BALAT Istanbul Beautiful Walking Tour-August 2023. 4k UHD 60fps

Once a hidden gem, Balat has now become one of Istanbul's most popular destinations thanks to its technicolour wooden houses being featured all over Instagram.

But Instagram won't show you what Istanbul insiders like us know: that beyond the area's rainbows architecture, there's so much more about Balat Istanbul to love.

We were first mesmerised by Balat five years ago - we had never before seen a neighbourhood that was such a mass of contradictions!

Crumbling Ottoman homes and the remains of old churches shared the pavement with bohemian cafes and stylish boutique stores. Traditional wood-fired bakeries, budget-friendly tradesmen's restaurants and teahouses sat side-by-side with trendy art galleries, second-hand bookstores and minimalist design studios.

In some ways Balat is a microcosm of Istanbul itself: steeped in history, traditional and religious and yet also incredibly youthful, entrepreneurial, dynamic and modern. Balat's long history as a culturally diverse neighbourhood means that it is not only home to some of the city's oldest wooden buildings but it also features many unique cultural and religious landmarks that you won't find anywhere else in Istanbul.

Add in meandering cobbled streets, colourful houses, picturesque cafes, a dynamic arts scene, delicious Turkish cuisine and the opportunity to interact with friendly locals just going about their business and you'll easily be able to spend a day here.

In this insider's guide, we'll cover the best things to do in Balat, including attractions and recommendations that most visitors will miss. We'll also cover how to get to Balat, the remarkable history of the area plus the top Balat cafes and restaurants and the best Balat hotels.

Whether you're spending a week or just a few days in Istanbul Balat is a unique neighbourhood that is well worth a visit. 📍 Balat Istanbul Location
So where is Balat in Istanbul?

Balat is located along the glistening shores of the Golden Horn in the district of Fatih, on the European side of Istanbul.

Click here for an interactive Balat Istanbul map showing the exact location of this neighbourhood. Sometimes this area is referred to as Fener Balat - this is because these two neighbourhoods actually cross over into each other.

Historically, Balat was home to a mixed Jewish, Armenian, Greek and Muslim community whilst Fener was predominantly a traditionally Greek Orthodox neighbourhood.

As both neighbourhoods flow seamlessly into each other, you won't notice a difference - they both have a rich cultural heritage, lovely cafes, nostalgic cobbled streets, brightly coloured houses and important religious sites. We'd encourage you to just explore! How to get to Balat from Kadıköy: There is one ferry from Kadıköy to the ferry terminal in Fener every hour. The centre of Balat is just a 9-minute walk from here. Alternatively, you can take the more frequent ferries from Kadıköy to Eminönü and from there take the 36CE, 44B, 99, 99A, 99Y or 90 bus to Balat.

How to get to Balat from Üsküdar: There is one ferry from Üsküdar to the Fener ferry terminal every hour. Like Kadıköy, the ferries from Üsküdar to Eminönü are more frequent - you can jump off the ferry and get the 36CE, 44B, 99, 99A, 99Y or 90 bus to Balat from Eminönü bus station.

The T5 tram line now also runs to Balat, however, it currently doesn't connect to other public transport options (it actually starts in Cibalı in front of a park). Eventually, it will be connected to the M2 metro line at Haliç and the T1 tram line at Eminönü, which will make getting to this neighbourhood even easier.

Walking

You can walk to Balat from Karaköy (around 40-50 minutes) or Eminönü (30-40 minutes). You'll have to cross some busy roads but it's a pretty easy and flat walk. There are also some sections that go through park areas along the Bosphorus, which are lovely, especially during the summer.


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