How to Spend a Day in Karaköy – Istanbul’s Coolest Neighbourhood

The neighbourhood is OLD but ALIVE. Age-old Byzantine and Ottoman buildings are now home to trendy cafes, boutique shops, and art galleries, while others still house old-school bakeries, corner shops or apartments. The street art and unpretentious vibes give Karaköy a distinct artistic and bohemian atmosphere.

Karaköy is home to notable landmarks, with the iconic Galata Tower being the most significant. The tower offers, arguably, the best views in Istanbul. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Karaköy is home to the Istanbul Modern, a contemporary art museum that underscores Karaköy’s cultural scene. And between this, you get the mosques, churches, synagogues, corner shops, scrap metal joints, markets, and who knows what else.

The culinary scene in Karaköy is a treat for foodies and normal people like you and me alike. Restaurants, cafes, and street food vendors offer the best Istanbul eats, from tables heaving under kahvalti to the iconic balik ekmek, fresh seafood and diabetes-inducing baklava. Exploring the neighbourhood’s cafe culture and culinary delights are definitely things to look forward to in this part of Istanbul.

Van Kahvalti Evi (Van Breakfast House) specializes in a traditional Kurdish-style breakfast from the city of Van in eastern Turkey, and boy, oh boy, it’s a feast for your taste buds.

Picture this: a table filled to the brim with an array of little plates of cheeses, olives, honey, kaymak, jams and preserves, tahini, honeycomb and a selection of warm bread. And let’s not forget about the eggs, fresh cucumber, tomatoes, herbs and the free flow of tea.

Continue downhill, passing the impressive domed Tophane-i Amire Culture & Arts Center, a converted Ottoman Arsenal from the 15th century, on your left.

Soon, you’ll reach Kumbaracı Ykş. Take a right turn here, and you have a choice. If you’re up for it, head all the way uphill towards Istiklal Street, Istanbul’s famous shopping strip, and then head downhill to the Galata Tower from there.

But if you’re looking for a more local experience, we suggest heading up Kumbaracı Ykş a hundred metres or so and then taking the narrow streets leading to Galata. We think Istiklal is better after dark, so we take the narrow streets to Galata.

Atalay, the owner of Persona, is refreshingly laid back compared to other carpet dealers. He offers a collection of affordable, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Be sure to ask if he has any Senneh rugs; we snagged one ourselves, and it’s absolutely exquisite. If you see something you like, it’s a good idea to think it over during your walk today and return in the afternoon to pick it up.

Roughly follow our map, and after more than a few accidental discoveries, distractions and detours, you should reach the Galata Tower.

We decided to see Istanbul from the top of the Galata Tower this time, and we’re glad we did. The tickets are on the pricey side, and you might have to wait in line for quite a while to buy a ticket, but still, it is an Istanbul experience not to be missed.

An elevator whisks you off to the top floor, where you can see a model of the city before heading outside to the viewing terrace. From the top of the Galata Tower, you’ll have an unsurpassed 360-degree view of Istanbul.

Look to the left of the Galata Bridge, and you’ll spot the Tophane-i Amire Culture & Arts Center, where you started from earlier.

After seeing Istanbul from every angle and taking way too many photos, head back inside and take the stairs to exit. The lower floors have displays of the tower’s history and a cool VR-video game-thing you can play to fly over Istanbul.

The stairs were intended as a convenient shortcut for Mr Kamondo to reach Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) and for his children to get to school. Legend has it that the staircase’s beautiful curves were intentionally designed to prevent the children from tumbling too far in case of a fall.

Kamondo Stairs are a hotspot for Instagrammers and posers, so good luck getting a good snap. 

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, you’ll find yourself on Banks Street.

However, it has also experienced a revitalization in recent years, with the emergence of trendy cafes, boutiques, and art galleries, adding a vibrant and contemporary touch to the area.

To get a glimpse of the grandeur and cultural revival of Banks Street, you must visit SALT Galata.

Housed in the former headquarters of the Ottoman Bank, SALT Galata offers a diverse range of artistic and cultural programs. It features exhibition spaces, a library, a research centre and hosts various events and activities related to art, design, architecture, and social issues.

Visitors are free to explore on their own. There is also a cafe inside. Entrance is free of charge.

The rectangular church was built in the Gothic style, and the bell tower was transformed into a minaret resembling the Umayyad mosque in Damascus.

Stepping inside the mosque, I was somewhat overwhelmed by its tranquillity. The plush red carpet and warm wooden accents created an atmosphere of peace and calm, making it one of the most serene places of worship I have ever visited.

Grab a table outside and watch boats ply up and down the Golden Horn while chomping down on Mario’s famous fish sandwiches. To complete the scene, add an icy Efes lager or two.

One of Mario’s super fish sandwiches goes for TRY 60.

On one side, you have trendy and contemporary Karaköy, while on the other, the traditional allure of Sultanahmet, with its magnificent domes and spires, awaits.

With its distinctive double-deck design, the bridge accommodates both pedestrians and vehicles. The upper level accommodates cars, a tram line, and pedestrians, while the lower level is exclusively for foot passengers. The lower level is lined with restaurants and cafes, offering a front-row seat to observe the pulse of Istanbul passing by.

• Visiting Istanbul Modern is a must if you want to delve deeper into Karaköy’s artistic side. Located in Galataport, this stunning museum is a haven for contemporary art enthusiasts.
  
  Inside, you’ll find a diverse collection showcasing the best contemporary art from Turkey and beyond. The museum embraces various mediums and styles, ensuring there’s something to captivate every visitor. Make sure to check out the Photography Gallery, which is particularly impressive.
  
  Istanbul Modern’s hours are as follows: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.
  
  Entrance fee: TRY 300.

The menu features fantastic seafood and mezze options, which is why we came here. We ordered a mezze platter, calamari and grilled mackerel. Of course, no mezze meal is complete without raki, so we indulged in a few shots of Turkish firewater.

While the fish and calamari were great, the mezze was FANTASTIC. They do have halva, baklava and fruit on the dessert menu, but save this for your final stop – the best dessert shop in Karaköy.

The beautiful setting, incredible food, and friendly service combined to create one of the best dinners we’ve had in Istanbul.

Güllüoğlu Baklava is set up like a cafeteria, so you can load your tray, pay and find your own table. The place is always busy, but luckily, it’s pretty big, with seating spread over two floors.

On display are the usual suspects: an array of baklava options, including the classic pistachio and walnut varieties, sultani, kadayif, borek, and Turkish delight. They also offer unique specialities such as hazelnut baklava, chocolate baklava, gluten-free options, and even baklava burgers.

Soğuk Baklava is a cold baklava dessert we haven’t had before, and it turned out to be friggin awesome. This twist on the traditional baklava is less sweet, has a bit of pistachio and chocolate and is drenched in cold milk. This slightly soggy baklava is divine – you must give it a try!

And, here with your sticky fingers, is where our day in Karaköy ends. We were pretty exhausted by the end of the day. If you’re an Energizer bunny and want to keep going, head back to Ali Paşa Değirmeni Sokak or Mumhane Caddesi for some nightlife.

Also, see our 4-day Istanbul itinerary for more things to see and do on your trip.

So there you have it. The ultimate self-guided walking tour of Karaköy. Now go out to stroll, eat, and fall in love with Karaköy, one step at a time!
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