Taksim to Galata Walking Tour: Secret Passages & Local Hangouts

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

An interesting and entertaining afternoon walk down the Istiklal Street. Get insider look at the life beyond the main street, interesting historical highlights while zigzags towards Galata Tower. Well-paced and engaging, brimming with facts on everything from food, language, architecture, lifestyle, and eating and drinking customs, not to mention a span of history leaping between ancient times to the modern day!

• Learn about how cosmopolitan the neighborhood once was.

• Explore the out of the beaten path of Beyoğlu Pera

• Learn about where the local people hang out, eat and drink.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Taksim Square

Taksim square has a little bit of everything and is worth a trip to witness people and their interactions.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Hagia Triada Church

Hagia Triada Church*

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

English Speaking Guide

Small Group

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Gratuities

Options

Modern City Walking

Beyoğlu - Istiklal Street : Unmistakable icons as well as the as well as the hard-to-find secret spots thatspots that make Beyoğlu so captivating.

Reviews

5.00

15 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Galata Tower
David W,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
A delightful trek through the less-traveled alleys, back streets, and hidden gems of the city. A look at local foods and where locals on a budget go to eat them. Didn’t get our guide’s name but it was something like “Errol.” In any event he knew his stuff and appeared to really love his job.
Very interesting tour
Jenny B,,Jun 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
3 hour walking tour of back streets, passages and monuments of Taksim. Our guide made it really interesting and took us to places we would otherwise not have found.
unique Istanbul experience
T5517FPemmar,,Jun 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really great way to explore this part of the city. Erol was an amazing and detailed guide, he shared so many details and knows all the best spots you'll never find on your own!
A perfect way to spend two hours in Istanbul.
Michelle E,,Apr 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was exactly what was advertised. We enjoyed getting out of the Old City and seeing a different area. Kim, our guide, was friendly and knowledgeable. She recommended an excellent restaurant for dinner.
Take this tour as soon as you arrive in Istanbul- you’ll learn so much!
melbob920,,Oct 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Erol was a terrific guide, informing and entertaining us with the history and landmarks of the area. Without him, we wouldn’t have known about places “off the beaten track”. Erol had great recommendations of areas to eat and suggested different foods that we knew nothing about. Our only regret is that we didn’t take his tour at the beginning of our stay in Istanbul.
Great and unusual tour
Angela T,,Oct 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Kim was an amazing guide-knowledgeable and charming. We saw places that we would never have seen on our own and got a lot of good tips for restaurants etc. Well worth doing.
Lovely and knowledgeable guide
Elizabeth K,,Jun 2, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Lovely walk around the new city, saw some very interesting and historical places. Elif was very knowledgeable and gave great recommendations!
Excelent I will recomended
507anamarial,,May 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My guide was Excelent, he explain many local costumes, coffe, food, secrets etc, zi enjoyed a lot and learnt also. His name is Erol Utgul
Worthwhile short tour to see how locals go about their daily lives
soulsing,,May 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Glad I did this short tour as it gave a greater insight into life in Istanbul. What was of interest in particular was to see locals going about their daily lives. It gave me a different perspective than only seeing tourist destinations. The tunnel metro was also of interest, not speaking or reading Turkish I had walked past the bottom entry several times without understanding what it was. Erol the guide was good also and spoke good English and easy to understand. This tour is short but worthwhile and I would recommend it if you have seen all the historical sites
Walking tour in Pera (the other side)
JoM1883,,May 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was amazing! So informative and all the hidden passages I would never have found. Erol is a very knowledgeable and lovely guide - I enjoyed this so much. If you are coming to Istanbul you must do this!