The Galata Tower

The tower of a foreign colony that ended up inside the city surrounding it.

Built1348, by the Genoese
DistrictBeyoğlu

Galata was Genoese territory across the Golden Horn, with a wall of its own. The tower was the high point of that wall. The rest went; it stayed.

The view from the top is the one in almost every photograph of Istanbul: the historic peninsula opposite, the mosques drawn against the sky. The queue can be long — come at opening or near closing.

The street climbing up to it is full of musical instrument shops, which is what the neighbourhood actually does rather than a set dressing.

What to look for

The full circle from the terrace: historic peninsula ahead, Bosphorus to the right, Golden Horn to the left.
Galip Dede street on the way up, full of instrument shops — which is what the neighbourhood does, not set dressing.
What is left of the Genoese wall, in pieces between the buildings around it.
The mevlevihane a few metres away: the whirling dervishes' lodge, a museum now.

Look around in 360°

The Galata Tower — Drag to look around, or use the arrow keys.

Before you go

The queue can be long. At opening or near closing, and not at sunset.
The last stretch is a narrow stair; the lift goes almost to the top, not to it.
Thirty minutes, if there is room at the parapet.
Ten minutes uphill on foot from Karaköy, or the funicular if the hill does not appeal.