space. We’ll follow the walls to the Edirne Gate and point of entry during the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453, then visit a stunning mosque. Later, we’ll head to the iconic Kariye Museum, second only to Aya Sofia for late Byzantine art. We’ll have a late lunch at Asitane, where, over years, the chef has researched and recreated the official menu of the Ottoman Palace. From there, we’ll stroll down Fener, home to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, and exit the city walls on the Golden Horn. You’ll have this evening to explore at your own pace.

The first capital of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa is now globally renowned for its historic monuments and iconic cuisine. We’ll begin the day touring the ancient city’s most notable sites—glimpsing the distinct early Ottoman architecture—and weaving through its markets, sampling pieces of Bursa’s delicious gastronomic history. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the kebab shop where Iskender kebab was born over 100 years ago. Far from a fast-food doner, this is a sacred space for lovers of slow-cooked lamb shaved over fried pita and doused with browned butter—a feast fit for the Sultan! Once satiated, we’ll head to the village of Cumali Kizik, an epicurean pilgrimage destination of sorts for its traditional Turkish breakfast. Wander its narrow cobblestone streets, glimpsing early Ottoman architecture and ancient sycamore trees. Be sure to get some sleep; tomorrow morning, we’ll tuck into a big breakfast.

Wake up to the sounds of birds and head to the garden for a traditional spread of local products, fresh bread, the famous fruit of Bursa, and more. After breakfast, we’ll return to Istanbul for some free time. Tonight we’ll head to the home of a local chef, where we’ll learn a few fundamentals of Turkish cooking. After feasting together and chatting late into the evening, we’ll return to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Enjoy breakfast down at the hardware market of Karakoy, where medieval caravansary are now filled with independent manufacturers of springs, drill bits, and other oddities. We’ll explore the market (and witness its lively fish auction) before crossing the Bosphorus by ferry to Kadikoy, on the Asian Side of the city. Here, we’ll make our way through one of the city’s best open-air food markets, where street after street is packed with specialty shops, artisanal bakeries, traditional restaurants, and regional snack shops. For dinner, we’ll head to Ciya, where the famed chef Musa Dağdeviren collects and preserves obscure Anatolian recipes, many nearly lost to migration from the countryside.

No trip to Istanbul is complete without a pleasure cruise on the Bosphorus, passing by the palaces and iconic wooden houses that line this historic waterway. We’ll get a dose of Ottoman history onboard as we cruise toward lunch at a no-frills waterfront fish restaurant, where we’ll enjoy the simple pleasures of life on the Bosphorus. For the daring, there’ll be a chance for a quick dip in the water separating the two continents, so bring your swimsuit if you’d like. We’ll have a few hours of free time in the afternoon before our farewell dinner at one of Istanbul’s most famous contemporary restaurants, where we’ll get a taste of where this city’s cuisine is headed.

After a week of winding through bustling bazaars, sipping steaming cups of tea, and tucking into hearty stuffed flatbreads, it’s time to say goodbye to Istanbul and the friends we’ve made along the way. Depart for home or, if you'd like, spend a few more days exploring the city. Our guides would be more than happy to provide additional recommendations. Until the next adventure!