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Preplanned City Guides and Travel Itineraries

Galata Tower

On this page you find practical information, photos and videos about Galata Tower.

Galata Tower features in these preplanned City Guides:

1-day Istanbul City Guide3-day Istanbul City Guide5-day Istanbul City Guide

Why visit / Interesting facts:

  • The best 360° views of the city
  • One of the city's most striking landmarks

Time required: 60 minutes

Phone: +90 212 293 8180

Opening hours:

Time period Opening hours
Summer, daily: 9am - 7pm
Otherwise, daily: 9am - 5pm

Admission:

Ticket type Charge
General: 10 TL

Public transport:

  • Tram Line T1: Karaköy stop

Address: Bereketzade Mh., 34420 Istanbul

Things you need to know:

  • Galata Tower is a 62 m (205 ft) high, medieval stone tower with a conical top. It provides the best 360° views of Istanbul
  • The Genoese built the tower in 1348 and called it 'Christea Turris' (Latin for Tower of Christ). It was part of the fortifications surrounding the citadel of Galata
  • The Genoese were the main trading partner of Constantinople. The city of Galata was their trade colony
  • According to travel stories (called Seyahatname), Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, a 17th century aviator, overflew the Bosphorus from Galata Tower using artificial wings for gliding
  • From the 18th century Ottoman Turks used the tower for spotting fires in the city
  • After a storm destroyed the tower's conic roof in 1875, Galata Tower remained without a top until the 1960's
  • The tower was opened to the public in 1967

What to do there:

  • Admire the tower from outside
  • Take the elevator and a small set of narrow, winding stairs. They will take you to the restaurant and the viewing platform
  • Walk around the gallery and enjoy the fabulous views of the Golden Horn and the city

Tips & Insights:

  • Time your visit for sunset, if possible
  • If you don't fancy walking to the tower, take the Tunnel (the old subway) uphill from Karaköy to Tünel
  • In the evenings, the restaurant hosts a dinner and cabaret with Turkish folk dance and belly dancing

Galata Tower features in these preplanned City Guides: