Stories of Caravanserai

This is a day-long journey into the trade life of Istanbul—told through its markets, caravan inns, and shared meals. This walking tour crosses from the old merchant quarters of the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar to the everyday rhythms of Kadıköy, weaving through Ottoman courtyards, the "hans", and backstreet cafés along the way. You’ll visit a working caravanserai, meet a craftsperson keeping old trades alive, see rare views of the city from various points, and sit down to the same dishes traders still eat today—sour soups, lentil köfte, helva, mussels, meze. You’ll walk through wholesale alleys behind the Spice Bazaar and visit the Süleymaniye complex—once a spiritual and logistical nerve center of the empire. Then you’ll cross the Bosphorus by ferry, stepping into the present-day hum of market life on the Asian side. This is the story of Istanbul—told through trade routes, shared meals, and the spaces in between.

This is the perfect experience if you have limited time in Istanbul and want to spend a day really immersing in the markets, life and stories of the past and present. You’ll walk the actual paths of merchants—through caravan inns, passages, mosque courtyards, and side streets still lined with trade. In and around the Grand Bazaar, you’ll meet craftspeople working from the same hans used by Silk Road traders. In Tahtakale, you’ll snack where delivery boys and porters do. At Süleymaniye, you’ll stand in a mosque complex designed not just for prayer, but for feeding and sheltering the city's workers and travelers. And in Kadıköy, you’ll taste the present: fish, pickles, olives, meze—sold where Byzantium once stood. You won’t be guided by landmarks. You’ll be guided by habits—where people have eaten, traded, gathered, and moved for centuries. This is a tour of food and trade, but also of time—of what endures, and what Istanbul still remembers.

Your host is a seasoned cultural guide with deep expertise in Istanbul's history and culinary traditions. With strong ties to local artisans and vendors, and well-versed in the history of the Silk Route and the trading traditions of that time, that share stories and create genuine interactions that offer unique insights into the city’s heritage. Passionate about Istanbul’s vibrant past and flavors, your guide crafts an experience that immerses you in authentic neighborhoods you will visit, going beyond the usual tourist path to reveal the city’s true character.

Comfortable walking shoes for navigating markets and historic streets. A camera to capture the vibrant scenes and architecture. A water bottle to stay hydrated during the journey.