Istanbul in Colors: Balat Tour
Description
A neighborhood which has been a cultural melting pot for centuries! Balat has always been a home for Jewish society. People from different backgrounds and of every age today help for a colorful transformation with lots of artisan, antique & coffee shops and together build one of the best hotspots in Istanbul. An exclusive walking tour through well preserved historical texture of Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim communities in Fener and Balat’s narrow streets and slopes surrounded by stylish artisan coffee shops, art workshops and antique shops. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds are among the many treasures to be found at this bazaar also known as the Spice Market.
In the streets of cute Fener district, cafes overflowing on the sidewalks, bistros serving European-Turkish cuisine and old wooden houses are located together. İt is an old Greek Orthodox & Jewish area.
The Cathedral Church of St. George (a.k.a. Yorgi Kilisesi) is located in the Fener (Phanar) district, and is the principal Eastern Orthodox cathedral
Visit gorgeous St. Stephan Bulgarian Church (the Iron Church) and hear out their history in Fener
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(97)
Our favorite tour. Perfect for families studying classical history. It was very well managed and scheduled to show us lots of history that filled in gaps in our history lessons. Highly recommend. Also, this one was especially good because it's a female tour guide who addresses everyone. The male tour guides in Türkiye will not talk to the women in a group.
This tour is well paced and informative with a knowledgable guide. We saw interesting parts of Balat that we would not have otherwise visited and got some real insight. We would highly recommend this tour!
What a sweet tour. Just a walk around a cute neighborhood with lots of history and color. Tried some great coffee and bought a couple souvenirs to bring home.
This was one of our favorite tours in Istanbul. Our guide was communicative, knowledgeable, and very friendly (and didn’t mind our frequent stops to photograph cats on the street). This tour felt unique and away from the classic sights around the city. Highly recommend for something that feels a bit different and special.
The neighbourhood is very lovely and colourful with small houses and artisan shops. It’s a different vibe in Istanbul. We liked our guide Rose she was an expert guide.
I think this was my favourite place and tour. Rose was so nice, welcoming and genuine. It would be shame not to see these places if you are visiting Turkey. A must do tour for sure. Highly, highly recommend!!
I really enjoyed this tour. Rose was very kind and friendly and she knew a lot of stuff. If you visit Istanbul, I highly recommend it!
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience, and your kind words truly motivate us to continue striving for excellence.
Really nice experience. Very friendly and funny guide. I love the tour and the locations and it was very well organised.
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience, and your kind words truly motivate us to continue striving for excellence.
Amazing Balat tour with Rose! She is knowledgeable and super friendly. The tour was relaxed, informative, and full of fascinating stories that brought Balat to life. We discovered hidden corners, learned about the history, and got great local tips. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Istanbul, Rose made it a memorable experience!
Excellent guide and excellent tour of Balat and surroundings. Very punctual the visit and a great and friendly guide
