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
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 3 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
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

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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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 19 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.7/5
Value for money
4.6/5

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This neighborhood walking tour allows you to see the less traveled roads of Balat and Fener after a refreshing ferry ride. It is really interesting seeing the contrast in the roads between the old and modern. You also get to see the famous colored houses of Balat and know the history in-depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

May 30, 2022

This was a fantastic tour, around the Fener and Balat neighborhoods of Istanbul. The tour started with a ferry ride which was such a great way to see the city! We were then taken through all the different streets and learnt about the city's rich history along the way. Our guide Cetin was absolutely fantastic - super knowledgeable about the area and history, was very easy to get along with. We had a great time with him! He kindly took us on the bus back to into the city centre so we could catch our ferry home. Thank you Cetin for an amazing morning out! Would definitely recommend :)

May 11, 2022

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

Istanbul: Fener and Balat Small-Group Walking Tour

Istanbul: Fener and Balat Small-Group Walking Tour

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