Fener, Balat, Piere Lotti and Golden Horn Exploration: A Dive into Real Istanbul
4.8
44 Ratings
Fatih
Experience the real Istanbul on this afternoon walking tour. Explore the neighborhoods of Fener, Balat, Piere Lotti, and Golden Horn, and immerse yourself in the local lifestyle, from using public transport to sipping tea at local cafes.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • İncili Çavuş Sk. No:8 - Leave the main tourist precincts behind for an afternoon and explore the outer historic western area of Istanbul with the Istanbul. This tour will take you off the normal tourist trail and show you the Golden Horn and the rich Byzantine and Ottoman history that exists near the old city walls of Istanbul.

Visit colorful Ottoman houses which located by the Golden Horn and visit the neighborhood where Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together for centuries. Discover the residential neighborhoods of Istanbul and feel the culture on the streets.
Cruise down the Golden Horn; see the colourful Ottoman houses near the UNESCO World Heritage precinct; walk the old Byzantine city walls; visit the sacred Eyüp Mosque complex; take a cable car to the picturesque Pierre Loti Café and see the spectacular 180 degree views of Istanbul that inspired the 19th century author of the same name.

What's Included
  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Snacks included
  • All public transport fees covered (tram, bus, ferry, cable car)
Additional Information

This tour is to the neighborhoods far away from main touristy parts of the city and it is about experiencing the real Istanbul. In this afternoon walking tour, we take you away for an introduction to the local life style of Istanbul. We will start with experiencing of using all sort of public transport as tram, bus and cable car. Visiting the residential neighborhoods which will give you the chance to see how locals live in this cosmopolitan city. We will sit at the local cafes to sip cay tea and see how local get social. We will pass through the local markets, bakeries, tea houses. We will learn how the Constantinople was concurred by Ottoman in 1453. And finally we will be on top of the Piere lotti hill to watch the view which inspired the French poet to write the book titled Aziyade. We will have a coffee break here on top of the hill to watch Istanbul over the Golden Horn ( natural harbor ) and we can count Istanbul’s seven hills together.

Location
İtimat Fabrika Satış Yeri
Avrupa Yakası
Our meeting point is in front of the İtimat Fabrika Satış Mağazası which is a diary store located at the right side of the entry gate of the SPICE/EGYPTIAN MARKET ( Mısır Çarşısı in Turkish ) Please stay in front of the shop and our guide will come and find you.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(44 Ratings)
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Carina
May 20, 2024
Recommended - I am lucky enough to get one for a trip, very nice guide. Plenty of time to look around and take pictures. Lovely neighborhood with a slightly slower pace
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pc0k
May 8, 2024
A lively neighborhood to see! - This district is away from the center but the new tramway provides easy access. There are trendy cafes but above all lots of colorful houses and interesting streets.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeff_k
May 5, 2024
Off the beaten path… - Off the beaten path…very small group…entire experience was focused on a walk through two connected, historic neighborhoods that are a bit out of the way. Very knowledgeable guide…perfect English skills.
Review provided by Viator
Meghan_o
Apr 16, 2024
Not to be missed! - This tour was super cool and off the beaten path! It was great hitting the streets! Taking in the beautiful coloured houses and learning about the architectural changes over the years. Cute cats everywhere! Love the little cafe we stopped at. A real Turkish experience! Our guide was amazing and even came to find me when I got lost off the tram! Definitely recommended!!
Review provided by Viator
Darren_g
Mar 18, 2024
The colour and history of Fener and Balat with a super guide - We wanted something a little off the beaten track, a guide with extensive local knowledge and to generally have a fun few hours. All boxes were checked! Salih was charming, funny and knowledgeable. We both learned so much, and got to experience some delightful scenery. One tip - make sure to ask Salih to pick up some Kir Pidesi... There is some walking involved, particularly up and down a few hills and the colourful steps, but nothing *too* strenuous.
Review provided by Viator
Juharriss11
Feb 9, 2024
A nice treat - Tour was great. I ended up being the only one booked so it was a private tour! Showed off the beaten path Istanbul and I marked several spots to come back for coffee or to explore more. A little pricey for what you get but was still a good experience.
Review provided by Viator
William_f
Dec 21, 2023
Ethnic History - Barack is an extremely well-informed tour guide. His tour was like a one credit college class in the ethnic history of Constantinople and Istanbul. A+
Review provided by Viator
Betsi_k
Oct 28, 2023
Perfect off the beaten path tour! Don’t miss! - From the moment Burak met us at the meeting location everything was absolute perfection! He created a wonderful day by making the group feel cohesive and relaxed. His knowledge of everything that we were seeing was extensive, and his way of expressing that knowledge was on point! What a wonderful opportunity to see items that were off the beaten path… A side of Istanbul definitely worth visiting!
Review provided by Viator
Atabarrok
Oct 26, 2023
Excellent tour of lesser known neighborhoods - If you are done with the big tourist sites in the Sultanahmet district, this is an excellent tour of some of the lesser known neighborhoods focusing especially on the Greek Orthodox and Jewish communities. Learn some of the more recent history of Istanbul such as the expulsion of the Greeks in the 20th century as well as the ancient roots of the Orthodox church in Istanbul. Even though it is less touristy there are plenty of local cafes and shops of interest and the history is followed up with a cable car ride, panoramic views of Istanbul and introduction to the tram system.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
915enricas
May 7, 2024
a different aspect of the city - It was interesting even if the weather wasn't good, our guide, a very kind, cultured and pleasant person, explained the history of the Ottoman Empire and the diaspora between Greeks and Turks very well to us, we certainly learned many things that we didn't know
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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