Explore the European Quarter of Istanbul

Beyoglu, Galata, Karakoy, Pera – Discover European Istanbul across from Sultanahmet in three hours.

Galata and Beyoglu make up the European Quarter of Istanbul. The area is home to the Sephardic Jews from 1492 and a Genoese colony from whom the Turks learned sailing. Sultan Mehmed II made Galata a residential area for Greeks and Jews after the conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Galata and Beyoglu were non-Muslim areas in the heart of the capital of Islam.

Galata has been a very active business center since its establishment. It was also a night-life center with its taverns, which attracted the Muslim population. The small town of Galata was also a financial center with its bankers and stock exchange. Its harbor was one of the busiest harbors of Europe.

Walking around Galata and Beyoglu, your local expert guide explains the finest examples of the link between Muslim architecture in Istanbul and Europe.

Beyoglu: The Hub of the Modern Town

Istiklal is a long, narrow, and interesting pedestrian avenue that is a museum of Istanbul’s sights, sounds, and smells. As we walk down this avenue, we see:

• Curious, old embassy buildings
• Local fish and flower market
• Galatasaray Lycée, the oldest Turkish institution in the city
• Passage of Flowers, a rococo structure and the liveliest and most colorful spot on the street
• The magnificent Pera Palace hotel built by the Orient Express Company
• Various churches, descending steps to haunting courtyards, alleys, and of course, most venerable restaurants

Cihangir and Cukurcuma

This is the artsy neighborhoods of Istanbul. Meet the artists, visit galleries, watch poets meeting their dates, marvel at antique shops, try some second-hand clothing, and enjoy people-watching and some serious tea drinking while playing backgammon.

This tour is a great extension of your days in Sultanahmet. It’s an exciting opportunity to discover how Istanbul was during the heyday of the Ottomans and the lifestyle of the non-Muslim population.

You can join the Galata & Beyoglu tour in a small group (with a max. of 8 people) or enjoy a private tour. Both experiences are intimate.