Istanbul City Walk: Galata Tower, Istiklal Street & Karaköy
Description
Travel back to the era of the Byzantine Empire with this half-day walking tour of the Galata hillside and nearby areas. Get picked up at your hotel in Istanbul with an air-conditioned vehicle, then depart for the Galata area, located at the northern shore of the majestic Golden Horn. Walk through the serene hillside, once filled with numerous orchards during the Byzantine era, and take in the gorgeous view of the Golden Horn, an inlet of water surrounded by skyscrapers and lush green forests. Check out the exterior of the Galata Tower, a medieval stone tower, and listen to stories from your guide about how the neighborhood became a Genoese colony from the 6th to the 15th century. Explore the narrow streets of Istanbul to visit famous churches and synagogues before stopping by the Camondo Steps, a famous pedestrian walkway in Banks Street that was built by the Camondo family circa 1870-1880. You'll hear more interesting stories from your guide as you drop by hospitals and schools.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Karaköy Yeraltı Çarşısı Ve Geçidi.
Karaköy Füniküler
Istiklal Street (İstiklal Caddesi) is one of Istanbul’s most iconic and vibrant avenues, stretching from Taksim Square to the historic Galata Tower. Buzzing with life day and night, this pedestrian-friendly street is a cultural melting pot lined with 19th-century architecture, shops, cafés, restaurants, art galleries, and historic churches.
İBB Casa Botter
Santa Maria Draperis Kilisesi (outside visit)
The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua (Sent Antuan Kilisesi) is the largest and one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in Istanbul, located right on the lively Istiklal Street.
Galatasaray Lisesi
Çiçek Pasajı (Outside visit)
Avrupa Pasajı (Inside visit)
Passage Hazzopulo
Narmanlı Han
Galata Tower
The Camondo Stairs are one of Istanbul’s hidden architectural gems, nestled in the historic Galata neighborhood. Built in the late 19th century by the influential Camondo family—a prominent Ottoman Jewish banking family—these elegant, curved stairs connect Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) to the upper Galata area.
Tünel Meydanı Sok.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(94)
The tour is educational and a good allotted time to visit the different regions in the European section of instanbul.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind feedback! We’re glad you found the tour educational and appreciated the well-planned time at the different locations in the European side of Istanbul. We hope you enjoyed discovering the city with us 😊 Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Hello, I did not understand anything because I requested that this excursion be in Spanish and it ended up being in English... a disaster Viator as an operator and they confirmed to me that it was going to be in Spanish on 2 occasions... and also to the local operator because they never informed me of such a situation... anyway I wasted time and the opportunity to learn because I am already leaving the country...
Batu was truly an amazing guide. Very friendly. The tour was truly inspiring. Thank you very much.
Bati isbery patient tour guide happy to explain in details. We enjoy our trip very much
Great overview of Istanbul areas around Taksim and Galata tower. Thanks for the great tour!
Excellent 2 hour walk. It's worth it.
BATUHAN was an amazing guide, down to earth, professional and considerate. He did everything necessary to guarantee a wonderfully informative and instructing tour. He took the tour at a wonderful pace, and made sure questions were heard and answered. My favourite part was the tour of the churches were we had an amazing tour of the history of the building.
It was absolutely brilliant. One of the best walking tour we have done. I would recommend it everytime. The guide Defne was absolutely knowledgeable
Dear Guest, thank you for this brilliant review! 😊 One of the best walking tours you've ever done, that's incredibly high praise! Defne's knowledge and passion really do shine through and we're so glad it made such a lasting impression. We'll make sure she hears your kind words. Hope to welcome you back very soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
This is a very nice experience with Defne
Dear Guest, thank you for the kind words! 😊 We're so glad Defne made the experience such a memorable one. We'll be sure to pass on your feedback to her. Hope to welcome you back very soon! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
We booked several Viator tours during our stay in Istanbul. This one wasn’t bad by any means but we could have done without it. The tour guide was nice but we really just walked up and down the streets. It ended up being only 2 hours but it’s partially our fault because we were just exhausted and probably gave the vibe that we wanted it to be done.
Dear Guest, thank you for the honest feedback! 😊 We're glad the guide made a good impression. The Galata walking tour is designed to be an immersive neighbourhood experience and we're sorry it didn't fully hit the mark on the day. Sometimes timing and energy levels play a big role! We hope to welcome you back for a fresh experience soon. Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
