Galata
Galata is the former name of the Karaköy neighbourhood in Istanbul, which is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn.
The district is connected to the historic Fatih district by several bridges that cross the Golden Horn, most notably the Galata Bridge. The medieval citadel of Galata was a colony of the Republic of Genoa between 1273 and 1453. The famous Galata Tower was built by the Genoese in 1348 at the northernmost and highest point of the citadel. Galata is now a quarter within the district of Beyoğlu in Istanbul.
Getting to Galata
Metro line M2 passes through Taksim Square from the northern districts and from as far south as Yenikapı. Additionally, when the east-west line M7 is extended in 2025 it will terminate in the northern part of the district at Kabataş.
- 01Karaköy Pier
- 02Kabataş Pier
- 03Kasımpaşa Pier
- 04Hasköy Pier
Worth seeing
The bankers’ town of Galata was a cosmopolis crowned by the Tower.
Things to do
City tours are widely available.
- 01Galataport
- 02Haliçport
Combines historic landmarks, blend of unique lifestyles and gastronomical delights, luxury homes and hotels, and a vibrant cultural calendar.
Getting around Galata the local way
- Get inFunicular F1 connects its Kabataş station with Taksim on M2 metro.
- Get inThe Tünel funicular (F2) connects Istiklal Caddesi with Karaköy at the sea level on the Golden Horn.
- Get inFerries from Kadıköy across the Bosphorus moor at Karaköy and Kabataş, the two largest ferry piers in Galata.
- Get inThere are also ferries across the Goldern Horn, from Sultanahmet.
From Wikivoyage: Istanbul/Galata, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.