Galata Tower
Built by the Genoese in 1348 — the best views of Istanbul are from the top.
Galata and Beyoğlu are where old Istanbul meets the new: Genoese towers, 19th-century passages, contemporary art museums and the city's best street life. Here is what we tell our guests not to miss.
Sightseeing & walks
Galip Dede Caddesi
Historic music shops and colourful façades on the way from Tünel to the Tower.
📍 Çukurcuma
📷 Hancı Global
Narmanlı Han
A 19th-century han at the Tünel end of İstiklal, restored with cafés and restaurants around a quiet courtyard.
Taksim Square
The heart of the city and the start of İstiklal Avenue, a lively pedestrian street that buzzes day and night.
İstiklal Caddesi
The famous pedestrian avenue from Taksim to Tünel, with the red nostalgic tram running along it.
Museums, art & history
Pera Museum
A must-see permanent collection — including Osman Hamdi Bey's “The Tortoise Trainer” — and rotating exhibitions.
Salt Galata
Architecture, art and a peaceful atmosphere in a former Ottoman bank — with a great shop for rare books and magazines.
Istanbul Modern
Turkish contemporary art in a striking new waterfront building in Karaköy.
Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture
A unique museum — Turkey's first museum of painting and sculpture.
Church of St. Anthony of Padua
Istanbul's largest Catholic church, a neo-Gothic landmark on İstiklal Avenue completed in 1912.
📍 Galatasaray
📷 Hancı Global
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı
Our pick for a proper Turkish bath. Built by Mimar Sinan in 1580 and beautifully restored, it offers a calm, high-quality hammam ritual a few minutes' walk from Karaköy. Book ahead.
Shopping & local design
Galataport Istanbul
The new waterfront in Karaköy: cruise port, cafés, restaurants, boutique shops and Istanbul Modern.
📍 Galata
📷 Hancı Global
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi
The oldest and most authentic place to buy Turkish coffee. Expect a queue — it is a shop, not a café.
Beyond Beyoğlu: the Old City
The T1 tram from Karaköy takes you to Sultanahmet in about 15 minutes.
Blue Mosque
Its architecture is a synthesis of the Ottoman mosque tradition and Byzantine church design.
Basilica Cistern
A vast underground cistern built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, known for its marble columns rising from the water.
Grand Bazaar
Home to Istanbul's finest artisans and jewellers — definitely worth a visit. Tram stop: Beyazıt–Kapalıçarşı.
Fener & Balat
The old Greek and Jewish quarters on the Golden Horn: steep streets, colourful wooden houses and small cafés.
Borusan Contemporary
Digital art in a waterfront mansion on the Bosphorus (open at weekends).
Hagia Sophia
Built in 537, a church, then a mosque, and one of the world's great buildings. Dress modestly; women cover their hair.
Topkapı Palace
The Ottoman sultans' palace for nearly 400 years. Allow half a day, and do not skip the Harem.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Three museums next to Topkapı, home to the famous Alexander Sarcophagus.
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Carpets, calligraphy and manuscripts in İbrahim Paşa Palace, facing the Hippodrome.
Spice Bazaar
The 17th-century Egyptian Bazaar: spices, Turkish delight, dried fruit and tea.
Hagia Irene
A Byzantine church inside the Topkapı walls, known for its calm and its acoustics.
Bosphorus, palaces & parks
Dolmabahçe Palace
The 19th-century Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus, all crystal and gold. Closed on Mondays.
Naval Museum
Ottoman imperial caiques and centuries of naval history by the Beşiktaş pier.
Ortaköy Mosque
A small baroque mosque right under the Bosphorus Bridge. Try a kumpir from the stalls nearby.
Yıldız Park
A large wooded park that was once the palace gardens, with pavilions and cafés.
Maçka Democracy Park
A green valley between Nişantaşı and the Bosphorus, popular for a walk or a coffee.
Nişantaşı
Istanbul's chic shopping district, with designer boutiques and stylish cafés.
Tüpraş Stadium
Beşiktaş football club's stadium on the Bosphorus. A match night is an experience.
Rumeli Fortress
Built by Mehmed II in 1452 before the conquest; great Bosphorus views from the walls.
Emirgan Grove
A hillside park above the Bosphorus, famous for the tulip festival in April.
Küçüksu Pavilion
A small 19th-century Ottoman pavilion on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus.
Golden Horn, islands & family days
Rahmi M. Koç Museum
Cars, trains, ships and even a submarine on the Golden Horn. Great with kids.
Pierre Loti Hill
Tea with a view over the Golden Horn. Take the cable car up from Eyüp.
Istanbul Aquarium
A large aquarium in Florya, near the airport side of the city. A good rainy-day plan with kids.
Istanbul Toy Museum
A charming collection of antique toys in a mansion on the Asian side.
Büyükada
The largest of the Princes' Islands: car-free streets, wooden mansions and sea views. Ferries leave from Kabataş.
Photo credits appear on each photo. Map pins: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Stay in the heart of Galata
Our apartments in Galata, Taksim and Beyoğlu are a short walk from everything in this guide. Book direct and pay 10% less than on Airbnb.
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