Things To Do In Karakoy Neighborhood Istanbul + What To See
What To Do In Karakoy
Every year, Istanbul receives many visitors from all over the world, so the neighborhoods of Istanbul are very important for tourists. In this article from the Travelling Topic tourism website, you will be introduced with the Karakoy neighborhood, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Istanbul.
Karakoy neighborhood is located right next to the water and one of the essential ports. Recently, the historical facades of Karakoy have been renovated one by one to become cafes and restaurants. On weekends, the Karakoy neighborhood is full of locals and tourists who have heard of the area’s popularity. If you also want to know what is Karakoy known for, continue reading this article.
In the following, I will share the experiences I gained during my stay in Istanbul and introduce you to the best things you can do in this neighborhood.
Where is Karakoy in Istanbul?
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Karakoy area is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city. This neighborhood is a historical area in the European part of the city and is located between Kabatas and Galata Bridge. Due to its proximity to the water, the Karaköy area is one of Istanbul’s most famous and prominent old ports.
Things to see in Karakoy
Galata Tower and Bridge are located near this lovely neighborhood. If you are looking for things to see in Karakoy, go on the Galta Bridge and watch the sunset. You must visit the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Osmani Bank Museum, Turkish Jewish Museum, Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque, churches, and synagogues in the Karakoy area.
Galata Tower
This tower, one of the conservation sites in Istanbul’s Karakoy neighborhood, has a long staircase and an upper floor. On top of the Galata Tower and around it is a terrace with surveillance cameras for visitors and tourists to get an overview of the city and the port of Karakoy neighborhood.
Also on this floor is a traditional restaurant where you can have Turkish tea with a great city view.
Local restaurants and cafes
Walking in the alleys of Karakoy neighborhood, you will see that small local cafes and restaurants are everywhere. Small shops with tables and chairs in the alley serving tea and famous foods of Turkey. There is also a popular place to eat especially Turkish food and seafood, burek, baklava and Turkish desserts at the bottom of the Galata Bridge, where attracts all local and foreign tourists.
One of the first places that opened here was the Karabatak Cafe, and its best restaurant is the Karakoy Lokantasi restaurant, where you must make a reservation for dinner.
Churches, mosques and synagogues
Since the Karakoy neighborhood of Istanbul has an ancient and historical context and was inhabited by different religions, the places that were the places of worship of these religions and that have remained throughout history have become many historical places in Istanbul and sightseeing centers in this area.
Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque
One of the famous buildings of Karakoy is the Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque. The architecture of this mosque is modeled after the Hagia Sophia and it is called the Little Hagia Sophia.
To start visiting the Karakoy neighborhood, the Kilich Ali Pasha Mosque near the Tophane tram station is a good choice. This mosque is one of the classic works of the Ottoman period, built by the famous architect Sinan. This beautiful mosque was built in the 16th century in honor of Admiral Kilic Ali Pasha. The Turkish bath Kilic Ali Pasha, located next to the mosque, have also been recently renovated. Visiting this bath is one of the best things you can do in Karakoy.
Istanbul Karakoy Wharf
Istanbul Karakoy Wharf is one of the critical and historical wharves of the city, which gives you a chance to visit the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Horn Bay. Many cruise ships travel on this route daily, which can be used to experience memorable moments.
Museum of Modern Art
The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art can satisfy you in every way. This museum is an international exhibition of local and foreign artists who have the opportunity to present their works in the field of photography, painting, visual arts, architecture, etc.
Osmani Bank Museum
This museum is one of the most different museums in the Karakoy district of Istanbul, which was established in 1890 and is an exhibition of various financial documents, banknotes and photos of bank branches and bank employees.
Saint Pierre Church
Don’t forget to visit the Saint Pierre Church while visiting Galata Tower in the Karakoy neighborhood. This church is located at the bottom of the tower, and its construction was completed in 1843. It might be interesting to know that this church was burned down before but remained intact.
Karakoy Gulluoglu Baklavacisi
This baklava shop is one of Turkey’s most famous baklava shops and dates back to the 19th century. If you are interested in Turkish sweets and want to know What Do Turkish Delights Taste Like, visit this baklava shop.
How to go to the Karakoy Istanbul?
From the end of Istiklal street and Tunel station, get on Funicular F2 and get off at Karakoy station. If you are in the historical area of Sultan Ahmed and Eminönü or Aksaray and Laleli, take Tram T1 from the nearest station and get off at Karakoy station.
All travelers and tourists in Istanbul know Taksim Square. This square is the transportation highway of the city, and most people have to pass through this square to go to many areas of Istanbul.
If you ask me how to go from Taksim to Karakoy, I suggest these three options:
Metro: The metro is the best choice if you want to get to the Karakoy neighborhood as quickly as possible. The metro will take you to Karakoy in 16 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi can also be an excellent option to reach the Karakoy. Taxi covers the distance of 4 kilometers from Taksim Square to Karakoy in about 23 minutes.
But if you want my opinion, I suggest walking from Taksim to Karakoy. Walking along this path is one of the pleasures that you should not miss. Suppose you are one of those people who are interested in photography and publishing it on social media. In that case, Istanbul’s historical and beautiful streets can be the best photography subject.
At the end of the line
Karakoy neighborhood of Istanbul can be considered one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of this city. A unique neighborhood where you can see beauty and originality wherever you look.
Cozy and colorful cafes full of people, and buildings that look like they came out of an old historical book or movie are all part of the attractions of Karakoy, which I suggest you don’t hesitate to see. Above, I gave you new information about things to do in Karakoy and introduced you to Karakoy district Istanbul.
Thank you for staying with ME until the end of this article. I wish you a pleasant trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karakoy a good place to stay?
Yes, there are many hotels in this neighborhood that you can book for your stay.
What is Karakoy known for?
It has many historical places which are mentioned in this article from Travelling Topic.
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