A few years ago, a large modern public space called Galataport appeared on the European side of Istanbul, right on the shores of the Bosphorus. The area, which was previously occupied by boring warehouse buildings, has been transformed into a city for tourists. Popular shops, interesting museums, and various restaurants are located here, and the stretch along the strait has been converted into a pedestrian zone with an excellent view of the coastline.
How to get there
There are several entrances leading to Galataport. You can get here, for example, from the Tophane tram stop. The journey will take about three minutes. If you are coming from the Asian side of the city, it is most convenient to take a ferry to the Kabataş pier and then walk.
The public space is open from 10 am to 10 pm. Admission is free.
A bit of history
The port complex with a pier, a passenger terminal, and a post office appeared here in the early 20th century. At the end of the century, plans were made to build a new modern port on this site, and construction began in 2015.
The main attraction that attracts many tourists here is the extended and improved promenade for walking. The length of the Galataport coastline is 1.2 kilometers. I was here in winter when the city has almost no visitors, but in summer you can see huge tourist liners near the pier, as tall as multi-story buildings. It's amazing that the passenger terminal for those arriving here on cruise ships is underground. According to the organizers' plans, Galataport will receive 25 million visitors annually.
Numerous food establishments stretch along the pedestrian zone. There are cafes and restaurants to suit every taste, although in my observations, the prices in some of them are higher than many other similar places in the city center. There are also many diverse shops open in the port area for those who love shopping.
It is pleasant that the historical past of this area was taken into account during the construction of Galataport: the Clock Tower was restored when the territory was arranged. It has been located here since 1848. Not far from this object, there are two exhibition buildings. They house the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture and the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. The latter will open soon.
Galataport is located in the heart of Istanbul, not far from many famous landmarks of the city. After a walk in the public space, for example, you can take a ride on the unusual underground funicular called the Tünel. I wrote about it in one of my recent articles.
Have a nice trip!
