Discover Fener and Balat in Istanbul with a guided small-group walking tour. You can experience neighborhoods full of character and enjoy a ferry ride along the Golden Horn, with your guide educating your on your surroundings throughout the tour.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Mobile ticketing: Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 3 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide: English, German

Highlights

Join a small group walking tour along the Golden Horn
See two authentic neighborhoods off the tourist trail
Visit churches, mosques and synagogues in an all included walking tour
Walk along the Byzantine city walls of Constantinople

Full description

Start your tour with a ferry ride along the Golden Horn from Karakoy to Ayvansaray, where you will see the skyline of Istanbul from this famous waterway onboard a local ferry. You can listen to your guide as they go over the history of Constantinople, the conquest by the Ottomans and the introduction of Jewish culture after 1492. Afterwards, visit the extraordinary church of Mary Blachernae, Ahrida Synagogue and walk the streets and markets of Balat through the splashes of color and the vibrancy of its street life. Experience the crisscross of washing lines on the crumbling buildings, and the labyrinth of cobblestone streets teeming with kids playing football. You will then end your tour in Fener after seeing the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate which houses a column which is believed to have been used for the binding and flogging of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Church is an essential part of this tour, as it is the most sacred site for all of the 300 million Orthodox people in the world.

Includes

Professional guide
Walking exploration of the picturesque neighborhoods
Small group tour with a maximum of 12 people

Lunch
Transportation to the meeting spot

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All required protective equipment is provided
All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Prepare for the activity

Meeting point

Meet at the Karakoy ferry dock. Please make your way to Karakoy and walk down to the water to find the ferry dock. Your guide will be waiting at the exit. Looking at the sea, Galata Bridge will be on your right.

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Important information

Know before you go

Please wear shoes comfortable for walking and follow a conservative dress code

Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 7 reviews

Review summary

Guide
5/5
Value for money
5/5

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So glad we took that tour! It turned out, it was only the 3 of us with my wife and Adnan - our guide. It was a marvelous 3h experience. Adnan is extremely versed in the history and culture of Istanbul/Constantinople, and a great human being. The tour was a pleasure, and the tips we got from him about local restaurants and places to visit were priceless! Warmly recommend this tour to anybody who has checked out the main attractions in town and wants to experience its authentic and vibrant nature.

June 8, 2021

We were very privileged indeed to have Çetin as our tour guide who’s very knowledgeable and deeply passionate of what he does. He covered many aspects of our walks beyond our expectations and kept us engaged all the way through! We were also impressed and humbled to be able to view some hidden treasures/sites through his excellent contacts following his many years of experience as a tour guide. We’d definitely highly recommend him and the company for such a memorable experience in Istanbul. Thank you once again! Helena and Liane

February 9, 2020

Actually, I live in Istanbul:) And I already visited Fener and Balat many times. I booked this tour for my 12-year-old nephew who lives in Dubai. He loves taking this kind of tour. Although I thought that I know those neighborhoods as a local man, I understand I didn't know :) Many thanks to our guide Mr. Cetin for his excellent knowledge. And thanks to Ms. Arzu for her good communication.

August 23, 2021

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