An internet sensation among tourists, Alper Temel is a street food vendor operating in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Image: Instagram
It is a given that tourists are typically drawn to a destination's major landmarks. However, a street food vendor in Istanbul, Türkiye, has completely upended that conventional wisdom.
After going viral on social media, he has transformed into one of the city's most popular attractions himself.
For several years, Alper Temel, 26, has worked alongside his two brothers at his family’s food stall, selling chestnuts and corn. Online, he goes by @alpertemel04 on Instagram and alper_temel on TikTok.
Since 2024, social media footage showcasing him in Karaköy’s historic waterfront district has triggered a massive influx of international visitors.
Amassing a digital audience exceeding one million on Instagram and clocking around 740 000 on TikTok, the vendor has transitioned into a mandatory itinerary stop for globetrotters, where he kindly offers selfies and brief chats to his legion of admirers.
The question remains: what fuels this immense popularity?
Quite simply, he possesses the striking aesthetic of a movie star. With his towering height, dark hair, and defined jawline, he has certainly left many admirers swooning.
@lifewithashleyjones summed up the hype when she recently posted on her Instagram: “Went on an international side quest for a pretty face and some very, very dry corn. Let’s be real, we didn’t go for the food anyway 🌽🙃 #travelgirlgang #girlstrip #grouptravel #sidequest #cornseller Istanbul viral corn seller, Alper Temel, Istanbul street food.”
With his popularity soaring to incredible heights, local tour guides have officially added him to their travel itineraries.
In fact, he has become such a sensation that “CNN Travel” even dropped by to interview him.
He said: “I’m very grateful to them for their support. Like any young person, I try to help and support my family in the best way I can. This fame has helped speed that process up for me.”
So if you are headed to Türkiye at some point, make sure you add this to your sightseeing itinerary, along with Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Basilica Cistern.