Emirgan Sütiş

One of the best parts about traveling is trying the local cuisine. Turkey is an international meeting point between the East and the West, and because of this, the local food in Istanbul is varied and delicious. The best way to try the local food in Istanbul is to sample street food from the local vendors. In this guide, I share the top 10 best street foods to try in Istanbul on your next visit. I'll give you recommendations on the best food to try, the most famous vendors to visit, as well as tourist traps you'll want to avoid.

In 2014 as a junior in college, I was roped into a two-month summer trip to Istanbul, Turkey. Growing up loving travel but struggling with history, I had no clue what I was getting into—I couldn’t even show you Turkey on a map. So it came as a complete surprise that 60 days in this city would make me more familiar with it than my own hometown and grow a love I didn’t know was possible. I could never up all I learned and love about Istanbul, but for cities like this that I know well it’s pretty easy to identify the places I would revisit today if I could, and that’s why I’m starting my #khowdozen Lists. Consider this a starting place for how to engage with Istanbul as a first-time visitor; perhaps you could even squeeze these twelve experiences into a long layover! This isn’t a list of the top sites or best fine dining; it’s the honest opinion of a girl who spent two months in the simple Kadikoy neighborhood and grew to love the Turkish people and the ways they connect, eat, and explore their beloved city. All photography by Katie Howerton.

Welcome to my Ultimate 4-day Istanbul travel itinerary! In this guide, I share my top tips and recommendations for a 4-day trip to Istanbul, Turkey. I share a mix of food, culture, history, and architecture to pack into your next trip to the city. I also include tips on transportation within the city and the best time of year to visit.