Istanbul is a city full of amazing landmarks. Over the course of several months, I walked its streets almost daily to discover something interesting, and I probably didn't even explore a tenth of its architectural and historical monuments. Istanbul’s attractions are not limited to museums, mosques, and markets; even the most ordinary-looking structures can become a draw for travelers. Today's story is about the Camondo Stairs, one of the most popular spots near the touristy Istiklal Street.
A Bit of History
The landmark is named after Abraham Camondo, who is believed to have financed the construction of the stairs by an unknown architect in the second half of the 19th century. The purpose of the stairs was purely utilitarian: Camondo wanted his grandchildren to be able to comfortably and quickly get home from the middle Austrian school where they studied.
Abraham Camondo was a banker, born in 1781 in Constantinople, to a Jewish-Italian family. Camondo inherited a fortune from his childless brother. According to travel guides, he was such an influential figure in the Ottoman Empire that he persuaded the rulers to abolish the law forbidding foreign nationals from owning property in Constantinople. More information about the Camondo family can be found in the Museum of Turkish Jews, although I haven’t visited it myself.
The Camondo Stairs are not only familiar to those who have been to Istanbul; the landmark appears in various works of art. For example, in 1964, photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson captured images here, and in 2007, the stairs appeared in the novel Pretty Dead Things by British author Barbara Nadel.
How to Find the Stairs
The Camondo Stairs were one of the first interesting places I encountered in Istanbul when I visited six years ago. The landmark is located in the Beyoğlu district on the European side of the city. You can walk up the stairs, for example, from the Karaköy pier to the Galata Tower. However, note that this route may not be the easiest for unprepared travelers: most of the way involves climbing a steep hill.
Interestingly, it was on this slope that I first encountered a shoe cleaner who dropped his brush. This is an old trick used to extract money from tourists: a visitor picks up the brush and hands it back to the cleaner, who then, in gratitude, starts polishing their shoes but will eventually ask for money for the service.
You can start your ascent to the tower from the lower station of the F2 funicular (Tünel). Walk past the entrance to the station, head up to Bankalar Street, and turn left. The stairs are located about 90 meters from there. It's easy to plan pedestrian routes on online maps, and the Moovit app is helpful for public transport planning.
This area has many popular attractions: after reaching the tower, you can visit the Church of St. Anthony of Padua or descend to Galataport.
Have a nice trip!
