Istanbul/Galata



Galata is just north, across the Golden Horn, from the Old City of Istanbul. Further north is Beyoğlu: İstiklal Avenue is its thoroughfare, and adjoining Taksim Square is considered the heart of the city — if it were sensible to speak of a "downtown" for multicentric Istanbul, that would most likely refer to this area.

Besides the Sultanahmet/Old City area, this is where you will spend most time during your Istanbul trip — the district has its fair share of sights, dining, nightlife, and accommodation.

Understand
Galata (Turkish: Karaköy) has its beginnings in the apparently rural Byzantine port of Sykai ("fig orchard"). It rose to prominence in the 14th century as a trade colony of the Genoese, also with a large population of the Venetians, adjacent to the Byzantine seat Constantinople. After the Ottomans captured Istanbul, the previous arrangement was more or less left intact — Galata was still autonomous, but had its city walls razed just in case the Italians decided to go rogue as they habitually did in their relations with the Byzantines (the only remains of the once mighty Galata Castle are the Galata Tower, a short section of wall ruins below the Golden Horn metro bridge, and a couple of scattered, ruined towers incorporated into the dense urban fabric in the meantime). To the north, there were only a few lodges of the hermits seeking seclusion in wilderness as well as a few countryside mansions of the rich and powerful, including a son of a Genoese ruler of Galata. It was him whom the area is named after: Beyoğlu, "son of the lord" (Galatasaray was the likely site of his manor, and derives its name, literally "Galata palace", from it). Europeans knew this area after its Greek name, Pera, "the other side", as per the point of view of Constantinople. Beyoğlu/Pera wasn't urbanized until the 1850s, when the Grande Rue de Péra (Great Avenue of Pera) or present-day İstiklal Avenue (İstiklal Caddesi) was opened. Further north, Taksim Square (Taksim Meydanı) is even younger; it was developed as a city square as late as the 1930s.

Ever since its cornerstone was laid as a Western foothold (Northern Italian and Roman Catholic) just beside an Eastern Constantinople (Byzantine and Greek Orthodox, later Ottoman and Muslim), Galata has always been destined to represent the "West". This is quite easily visible from the area's architectural heritage — whichever style was in vogue in Europe was simultaneously adopted here — but there is more than meets the eye: the district has been the home to the first street lighting, the first underground railway (Tünel, built in 1875, also the oldest in continental Europe), and the first European-style hotel and theatres in the country. It was also the host to the main European population of the city, in addition to the Levantines, as the descendants of the original Italian settlers came to be known, and parts of the non-Muslim groups of the multiconfessional Ottoman society. During the last century of the Ottoman Empire, when the modernization and westernization efforts reached a climax, the decision of the Ottoman dynasty to abandon the Topkapı Palace, their centuries-old and distinctly Oriental seat in Old Istanbul, in favour of the western-style Dolmabahçe Palace near Beyoğlu was a symbolic act that clearly manifested the direction the country would get to take.

From the 19th century, Galata had been a major financial centre, and Beyoğlu the diplomatic district — impressive buildings of embassies, downgraded to consulates since the capital was moved to Ankara, and former bank headquarters still dot the area. In the 1920s the White Russians fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution settled in numbers. Their contribution to the local microcosm laid the foundations of the nightlife scene that would later become a distinctive feature of the district.

The most gruesome episodes of the 1955 Istanbul Pogrom were played out in Beyoğlu, and consequently many minorities, particularly the Greeks, left. This ended the district's truly multicultural period, which was the basis of its character and essence. In the later decades, the stock exchange and the headquarters of the banks and insurance companies moved north to the new business district, as did the fashion retail and the associated ateliers to Nişantaşı. Then the district became a shadow of its former self, and more or less degraded into an urban decay zone.

The 1990s saw a revival and the first gentrification efforts, and accordingly an exponential return of the nightlife scene. In 2013, here was the epicentre of the Gezi Park protests, which began as a peaceful sit-in against planned redevelopment of Gezi Park at the side of Taksim Square, but after a heavy-handed reaction by the government, turned into the largest demonstrations in modern Turkish history in opposition to the ever-growing authoritarianism and conservatism of the AKP government. Under the pressure of the government, perhaps seeking retaliation, Beyoğlu is in a transformation again as of the 2020s: more and more nightlife venues are moving out to areas such as Asmalımescit, Galata or elsewhere in the city, and the more Islamic-compliant hookah cafes are opening up in their place, and traditional stores and art galleries are being replaced by massive shopping malls. Held in the district since 2003, Istanbul Pride, the first and largest LGBT event in the Muslim-majority countries and attracted more than 100,000 people in 2014 has been banned from the next year on. A bulky Taksim Mosque, built in 2017, now looms over the square, sidelining the Hagia Triada Church which used to dominate the view. It remains to be seen whether this transition will lead to a permanent change and keep the district from a return to its roots.

But don't let your heart wither: the district is still beautiful and exciting to visit. Its core is pedestrianised İstiklal Avenue, thronged by people of all ages and origins strolling, enlivened by street musicians, and lined by restaurants and retail outlets. It's 2 km long and connects three squares: Taksim in the north is the biggest, Galatasaray Square in the middle is really just a widening of the street, and Tünel Square is at the southern end. A vintage tram trundles along its length.

By metro
Metro line M2 passes through Taksim Square from the northern districts and from as far south as Yenikapı. Additionally, when the east-west line M7 is extended in 2025 it will terminate in the northern part of the district at Kabataş.

By bus
Airport shuttle buses run by Havaş connect Taksim Square with Istanbul International Airport and with Asia-side Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Taksim Square is very central to the city life, so it’s possible to find a direct public bus from everywhere but the outermost suburbs. Dolmuşes also bring passengers from Beşiktaş, Bakırköy, Kadıköy and Bostancı (both in the Asian Side) to Taksim.

