Tour Days : Everyday
Duration : 7 hours / 08:30 – 17:00
Tour Highlights : Mahmut Pasha Bazaar, Tahtakale, Spice Bazaar, Eminönü, Balat, Galata Bridge, Karaköy, Kadıköy, Taksim Square, Istiklal St., Galata Tower, French St., Nevizade St.
The best way to get to know a city is to experience it like its locals. The right way to explore the real Istanbul is through travelling on its ferries carrying people back and forth to Karaköy and Kadıköy, from the European side to the Asian side, walking around the local street markets, having a day in Balat neighbourhood and discovering its old streets with colourful wooden houses, having a cup of Turkish coffee or tea in the old cafes, and such as watching little kids playing football in the back streets.
Our guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby at 08:30, and you’ll head for Eminönü Square by tram or other public transport. We recommend you wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes for today.
Mahmut Pasha Bazaar: With one end at the Grand Bazaar’s entrance and the other at the Spice Bazaar, Mahmutpaşa Street is a place where you can find any need of any house in the world and all kinds of products at the cheapest prices. Wedding dresses, kitchenware, curtains, electronics, hardware, all types of food, and hundreds of spices… This part of Istanbul offers a grand synthesis of Europe and Asia. We will walk from Mahmut Pasha to Tahtakale through the downhill and narrow streets, which have been an active place serving as a trade centre since the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.
Spice Bazaar: Locals call it the Egyptian Bazaar, a miniature replica of the Grand Bazaar, with an extra aroma of spices in the air. Here, we will wander among the shops of inviting shop owners selling Turkish delights, sweets, and spices displayed on meticulously prepared stalls. Among the crowds of people and smells of spice, you will soon feel a strong hint of coffee in the air, which means you are getting close to Kahveci Mehmet Efendi’s shop, a famous family business that is around since 1871. It is a shop where the most delicious coffees in the world are sold. We recommend you have some Turkish coffee here.
Balat: After this busy market, we will visit the New Mosque with its eye-catching architecture in Eminönü, and then we will head to the Balat neighbourhood by bus. The Jewish, Greek, Armenian, and Muslim communities have lived together in Balat’s colourful houses and narrow stone-paved streets for centuries. Here, you’ll find places of worship of all religions, as this place preserves its authenticity that embraces three religions and cultures to this day. Having a cosmopolitan structure that houses the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople alongside various synagogues and churches like Sveti Stefan, this area has become a popular destination frequented by artists and photography lovers in recent years thanks to its old coffee houses, small cafes, small family restaurants, and antique shops.
Galata Bridge: Eminönü Square and cross the historical Galata Bridge to arrive in Karaköy on foot. From here, we’ll catch a city line ferry for a trip to Kadıköy. Don't forget to buy a Turkish bagel to feed the seagulls chasing the ferries. On our way to Kadıköy, we’ll see the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Süleymaniye Mosque from afar, as well as the Maiden's Tower and Haydarpaşa Train Station, among many other historic structures.
Once we arrive in the modern district of Kadıköy, we will start exploring it immediately. We will visit Tellalzade Street, which is famous for its antique dealers selling interesting old items that may interest you. After our walking tour, we’ll return to the pier and take the ferry to Kabataş on the European side. From there, we’ll take the underground tram up to Taksim Square.
Taksim Square: It is one of the modern symbols of Istanbul. Taksim Square has been the meeting place of lovers and friends for many years and the heart of the city that never sleeps.
Istiklal Street: Formerly known as Grande Rue de Pera, Istiklal Street was the heart of Beyoğlu, the modern district of Istanbul of the 19th century. It is never void of people as it has been the entertainment center of Istanbul for a long time. This pedestrian-only street is lined with the most popular shops, sightseeing spots, stylish restaurants, residences and boutiques, cafes, consulate buildings of various countries, galleries, cinemas, and theaters. When 19th-century travellers described Istanbul as the Paris of the East, they referred to Istiklal Street and its part-European, part-Asian culture. Istiklal Street starts at Taksim Square and ends at the historic Tunnel building. You may walk through this crowded and cheerful atmosphere or take a short trip with the historic tram.
French Street in Istanbul: French Street on Istiklal, formerly known as Algeria Street, located behind Galatasaray High School, had been renovated with a project carried out by Parisian architects and was turned into a famous entertainment centre with stylish cafes, pubs, and taverns. During this renovation, century-old coal-gas lamps were imported from France, and a sound system circling the street was installed, contributing to its unique atmosphere.
Antique Shops: The side streets of Istiklal Street are heaven for antique item hunters as the antique shops of Beyoğlu and its old bookstores will offer you countless treasures to discover.
Nevizade Street: Çiçek Pasajı (a.k.a. Cité de Péra), and Nevizade Street are located in the central part of Istiklal Street. They are famous for their authentic taverns and lively atmosphere, where you can dine outside having delicious appetizers, fish, and grilled food. We guarantee that, while eating here, you will make new friends in a few minutes with the neighbouring tables. Street musicians frequently visit these streets, which you can enjoy while having dinner. It will be one of the most beautiful nights of your Turkey trip.
Galata Tower: Built as a watchtower by the Genoese in 500 AD, Galata Tower stands at a height of 62 meters with 11 floors. It is currently used as an exhibition area and museum today. Throughout history, the Romans, Venetians, Genoese, and Ottomans have used it for various purposes. As the most important and oldest monument in the historical Galata neighbourhood, it is also one of the symbols of both Beyoğlu and Istanbul. You can reach the top of the tower, which offers the most magnificent views of Istanbul, halfway by elevator and halfway by stairs.
At the end of our tour, you will return to your hotel by public transport or taxi. 
Istanbul walking tour
Explore the top Istanbul attractions in your Istanbul holiday planning with Explore Istanbul like a local daily tour.
Istanbul, one of the most prestigious capitals of the ancient and modern world, is the only city in history that marked the end of an era when it was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, in 1453. For this reason, Istanbul has both religious and cultural phenomena of various civilizations for centuries and hosts the monuments and cultural heritages of the empires. Such as Sultanahmet Square, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia Cathedral, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Egypt Bazaar, Princess Islands, Camlia Hill, Galata Tower, Maiden Tower, Chora Museum, Bosphorus Tour, Turkish Hammam, Suleymaniye mosque, Bosphorus dinner cruise Istiklal Street, Taksim Square are the top places for Istanbul Attractions.
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