Galata Photo Tour

(60 reviews)

This is a 1.4mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Istanbul

Turkey

$14.99

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About the Tour

Galata is the most cosmopolitan historical neighbourhood of Istanbul, it's also one of the most picturesque, because it overlooks the old town of Istanbul.

The most famous landmark here is the Galata Tower, which was built by the Genoese 700 years ago and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city centre. The Genoese actually controlled this part of the city for 180 years and their marks can still be seen everywhere in Galata. The neighbourhood was also home to a large Jewish population during the Ottoman Empire, so you'll find a lot of Jewish heritage here too.

On this tour, I'll lead you to the best spots to take pictures of the Galata Tower as well as panoramic cityscapes of Istanbul. You'll pass through the hardware market area, where shop blinds and walls are adorned with graffiti and a careful eye will spot intricate patterns to photograph. From there, the route carries on to a 450 year-old caravanserai, traditional Turkish houses, temples, art galleries, museums, and a local fish market with fish sandwich carts lining the shore against the silhouette of the Old Town.

Tour Producer

Kemal Nuraydin

1 tour

Photographer and professional tour guide. Former Executive Editor of National Geographic Turkey. Currently doing photo tours around Turkey with Istanbul Photo Workshops and internationally with Terra Photo Tours.

Preview Location

Location 1

Welcome

Welcome to the Galata photo tour.

You should be standing in a tiny park on top of a huge underground parking lot, overlooking the Golden Horn. If you're facing the water, there's a cobbled road called Sadi Konuralp behind you and a hotel building.

Are you in the right ... Welcome to the Galata photo tour.

You should be standing in a tiny park on top of a huge underground parking lot, overlooking the Golden Horn. If you're facing the water, there's a cobbled road called Sadi Konuralp behind you and a hotel building.

Are you in the right place? Great! Look down the slope in front of you.

Ok, what is the Golden Horn? The Golden Horn is a body of water that divides the European part of Istanbul in two – the "old" on one side and the "new" on the other. It's said that the name comes from the golden colour of the water at sunset, when you look at it from the Galata Tower. In Turkish, it doesn't have such a fancy name. We simply call it "Haliç", which means "the gulf" or "the bay".

There are several, elevated spots for a better sunset view, like the Galata Tower, which we'll see later on our tour, or the rooftop cafes and restaurants of some hotels in the area. As a general rule, if you're shooting outdoors, early morning or late afternoon are the best times to take pictures.

I'm going to show you where to take great pictures and point out some important sights along the way. Of course, if you see something interesting while you walk, just stop and snap your pictures! I can tell you about the places here but not about the people or events happening around you.

You may want to take some pictures of the view from up here, but let me tell you where to go when you're ready to move on.

Make your way to Sadi Konuralp Street, which is behind you if you're facing the Golden Horn. Then cross over the road and the thin traffic island, and turn right. You'll be walking towards the roundabout at the center of the cobbled streets.

VoiceMap uses GPS to pinpoint your location and trigger the relevant audio. This means you can put your phone away now and relax. I will tell you where to go.

Some simple rules: Turkish people aren't camera-shy in general. It's always a good idea to maintain eye contact and smile when you take pictures of people, instead of sneaking around to get your photo and running away. Spending a couple of minutes with them and trying to communicate when possible is always a plus.

Okay, I'll leave you to take your pictures. You'll hear from me again when you reach the traffic circle. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Neve Shalom Synagogue
The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews
Galata Tower
Galata Tower Museum
Ashkenazi Synagogue of Istanbul
Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque
Beyoğlu Göz Hastanesi
Old British Jail (Galata House)
Church of SS Peter and Paul
D'Art Gallery
St. George Austrian High School
Schneidertempel Sanat Merkezi
Kamondo Stairs
Salt Galata
Ottoman Bank Museum
Merkez Bankası-istanbul Şubesi
Arap Camii
Tarihi Fatih Çarşısı
Kurşunlu Han
Yeni Cami Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque
Beyazıt Tower
Fatih Mosque
Karaköy Balıkçılar Önü
Galata Bridge
Karaköy Pier

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Bedrettin, Refik Saydam Cd. No:43, 34440 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Total distance

2km
Final location
Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Rıhtım Cd. 5-7, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Distance back to start location

764.24m

Directions to Starting Point

The starting point is Sishane Park. The best way to get to the starting point is using the Metro line M2 (Yenikapi-Haciosman) and get off at the Şişhane station. From here follow the signs to Kasımpaşa and after the turnstiles turn right and exit from the right hand side where you'll see the sign for the Refik Saydam Cad. exit. When you're out, the starting point will be a short walk on the left hand side behind you, in the southwest direction, on top of the underground parking lot.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Jewish Museum, Galata Tower, Ashkenazi Synagogue, SALT Galata, Osmanli Bank Museum, cafes and restaurants around Galata Tower, seafood restaurants and fish sandwich carts near the water.

Best time of day

Late afternoon would the the best as the light is softer and Galata Tower looks great in the pictures when lit. Early morning will work fine too for many spots especially for the cityscapes towards the Golden Horn. Also Galata Tower will be less crowded to visit in the morning. Avoid doing this tour in harsh daylight. Walking this route more than once in different time frames will increase the opportunities for better pictures.

Precautions

Arab Mosque will be closed to visits during prayers, if this is the case you may try to re-visit in 20-30 minutes. Also watch the opening times for museums and temples you're planning to visit on the way. You will need your passport if you are visiting the Jewish Museum.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

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Questions and Reviews

4.7 / 5

60 Ratings

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Sense of Place

100%

Navigation

75%

Production Quality

100%

Depth of Info

63%

Route

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Galata Photo Tour

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Kemal Nuraydin

Preview Location

Location 1

Welcome

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

Neve Shalom Synagogue

The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews

Galata Tower

Galata Tower Museum

Ashkenazi Synagogue of Istanbul

Bereketzade Ali Efendi Mosque

Beyoğlu Göz Hastanesi

Old British Jail (Galata House)

Church of SS Peter and Paul

D'Art Gallery

St. George Austrian High School

Schneidertempel Sanat Merkezi

Kamondo Stairs

Salt Galata

Ottoman Bank Museum

Merkez Bankası-istanbul Şubesi

Arap Camii

Tarihi Fatih Çarşısı

Kurşunlu Han

Yeni Cami Mosque

Suleymaniye Mosque

Beyazıt Tower

Fatih Mosque

Karaköy Balıkçılar Önü

Galata Bridge

Karaköy Pier

Getting There

Route Overview

Directions to Starting Point

Tips

Places to stop along the way

Best time of day

Precautions

Get The App

Questions and Reviews