Traditional Home Cooking with a Local in İstanbul City Center
50 reviews
Experience hosted at home by
Gülşah
4 Hours
English, Turkish
If you’re looking for things to do in Istanbul that let you experience the city like a local, this home cooking experience is the perfect way to connect with Turkish culture through food. We’ll start by exploring the colorful, historic markets of Kurtuluş, where you’ll see vibrant spice stalls, freshly baked simit at the local bakery, traditional cured meats at the charcuterie, and jars of pickled delicacies. These shops are full of flavors that have shaped Turkish cuisine for centuries, and as we shop together, I’ll share their history and the best ways to use these ingredients in home cooking. 🍲
Once we’ve gathered everything we need, we’ll head to my home kitchen, where we’ll cook side by side just as Turkish families do. We’ll prepare authentic dishes like dolma, börek, mezes, and traditional soups, learning the small details that make them truly special. As we cook, we’ll chat about Turkish food culture, daily life, and the personal stories behind each dish. 🍴
When everything is ready, we’ll sit down for a homemade feast, enjoying the rich flavors, warm hospitality, and good conversation that make meals in Turkey so special. More than just a class, this is an opportunity to connect, share, and create lasting memories. 💬
If you’re wondering what is best to do in Istanbul, this experience will leave you with a full belly, a full heart, and a deeper appreciation for the city’s flavors and traditions. 🧡
What do our guests say?
Een aanrader voor iedereen die van koken en gezelligheid houdt!. Deze activiteit was echt geweldig! Gülşah ontving ons hartelijk in haar wijk in Istanbul en liet ons zien waar ze haar producten haalt om mee te koken. Bij de speciaalzaken vertelde ze enthousiast over de verschillende ingrediënten en mochten we soms ook wat proeven, iedereen was erg vriendelijk.
Daarna gingen we naar haar appartement, waar we samen verschillende gerechten hebben bereid. Gülşah houdt goed rekening met eventuele dieetwensen of allergieën. Het was erg gezellig om met haar te koken, en de gerechten waren stuk voor stuk heerlijk.
Een erg persoonlijke en bijzondere ervaring: koken met een local, op een traditionele Turkse manier, en samen een fijne avond doorbrengen. Ik zou het iedereen aanraden die Istanbul bezoekt!
23.10.25
Dane M
The cooking class was amazing - first we walked trogh the neighbourhood and got to know the ingredients. Then we went to Gülşah's home and prepared a meal. We cooked many different dishes - very fresh things with lot's of vegetables. Then we had dinner together with the group. This was a nice evening and I would highly recommend this experience.
21.10.25
Kerstin
One of the highlights of turkey was this class, I wanted to learn how to cook Turkish food at my home after this class I feel more confident in cooking Turkish food. Highly recommend making the trip to there home.
15.10.25
Ben