Pera Bosphorus Hotel, Karaköy · Istanbul Travel Guide

Things to Do in Istanbul

Karaköy is one of the easiest places in Istanbul to explore the city from. Galata Tower is up the hill, Galataport and the Bosphorus are on our doorstep, the tram crosses the Galata Bridge to the Old City and ferries leave for the Asian side a few minutes from the hotel. Here is what our concierge team recommends, starting with the places you can walk to.

1. Walk around Karaköy and Galata

Galataport and Istanbul Modern. The waterfront promenade next to the hotel is the best place for a first walk: cafés, shops and an open view of the Bosphorus and the Old City. Istanbul Modern, the city's museum of modern and contemporary art, is in the same area, in a building designed by Renzo Piano.

Galata Tower. About ten minutes uphill through the narrow streets of Galata. The viewing balcony looks over the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the domes of the Old City. Go early in the day to avoid the longest queue.

Tünel and İstiklal Avenue. The Tünel, a short underground funicular opened in 1875, climbs from Karaköy to the start of İstiklal Avenue. Walk the avenue past the red nostalgic tram, churches, passages and bookshops all the way to Taksim Square.

2. See the Old City (Sultanahmet)

Take the T1 tram from the Karaköy stop across the Galata Bridge; Sultanahmet is about 15 minutes away. Plan at least one full day for:

• Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century and today a mosque.
• The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and its six minarets.
• Topkapı Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans, with the Harem and the treasury.
• The Basilica Cistern, the underground Byzantine water reservoir with the Medusa heads.
• The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü (the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays).

Dolmabahçe Palace, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, is a short tram ride in the other direction (T1 to Kabataş).

3. Get out on the Bosphorus

No visit to Istanbul is complete without seeing the city from the water: the palaces, the waterside mansions (yalı), Rumeli Fortress and the bridges between Europe and Asia. There are three easy ways to do it:

• Public ferry. The cheapest option. Ferries from Eminönü and Karaköy cross the water all day, and a longer Bosphorus line runs up towards the Black Sea.
• Sunset cruise. A two-hour boat trip at golden hour is one of the most popular evenings in Istanbul. A shared Bosphorus sunset cruise starts at around €26 per person.
• Private yacht. For a proposal, an anniversary, a family celebration or a business dinner, you can have a private yacht on the Bosphorus just for your group, from around €130 per hour for the whole yacht. Many yachts can pick you up in Karaköy, a few minutes from the hotel.

Our concierge will be happy to book any of these for you.

4. Cross to the Asian side

The ferry from Karaköy to Kadıköy takes about 20 minutes and is a small Bosphorus trip in itself. Walk the Kadıköy market streets, then continue to the seaside neighbourhood of Moda for a coffee and the sunset over the Old City skyline. Üsküdar, with its mosques and the view of the Maiden's Tower, is another easy ferry ride.

Princes' Islands. For a full day away from the traffic, take a ferry from Kabataş to Büyükada, the largest of the islands, and explore it by bike or on foot.

5. Eat like a local

• Baklava in Karaköy. The neighbourhood is famous for it; Karaköy Güllüoğlu has been making baklava here for generations.
• Fish sandwich (balık ekmek) by the Galata Bridge in Eminönü.
• Turkish breakfast. Start the day with our buffet breakfast and its Bosphorus view at Loi Restaurant, or try a long weekend breakfast in Karaköy's cafés.
• Dinner with a view. Book a table at Loi Restaurant, overlooking the Bosphorus next to Galataport.

6. Practical tips

• Istanbulkart. One rechargeable card works on trams, metro, funiculars and ferries.
• Mosques. Cover shoulders and knees; women also cover their hair. Avoid visiting during prayer times.
• Timing. See the big sights in the morning and keep the late afternoon for the water, when the light over the Bosphorus is at its best.
• Ask us. Our concierge team books tours, restaurants, transfers and tickets 24 hours a day.

Frequently asked questions

What is within walking distance of Pera Bosphorus Hotel?

Galataport, Istanbul Modern, Galata Tower, the Tünel funicular to İstiklal Avenue and the Karaköy ferry and tram stops are all within a short walk.

How do I get from Karaköy to Sultanahmet?

Take the T1 tram from the Karaköy stop in the direction of Bağcılar. Sultanahmet is about 15 minutes away. A taxi takes a similar time outside rush hour.

What is the best way to see the Bosphorus?

A public ferry is the cheapest way, a shared sunset cruise is the most popular, and a private yacht is best for couples, families and celebrations. Our concierge can arrange all three.

How many days do I need in Istanbul?

Three days is a good minimum: one for the Old City, one for Galata, Beyoğlu and a Bosphorus cruise, and one for the Asian side or the Princes' Islands.