A less touristy, more colorful and authentic Istanbul: Fener, Balat and Pierre Loti.
The areas of Fener, Balat and Pierre Loti Hill are among the richest in history and culture, the most intriguing and characteristic of all Istanbul, neighborhoods where different ethnic groups, religions and languages coexist, like a real living mosaic, so much so that they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. But despite this, they are the least visited neighborhoods by tourists who flock to this city every year.
Explore the historic outer western area of Istanbul away from typical tourist routes. Experience the local culture and lifestyle, admire centuries-old Ottoman buildings, take a cable car up Pierre Loti Hill, and cruise the waters of the Golden Horn.
Istanbul: Fener/Balat Walking Tour, Pierre Loti Hill & Ferry
Meet your guide at the Fuego Café and Restaurant in Sultanhamet, in the heart of the main tourist area of Istanbul. From here you’ll take the local tram to Eminönü Harbor and begin a 5-hour excursion into Istanbul’s heritage.
Travel by public bus to the colorful Fener/Balat district, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and at one time home to Istanbul’s Ottoman Orthodox and Jewish residents. See traces of Ottoman life, including wooden houses, mosques, churches, and synagogues, standing together and demonstrating the multicultural and religious ways of the Ottoman Empire.
After walking along the cobblestoned streets of the Fener/Balat World Heritage area, you’ll continue along the historic Byzantine city walls that date to the 4th century A.D. and the time of Constantine the Great.
Visit the historic Eyüp mosque complex, a sacred area where pilgrims come to visit the mosques and the tombs of Muslim saints. From here you’ll take a short cable car ride up to the famous Pierre Loti Café, a popular meeting point for locals. Enjoy stunning panoramic views of Istanbul while sipping a drink in one of the cafés where French Poet Pierre Loti was inspired to write Aziyade, part biography and part love story about his escapades in Istanbul in the late 1800s.
Walk back down to Eyüp to catch the local ferry for a cruise on the blue waters of the Golden Horn. See Ottoman houses, shipyards, the old and new Galata bridges, Ataturk Bridge, ancient city walls, mosques, churches, and other historic and modern sites. You’ll disembark at Eminönü Harbor, where the tour ends.
About this activity
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Duration 5 hours
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Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 10 participants
