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Free booking and cancellationFree payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
Golden Horn Tour by Boat (tickets not include) and on Foot
Hi! I am Ahmet, a professional tour guide licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture and all my tours are being conducted under the regulations of the Ministry. Feel free to contact me for more information.....
Tour description
The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters in the Golden Horn and walls were built along the shoreline to protect the city of Constantinople from naval attacks. At the entrance to the Horn on the northern side, a large chain was pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata to prevent unwanted ships from entering.
Known among the Byzantines as the Megàlos Pyrgos (meaning "Great Tower" in Greek), this tower was largely destroyed by the Latin Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. In 1348, the Genoese built a new tower nearby which they called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ), now called Galata Tower where we will start our journey and catch the Golden Horn boat to learn more about its history by sailing on it.
Main attractions that we will see and I will explain on the boat;
- Phanar Greek High School
- Greek Patriarchate (The Vatican of Greek Orthodoxy)
- Bulgarian Church (St. Stephen)
- Balat (Old Jewish Quarter and Colorful Houses)
- R. Koc Museum (The first industrial heritage museum in Turkey)
- Miniaturk (all the touristic places in Turkey in miniatures)
- And much more...
After 7 stops by the boat, we will disembark on the Eyup pier and take a cable car to reach the famous Pierre Loti Hill where you can have breakfast or lunch, drink Turkish tea or coffee in a spectacular Golden Horn view.
And then we will walk on a historical road (accession road where ceremony to recognize new Ottoman Sultan was held) which the Sultans had to for the enthronement to reach the most holy shrine in Istanbul, Eyup Sultan Mosque. (Eyup Sultan was the standard bearer to the Prophet Mohammed). After that holy visit, we will get on the tramway for Fener and Balat where colorful houses, churches, synagogues and historical places are....
I offer you a unique tour to learn from a licensed tour guide about the history and importance of the Golden Horn, the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror, and historical buildings during the 45-minute journey on the boat, to have an experience of a cable car and tramway with Golden Horn scenery; local tastes in an uphill place to admire the Golden Horn, to know the history of Islam and its place in old and new Turkish life.
Note; a) This tour is limited up to 5 people or less so it can be considered as a private tour. Even if there is one person for the tour, it will be done on condition of my availability for the requested day.
b) The ferryboat, cable car and tramway fees are not included in the tour. Each of them is nearly 15 Turkish lira, total 60 or 70 Liras per person by Istanbul card.
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Meeting point:Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah, Kemank...Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Rıhtım Cd. No:13, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
I will be by the Karakoy pier by a colorful umbrella.
How much does this tour cost?
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).