Karaköy is the waterfront district at the northern mouth of the Golden Horn, just across the Galata Bridge from Eminönü. It is small enough to cover on foot in half a day. This guide gives you a route past six stops, the current hours and prices where the official sites publish them, and the ways to get there.
Karaköy at a glance
- Where: Beyoğlu, on the European side, at the northern mouth of the Golden Horn. Historically the area was known as Galata.
- Why it matters: The Byzantine emperor granted the district to Genoese merchants in 1267. They built the Galata Tower in 1348, and the Ottomans took the area in 1453.
- What it is today: A mix of old bank buildings, the Galataport waterfront, museums, cafés and, on Tersane Caddesi, the Perşembe Pazarı hardware market.
- How long: Half a day for the walk below. Add two hours if you go inside Istanbul Modern.
How to get to Karaköy
- Ferry: Şehir Hatları boats serve the Karaköy pier from Kadıköy and Üsküdar. Galataport also runs a sea shuttle, the Deniz Dolmuş, from the Kadıköy–Üsküdar and Bebek–Ortaköy piers (Galataport).
- Tram: The T1 line stops at Karaköy. For Galataport, use the Tophane or Fındıklı stops.
- Metro: Take the M2 line to Şişhane and use the Karaköy exit.
- On foot: Cross the Galata Bridge from Eminönü, or ride the Tünel funicular down from the southern end of İstiklal Avenue.
Pay for ferries, trams, metro and the Tünel with an Istanbulkart. Our Istanbulkart guide explains how to buy and load one.
A walking route in six stops
1. Karaköy pier and the Galata Bridge side
Start at the ferry pier. Across the water you can see the Historic Peninsula skyline. This shore has been a port since Byzantine times.
2. Arap Mosque (Arap Camii)
Walk a few minutes inland to Galata Mahkemesi Sokak. The mosque began as a large Dominican church built between 1323 and 1325. It became a mosque in the 1470s. The name “Arab Mosque” comes from the Andalusian Muslims who settled here at the end of the 15th century. Its Gothic shape is unusual in Istanbul, and it is described as the only surviving medieval religious Gothic building in the city.
It is a working mosque. We found no posted visiting hours, so dress modestly and avoid prayer times.
3. Bankalar Caddesi and SALT Galata
Bankalar Caddesi means Banks Street, and it is lined with 19th-century bank buildings. The Ottoman Central Bank headquarters, completed in 1892, is now part of SALT Galata at number 11. Entry is free. It houses exhibitions, the Salt Research halls, the Ottoman Bank Museum, a bookshop and a café.
4. Camondo Stairs
Walk a short way up to the Camondo Stairs (Kamondo Merdivenleri). The banker Abraham Salomon Camondo had them built around 1870–1880. They link Bankalar Caddesi with Kart Çınar Sokak, where his family lived. The curved design mixes neo-Baroque and early Art Nouveau. The steps are steep and often busy with photographers, so wait for a gap rather than blocking the stairs.
5. Tünel or Galata Tower
From here you can reach the Galata Tower on foot. Our Galata Tower guide covers tickets and queues. If your legs are tired, take the Tünel instead. It opened on 17 January 1875 and lifts you about 61 metres to İstiklal Avenue in a single short ride. The lower station is on Tersane Caddesi.
6. Galataport and Istanbul Modern
Finish at the waterfront. Galataport opened in 2022 and mixes shops, restaurants, hotels and museums with historic buildings such as the Tophane Clock Tower and the Nusretiye Mosque. Its official page lists no promenade hours or fee, so ask at the entrance if you are visiting late.
Hours and prices (checked 28 October 2026)
| Place | Hours | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Modern | Tue–Thu, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00; Fri 10:00–20:00; closed Mon. Last entry 30 min before closing | 1,000 TL regular, 650 TL discounted (students, 65+) for visitors not residing in Türkiye. Children under 12 free | Museum |
| SALT Galata | Tue–Sat 11:00–19:00; Sun 11:00–18:00 | Free | SALT |
| Arap Mosque | No posted hours found | Free (working mosque) | — |
The Istanbul Modern page shows no date and lists holidays for 2025, so confirm prices on the museum’s ticket page before you buy. Thursday free entry is for residents of Türkiye, so assume foreign visitors pay on Thursdays too.
Where to eat
We have not checked individual restaurants for this guide, so we do not recommend any by name. Galataport’s official page lists Turkish and international restaurants inside the development. For independent cafés, walk the side streets between the pier and Bankalar Caddesi and read the posted menu first. Our restaurant service charge guide explains what to look for on the bill.
Plan the rest of your day
- Cross the Galata Bridge to Eminönü and continue to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar.
- Take the ferry to Kadıköy and walk the Kadıköy food market.
- See the boat options in our Bosphorus cruise guide.
Last checked: 28 October 2026. Sources: SALT Galata, Istanbul Modern, Galataport, and Wikipedia’s articles on Karaköy, the Camondo Stairs, the Arap Mosque and the Tünel.
