1 Day Taksim Istiklal Street Private Tour

Meet your tour guide the hotel and head towards Pera district. Pera is the ancient name of Beyoğlu district and it was used until the mid of 20th century. Pera means “across” or “other side” in Greek and it was used to describe the other side of the Golden Horn during Byzantine Period.

We will start our tour by walking down Istiklal Street, one of the most populated pedestrian streets of Istanbul and Pera district. It is 1,6 km long and it is popped with Cafes, Patisseries, Theatres, Shopping Centres and Restaurants of all sorts. Our first stop is French Cultural Institute, which brings French Culture to the Istikal Street or as it was called a century ago “Grande Rue de Pera”.

Next stop is Hagia Triada Eastern Ortodox Church, meaning “Holy Trinity” the largest Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul. Next we visit Ağa Camii Mosque constructed in 1868. Next, we visit Galatasaray High School, the oldest high school in Ottoman Empire. It was constructed in 1481 and it was named “Galata Sarayı Enderun-u Hümayunu” meaning Galata Palace Imperial School. Next we visit Çiçek Pasajı, one of the first theatres in Ottoman Empire, it is now a passage.

We descend down from French Street, a lovely street built in French style populated by brassieres and cafes. Our next stop will be Church of Saint Antoine, largest Roman Catholic church in Istanbul. Our next stop will be Crimea Memorial Church constructed between 1858-68 by Sultan Abdulmecit to honour the British Soldiers who joined Crimean War by Ottoman and French side. From there, we visit Pera Palace Hotel, a museum hotel, the oldest European Hotel in Istanbul built to accommodate guest who were traveling with Famous Orient Express. We will then ride “The Tunnel” which is the second-oldest subterranean urban rail line in the world.

End of our tour we will stop to see Galata Tower from outsite or upon your request we can visit the Galata Tower.