Hidden Gems of the Istanbul: From Galata Tower to Balat

4.6 (7 reviews) 4–6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

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7 reviews

4.6

Hidden Gems of the Istanbul: From Galata Tower to Balat — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Hidden Gems of the Istanbul: From Galata Tower to Balat, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Let's have an incredible journey around Istanbul's colorful streets! We will walk along the Golden Horn from the Galata Tower, through the backstreets of Galata and Karaköy, the Kamondo Stairs, one of the most spectacular staircases in Old Istanbul, and the SALT GALATA building, one of the oldest banks, to Balat and Fener, two colorful neighborhoods on the Golden Horn's old residential side.

We will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (St. George), which is still regarded the center of faith for Orthodox Christians, as well as explore the colorful staircases, bright wooden Ottoman mansions, the Iron Church (Sveti Stefan), and Balat's medieval lanes. Then we'll take a boat to Karaköy to visit the Golden Horn, a mythical stretch of the Bosphorus.

Accompanied by a professional tourist guide, we will learn about Istanbul's full history and the locations we will visit, including exclusive admission chances and the ability to purchase tickets without waiting in line.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low Agent Low Quality Product

At a glance

Duration: 4–6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Emrullah Cansu

Ages: Children (0–7 years) · Youth (8–17 years) · Adults (18–40 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Donations for Churches
Included: All Taxes
Included: Professional English Speaking Guide
Included: Transportation by Ferry
Included: Free Tasting For Drinks and Dessert

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Galata Tower Entry Ticket

Itinerary

Galata Tower

45 min Admission not included

onsidered among the oldest towers in the world and one of the symbols of İstanbul, Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List in 2013. Galata Tower, one of the most important structures that make up the silhouette of İstanbul, was used as a long-term fire watchtower and was named Galata Fire Tower.
Kamondo Stairs

15 min Admission included

The Camondo Stairs are Art Nouveau-style stairs in the Galata district of Istanbul, Turkey. The stairs, completed in the 1850s, were built by the House of Camondo.
SALT Galata, Istanbul

20 min Admission included

Salt Galata houses the Salt Research Gregory Michael Kiez Hall, a specialized library; the Salt Research Ferit F. Şahenk Hall, which researchers can use upon registration; the Auditorium, where talks and conferences are organized; and exhibition and event spaces. Salt Galata also hosts a permanent exhibition that sheds light on the 145-year history of the institution with documents from the Ottoman Bank Museum Collection.
Karakoy Rihtim

20 min Admission included

We will take our ferry.
Patriarchate Of Constantinople

30 min Admission included

The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is one of the fifteen to seventeen autocephalous churches that together compose the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Balat Colored Stairs

15 min Admission included

Balat promises you a nice day with its cute cafes, colorful streets and houses that smell of history.
Stop 7

20 min Admission included

Balat, which has a rich Byzantine heritage, is an old Jewish neighborhood and still has a large Jewish population. In addition, the Sephardim, who were exiled from Spain in the 15th century, settled in Balat. Most of the houses in Balat, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and some of which have been restored, were wooden before the 18th and 19th centuries. However, due to the many fires that broke out here, most of the wooden buildings were burned down and masonry buildings were then preferred. There are very few single-story buildings and the houses are usually built in twos or threes.
Stop 8

25 min Admission included

The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, also known as the Bulgarian Iron Church, is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Balat, Istanbul, Turkey. It is famous for being made of prefabricated cast iron elements in the Neo-Byzantine style. The church belongs to the Bulgarian Christian minority in the city.
Golden Horn

20 min Admission included

We'll watch the European and Anatolian sides of Istanbul from the estuary. We will discover the magnificent view of Istanbul on the magnificent waters of the sea.
Stop 10

30 min Admission included

One of the oldest bazaar in istanbul. We will taste turkish dessert and drinks free.