A Day by the Golden Horn: Eyüp, Piyer Loti, Fener, Balat

Places to Visit

• Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Tomb

• Piyer Loti Hill

• Kariye Mosque (Chora)

• Tekfur Palace Museum

• Sveti Stefan (Iron) Church

• Maraşlı Greek Primary School

• Fener Greek Patriarchate

• Maria Muhliotissa (Panayia Mary Mother) Church

• Red School (Fener Greek High School)

• Balat Colorful Houses

• Cenneti Neighborhood Houses

• New Mosque

• Spice Bazaar

• Eminönü Pier – Bosphorus Tour

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Tour Program

09.00 | Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Tomb

Our tour begins in Eyüp, a historic district by the Golden Horn. We visit the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, one of the prominent examples of Ottoman architecture in one of Istanbul's oldest settlements.

10.00 | Piyer Loti Hill – Cable Car & Tea Break

We take a short ride by cable car to Piyer Loti Hill. While enjoying a tea break with a panoramic view of the Golden Horn, we talk about the interest of the French writer Pierre Loti in Istanbul.

11.00 | Kariye Mosque (Chora) and Tekfur Palace Museum

We travel by vehicle to Kariye. We visit Kariye Mosque (Chora Church), famous for its frescoes and mosaics from the Byzantine period. Then, we visit Tekfur Palace Museum, one of the rare surviving examples of Byzantine civil architecture.

12.30 | Sveti Stefan (Iron) Church

This building, constructed entirely from cast iron panels in the 19th century, is a remarkable example of engineering. We discuss the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Istanbul.

13.00 | Free Time (1 Hour)

Participants can spend time in cafes by the Golden Horn or in the streets of Fener, take photographs, or try local delicacies.

14.00 | Maraşlı Greek Primary School and Fener Greek Patriarchate

We view the historic educational institution of Maraşlı Greek Primary School from the outside, then proceed to the Patriarchate area. We learn about Fener's Greek cultural heritage and the multi-layered history of the region.

15.00 | Balat Tour

We start our walk through the streets of Balat. Maria Muhliotissa Church, the Red School, and Colorful Balat Houses are included in our itinerary. We talk about the multilingual and multicultural structure of the neighborhood culture.

16.30 | Eminönü – New Mosque and Spice Bazaar

We travel by vehicle to Eminönü. We visit the New Mosque, a beautiful example of classical Ottoman architecture. Then, we have 1 hour of free time for exploration and discovery in the Spice Bazaar.

17.30 | Bosphorus Tour

We begin our Bosphorus tour from Eminönü Pier. During this enjoyable journey, which opens to the Bosphorus after the Golden Horn, we admire Istanbul's silhouette from the sea, accompanied by palaces, waterfront mansions, and bridges.

18.30 | End of Tour and Return

After the Bosphorus tour, our program concludes. Our vehicle will then take us back to the starting point.