Fener & Balat- Old Greek and Jewish neighborhood -afternoon walking Tour


Leave the main tourist precincts behind for an afternoon and explore the outer historic western area of Istanbul with the Fener & Balat walking tour. This tour will take you off the normal tourist trail and show you the Golden Horn and the rich Greek, Jewish and Ottoman history that exists near the old city walls of Istanbul.

​ See the colourful Ottoman houses near the UNESCO World Heritage precinct, visit the St. George church, St.Stefan Sveti, synagogues and learn about local life in a middle class neighborhood.

Tour Highlights

  • Visit the former Greek and Jewish neighborhood
  • Learn the history of Ottoman minorities
  • Photograph the colourful new and ruined Ottoman houses of Fener and Balat.
  • Experience the residential neighborhoods to see how local live
35 Euro per Child 6-11
50 Euro per Adult
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  • Enjoy tranquility of the Fener & Balat neighborhood away from touristy areas
  • See the Golden horn and let your guide tell its history
  • Photograph many colorful houses has stairs
  • Visit the St. George Church of Greek patriarch and learn the differences between an Orthodox and a Catholic Church.
  • Drink Turkish çay from a tulip glass at the local cafe
  • Explore the 1,600 year old Byzantine walls of Constantinople once the protector of city

Tour Schedule

Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: İtimat Fabrika Satış Yeri/Mağazası
Rüstem Paşa, Avrupa Yakası, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul
( At the entry of the Spice Bazaar. )

Google map : İtimat Fabrika Satış Yeri.

Starting time: 14:00 ( 2:00 pm ).

Approximate finishing time: 17:00 ( 5:00 pm)

Finishing point: Same where we started the tour

Tour Details

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​importan note :
Walking tour, City orientation, Historical sites, Storytelling, Hidden gems, History & Heritage, Walking & orientation, Local life & Culture

This tour is designed for those interested in Ottoman and Byzantine history, Greeks and Jewish who lived in Istanbul, religion, writing, photography and relaxing boat cruises.

English speaking local guide, tram to Fener , Golden Horn, visiting Balat/Fener district and tram fare back to Eminönü.

Extra drinks and shopping expenses.Tipping to the guide. Recommended amount 5-10 USD per person

This tour has daily departure for maximum of 10 people.

Children aged 6 to 11 years are 25 Euro per child. Children above the age of 12 are charged full price. Parents of children under 6 years are advised to book a private tour.

We visit the Greek Orthodox Church. Ladies wearing short shorts or skirts above the knees won’t allowed to enter by the administration of the church . Please wear any clothes which cover your below knees.

Itinerary

Our meeting point is the Itimat Fabrika Satış Magazası at the entrance of the Spice market – located in the heart of the main tourist area of Istanbul. From our meeting point we will get the tran to Fener approximate of 15 minutes to Fener & Balat neighborhood. This is one of the oldest districts in Istanbul where Ottoman Orthodox and Jewish people once lived. Here you can see a lot of the traces of the Ottoman life. Wooden Ottoman houses, mosques, churches and synagogues all next to each other which shows the multicultural and religious ways of the Ottoman Empire. The area is so unique it is listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. After walking through the cobblestoned streets of Fener/Balat we walk alongside the historic Byzantine city walls which were built in the 4th century AD during the time of Constantine the Great. We will have tea break before taking a tram back to Eminonu where we started the tour.
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