By tram
Modern tram line T1 connects the lower parts of the district on the Bosphorus (such as Karaköy, Tophane, Fındıklı, Kabataş) with the peninsula of the Old City. Funicular F1 connects its Kabataş station with Taksim on M2 metro. The vintage tram T2, although integrated into the ticket system of the city's public transport, is more of an attraction than a serious method of going somewhere.

On foot
You can cross to the Galata/Karaköy side from Eminönü via the Galata Bridge on foot.

By funicular
The Tünel funicular (F2) connects Istiklal Caddesi with Karaköy at the sea level on the Golden Horn. It's the second oldest urban underground railway in the world (after London’s Underground), dating back to 1875. Although the distance travelled is rather short between its two stations (a whopping 573 meters, which perhaps make it also the title winner for being the shortest metro line of the planet), it beats the effort one has to make to climb up the steep slope between its stations. For its lower station, look for the sign Tünel on the side of a building just over the Galata Bridge on the western side of the street. It costs 2.50 TL/person one-way (Istanbulkart is accepted) and departs every 5 minutes M-Sa 07:00-22:30, Su 07:30-22:30.

By ferry
Ferries from Kadıköy across the Bosphorus moor at Karaköy and Kabataş, the two largest ferry piers in Galata. There are also ferries across the Goldern Horn, from Sultanahmet.



Around Galata Tower
The bankers’ town of Galata was a cosmopolis crowned by the Tower.



Jewish heritage
Since 1492 the prosperity and creativity of the Ottoman Jews rivaled that of the Golden Age of Spain. Today the Jewish community in Turkey is about 26,000 and most of them live in Istanbul.



Along İstiklal Caddesi

 * [[Image:Istanbul asv2021-11 img71 StAnthony of Padua Church.jpg|thumb|View of S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church.]]
 * [[Image:Istanbul asv2021-11 img71 StAnthony of Padua Church.jpg|thumb|View of S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church.]]
 * [[Image:Istanbul asv2021-11 img71 StAnthony of Padua Church.jpg|thumb|View of S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church.]]

Elsewhere

 * Aynalikavak Pavilion DSCF3310.jpg
 * Aynalikavak Pavilion DSCF3310.jpg
 * Aynalikavak Pavilion DSCF3310.jpg
 * Aynalikavak Pavilion DSCF3310.jpg

Buy
Checkout the Beşiktaş Market right besides Galata on the way to Beşiktaş ferry terminal.

Budget

 * Right at the corner of Taksim Sq and İstiklal Ave, there is renowned for their ıslak burgers: these are soaked in tomato sauce (therefore ıslak, "wet") and are smaller and spicier (garlicky, in particular) than the variety found in US-origin chains. While Kızılkayalar Burger is the oldest, all stalls offer basically the same menu: döner, french fries, toasts, various cold and hot snacks, freshly squeezed juices, as well as prepackaged soft drinks and ayran. All are open 24-hr and have sit-in and take-out options.
 * On the (literally Fish Market, next to Çiçek Pasajı and opposite Galatasaray Lisesi), there is a number of small eateries side by side, offering delicious fried mussels (midye tava, 3.50 TL per sandwich) with a yogurt sauce, best washed down with a pint of beer.
 * On the (literally Fish Market, next to Çiçek Pasajı and opposite Galatasaray Lisesi), there is a number of small eateries side by side, offering delicious fried mussels (midye tava, 3.50 TL per sandwich) with a yogurt sauce, best washed down with a pint of beer.

Drink
The golden days of the 1990s–2010s of Beyoğlu nightlife are now history. Nevertheless, Beyoğlu is still lively, and you won't go thirsty. Many clubs offer live music.



Cafés

 * Melekler Kahvesi Ayhan Işık Sk 32-A, Taksim, +90 212 251 31 01. Melekler Kahvesi which is a backstreet cafe is in Taksim. It is a very popular place among young people. You can play games such as Scrabble and drink Turkish coffee (6 TL). After drinking Turkish coffee, fortunetellers will look at the coffee grounds and tell your future for free.

Small streets south of Taksim Square offer a variety of cafes with more than reasonable prices. Tea can cost 1-1.50 TL instead of 5-6 TL in more touristy areas. A more authentic feel with locals spending their time there and also playing boardgames.

Hookah
In Tophane near the waterfront are a number of well-known hookah/shisha (nargile) cafes all clustered together. They don't serve traditional hookah unless you are on their outdoor patios due to the national ban on indoors tobacco smoking in public places — instead you have to go for a non-tobacco version marketed as bitkisel ("herbal") to stay within the legal limits, but those passionately in love with traditional hookah usually find it unpleasant.

Sleep
Much accommodation is business-oriented, for people on expenses. There's a dearth of mid-range hotels, and many hostels and other budget places have perished in the downturn. Nevertheless it's still possible to stay for budget to mid-range prices in this part of the city.

Stay safe
Generally, it is safe to walk around in this district, even by night, although crossing Tarlabaşı Boulevard (Tarlabaşı Bulvarı) towards the dilapidated and rough quarter of Tarlabaşı to the west of Beyoğlu/Istiklal Avenue wouldn't be wise after nightfall. Some other parts of this district also have some crime issues. A rule of thumb to follow would be to look for young people around having fun, which suggests that you are more likely in an OK zone.

In Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, there are always (7/24) police officers on patrol and security cameras. Do not be afraid. This is a safe area.

Beware of the common bar scams. These are detailed in the dedicated section of the main Istanbul article.

Connect
There are some internet cafes on the side alleys of Istiklal Avenue, especially on the ones nearer Taksim Square. Look for the signs when passing by, especially for those hanging from the second or third floors of the buildings. Most cost around 1.50 TL/hr.