European Side Tour

Balat and Fener on the Golden Horn

Balat is the oldest layer of Istanbul that most visitors can still walk through. For centuries Greek, Jewish and Armenian families lived on these slopes, and their churches, synagogues and tall narrow houses still stand side by side, with the Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars, built from prefabricated iron, among the local landmarks. A Balat walking tour is best done slowly, and with a private driver you can stop wherever a street or doorway catches your eye.

The painted houses and steep cobbled lanes make Balat one of the most photographed neighbourhoods in the city, and small antique shops and cafes fill the side streets. Many guests ask when the best time to visit Balat is: early in the day, before the lanes fill up, gives the softest light and the quietest streets.

Eyup Sultan Mosque

Eyup Sultan Mosque is built beside the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet who is said to have died near the walls of Constantinople in the seventh century. The original mosque was ordered by Mehmed the Conqueror soon after 1453, and the building seen today dates from the early nineteenth century. It remains a working place of worship and a pilgrimage site, so the atmosphere in the courtyard is calm and devout.

Modest dress is expected: cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf. Visitors who ask how to visit Eyup Sultan Mosque respectfully should avoid prayer times and keep voices low. Because the day is private, you can stay as long as you wish, and the nearby streets and the old cemetery climbing the hillside are worth a gentle walk.

Pierre Loti Hill and the Golden Horn view

Pierre Loti Hill is named after the French naval officer and novelist who loved Istanbul and, according to the story, often came here to look over the water. The terrace cafe on top gives one of the best views of the Golden Horn, with Eyup's domes and minarets below and the old city on the far shore. Many people search for the Pierre Loti cafe view, and this is the stop where you see it.

You can walk up through the hillside cemetery or ride the cable car from Eyup, which saves the climb and suits families with children or older relatives. The cable car ticket is an optional extra, and your driver can wait or meet you at the top. Sunset is lovely but busy; late morning is calmer.

Miniaturk and Galataport

Miniaturk is a miniature park on the shore of the Golden Horn, with more than a hundred scale models of landmarks from across Turkey and the Ottoman world. It is an easy, family-friendly stop, and children enjoy walking among tiny mosques, bridges and palaces. Because it is optional, you can add it, shorten it or skip it, depending on the age of your group and how much time you want for the rest of the day.

Galataport is the restored cruise port at Karakoy, now a long open promenade along the Bosphorus with shops, cafes and views toward the Asian shore. It is a modern contrast to Balat and Eyup, and a good place for a relaxed walk or a break for lunch. Your driver can time the Galataport stop around your meal and your energy.

Dolmabahce Palace or a Bosphorus cruise

At this point of the day you choose. Dolmabahce Palace was built in the middle of the nineteenth century for Sultan Abdulmecid I and is famous for its crystal chandeliers, its grand ceremonial hall and its long row of rooms along the Bosphorus. It is also where Ataturk died in 1938. If you ask whether Dolmabahce Palace is worth visiting, history and architecture lovers almost always say yes, but the palace has weekly closing days, so we confirm the day with you first.

The alternative is a Bosphorus cruise of around an hour and a half, which shows the strait's bridges, waterfront mansions and both shores from the water. It suits guests who would rather be on the sea than indoors. Palace entry and cruise tickets are optional extras, and you tell us which you prefer before the day so the schedule fits.

Ortakoy or Zorlu Center to end the day

Ortakoy is a lively Bosphorus village in the shadow of the first Bosphorus Bridge, known for its baroque mosque beside the water, its craft stalls, cafes and the baked potatoes sold along the square. A walk here at the end of the day, with the strait and the bridge in the background, is a classic way to finish a European side tour of Istanbul.

If you would rather shop or sit in air conditioning, Zorlu Center is a modern shopping and entertainment complex on the European side with a wide range of stores and restaurants. You can choose either, or both if time allows. Your driver then takes you straight back to your hotel.