Eminönü
Eminönü, historically known as Pérama, is a predominantly commercial waterfront area of Istanbul within the Fatih district near the confluence of the Golden Horn with the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait and the Sea of Marmara.
It is located in the part of Istanbul known as the historical peninsula, connected to Karaköy via the Galata Bridge across the Golden Horn. It was administered as part of the Sultanahmet district from 1928 to 2009 when Sultanahmet was absorbed into Fatih. Eminönü, which was a district municipality until March 7, 2008, was abolished on this date and connected to Fatih district by law. It is completely located within the city wall, the historical core of the city, and forms one of the most vibrant areas of the central area.
Getting around Eminönü the local way
- Get inIt starts in the western suburbs at Bağcılar (for Metro M1) and runs via some 20 stations including Zeytinburnu (for Marmaray and Metro M1), Topkapı (district not palace, for Marmaray and Tram T4), Yusufpaşa (for Metro M1), Aksaray, Laleli-Universite (for Metro M2 and Grand Bazaar), Beyazit, Çemberlitaş, Sultanahmet (for Blue Mosque), Gülhane (for park), Sirkeci (for Marmaray and Tram U3) and Eminönü (for Bosphorus ferries and Tram T5 along the Golden Horn); then crosses the bridge to Galata district and Kabataş (for funicular to Taksim).
- Get inhas ferries from Kadıköy and Üsküdar Asia-side, from further up the Bosphorus, from up the Golden Horn, and from the Princes' Islands.
- Get inYou're likeliest to use the Bosphorus ferries: the Marmaray train is faster but do make this classic crossing at least once during your visit.
- Get inThe main operator is Şehir Hatları, though private boats try to skim off the trade, like pesky private minibuses.
- Get inHaliç Hattı is a ferry that pings back and forth across the Golden Horn, so a round trip is an inexpensive scenic tour.
- Get inis the landing point for IDO ferries across the Sea of Marmara.
- Get inSee Istanbul#by boat for ferries from elsewhere (such as the Marmara Islands) to other city ports.
- Get inFerries no longer sail from Tekirdağ or other ports west towards the Dardanelles.
From Wikivoyage: Istanbul/Historical Peninsula, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.