Galata Tower, Istanbul

Name: Galata Tower
Address: Bereketzade Mahallesi, Galata Kulesi Sk., Istanbul, 34421, Turkey
Telephone: +90 212 293 57 07

#15 among attractions in Istanbul

Tower, Romanesque architecture

Gallery (14)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Dreamstime.com / RF / Czgur • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 / qwesy qwesy / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Mohammed Galib Hasan / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Alexxx1979 / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / @fub / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Freedom's Falcon / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / ArildV / URL

Facts and practical information

Perched high above the winding streets of Istanbul's historic Beyoğlu district, the Galata Tower stands as an enduring testament to the city's rich past. This medieval stone tower, reaching a height of 67 meters, has been a prominent fixture of Istanbul's skyline since its construction in 1348. Originally named the Tower of Christ, it was part of an expansion of the Genoese colony within Byzantine Constantinople.

Galata Tower has served various purposes over the centuries, from a watchtower for spotting fires to a prison, and even an observatory. Its nine stories are capped by a conical spire, and a trip to the top is rewarded with a panoramic vista of Istanbul, where East meets West. The Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn, and the historic peninsula, where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia stand, unfold in a picturesque tapestry from the tower's observation deck.

In the 1960s, the tower underwent extensive restoration and was opened to the public. Today, it houses a restaurant and café on its upper floors, providing visitors with a chance to enjoy traditional Turkish delights against the backdrop of the city's stunning views. At night, the tower is illuminated, making it a striking landmark.

Local name: Galata Kulesi Completed: 1348 (676 years ago)Width: 54 ftHeight: 220 ftTop floor height: 171 ftFloors: 9Coordinates: 41°1'32"N, 28°58'27"E

Address

Bereketzade Mahallesi, Galata Kulesi Sk.Beyoğlu (Bereketzade)Istanbul 34421 Turkey

Contact

+90 212 293 57 07

Website

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Istanbul

Day trips

Galata Tower – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Galata Bridge, Beyoğlu, İstanbul Modern, Pera Museum.

0.4 miS
Modern bridge spanning the Golden Horn
Galata Bridge, Istanbul
10 min walk • Spanning the Golden Horn in the historic heart of Istanbul, the Galata Bridge is not just a crossing point; it's a bustling microcosm of the city's vibrant culture. Serving as a vital link between the traditional old city of Sultanahmet and the more modern district of...
0.4 miN
Nightlife, Dancing, Entertainment district
Beyoğlu, Istanbul
12 min walk • Beyoğlu, the pulsating heart of Istanbul's cultural life and entertainment, stands as a testament to the city's cosmopolitan history and vibrant present. This district, once known as Pera, is a melting pot of flavors, sounds, and sights that captures the essence of...
0.5 miE
Museum, Art museum, Modern art museum
İstanbul Modern, Istanbul
12 min walk • Istanbul Modern, also known as the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, stands as a cultural beacon in the vibrant city of Istanbul, Turkey. Established in 2004, this museum is Turkey's first private museum to organize modern and contemporary art exhibitions.
0.4 miN
Museum, Art museum, Specialty museum
Pera Museum, Istanbul
12 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Istanbul's vibrant Beyoğlu district, the Pera Museum stands as a cultural beacon that blends the rich tapestry of the city's history with contemporary artistic expression. This premier art museum, housed in the historic building of the former...
~650 ftS
Museum, Specialty museum
SALT Galata, Istanbul
4 min walk • Nestled in the historic district of Beyoğlu in Istanbul, Turkey, SALT Galata is a multifaceted cultural institution that has emerged as a beacon of contemporary art, architecture, and social history. Located in the iconic Ottoman-era building that once housed the...
~640 ftSE
Church
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church of Galata
4 min walk • Nestled in the historical district of Galata in Istanbul, Turkey, the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church stands as a testament to the city's rich Armenian heritage. This Armenian Apostolic church, built in 1431, is one of the oldest surviving religious structures in...
~970 ftSW
Church, Sacred and religious sites, Gothic architecture
Arap Mosque, Istanbul
5 min walk • Arap Mosque is a mosque in the Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. The building was originally a Roman Catholic church erected in 1325 by the friars of the Dominican Order, near or above an earlier chapel dedicated to Saint Paul in 1233.
0.5 miNE
Museum, Art museum, Modern art museum
The Museum of Innocence, Istanbul
12 min walk • The Museum of Innocence is a museum in a 19th-century house in Istanbul created by novelist Orhan Pamuk as a companion to his novel The Museum of Innocence. The museum and the novel were created in tandem, centred on the stories of two Istanbul families.
~1870 ftE
Mosque, Mimar Sinan, Sacred and religious sites
Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı, Istanbul
10 min walk • The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex is a mosque complex designed and built between 1580 and 1587 by Mimar Sinan, who at the time was in his 90s. The mosque itself was constructed in 1578-1580.
~1990 ftE
Fountain, Park, Playground
Tophane Fountain, Istanbul
10 min walk • Tophane Fountain is an 18th-century public water fountain built by Ottoman sultan Mahmud I in the Ottoman rococo architecture and situated in the square of Tophane neighborhood in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey.
~740 ftE
Church
Church of Saint Benoit, Istanbul
4 min walk • Saint Benoit is a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul, Turkey, important for historical reasons. Established in 1427, the shrine is the oldest Catholic church of Istanbul still in use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is Galata Tower open?

Galata Tower is open:

Monday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Tuesday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Thursday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Friday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Saturday 9 am - 8:30 pm
Sunday 9 am - 8:30 pm

Which popular attractions are close to Galata Tower?

Nearby attractions include Ashkenazi Synagogue of Istanbul, Istanbul (2 min walk), Bankalar Caddesi, Istanbul (3 min walk), Church of SS Peter and Paul, Istanbul (3 min walk), Italian Synagogue, Istanbul (3 min walk).

How to get to Galata Tower by public transport?

The nearest stations to Galata Tower:

Train

Karaköy Station, Tünel Line (5 min walk)
Beyoğlu Station, Tünel Line (5 min walk)

Tram

Tünel • Lines: Taksim - Tünel Nostaljik Tramvay, Tünel - Taksim Nostaljik Tramvay (6 min walk)
Karaköy • Lines: T1 (7 min walk)

Bus

Karaköy (7 min walk)
Şişhane 6 • Lines: 77A (10 min walk)

Ferry

Eminönü (13 min walk)
Eminonu Iskelesi (14 min walk)