Galata Bridge and Eminonu

Galata Bridge charges nothing and never shuts, which is a large part of why people like it. It joins Eminonu in the old city to Karakoy across the Golden Horn, and nearly everyone who comes to Istanbul crosses it at some point, either walking or riding the tram. Traffic and fishermen share the upper level. Underneath, a line of cafes and fish restaurants fills the lower level. On the southern side, Eminonu packs ferries, trams, street vendors and shoppers into a single busy square.

Quick facts

The bridge through the years

A bridge has stood at this crossing since 1845, the year the first wooden one opened. Several replacements followed. People remember the 1912 floating steel bridge best: it lasted eighty years until a fire in 1992 left it badly damaged, and a section was later shifted further up the Golden Horn. Today's bridge dates from 1994. It runs for roughly 490 metres, its middle section can be raised to let big ships through, and the T1 tram crosses on the upper level.

Long before all of them, in the early 1500s, Leonardo da Vinci drew a design for Sultan Bayezid II: one single span over this crossing. Nobody ever built it.

What to see

• The anglers. Dozens of people line the upper railings from first light until late at night, catching mostly small fish like horse mackerel. Pause behind them for a moment and watch the lines being cast over the water.
• The views. Halfway across, the Suleymaniye Mosque and the New Mosque rise on one side, Galata Tower on the other. Look towards the Bosphorus and the Asian shore comes into view.
• The lower deck. Below the roadway, restaurants serve meze and fish just a few metres above the water. Prices are pitched at tourists, and waiters try to pull in people walking past, so look at several menus and confirm prices before taking a seat.
• Eminonu square. The New Mosque, completed in 1665, overlooks the square, and visitors can enter its courtyard outside prayer times. Beside it, the Spice Bazaar sells tea, spices, Turkish delight and dried fruit.
• Fish sandwich boats. Near the ferry piers, cooks on swaying boats grill mackerel and tuck it into bread with salad and onion. It costs little, comes fast and is a firm local habit.

Ferries from Eminonu

Eminonu ranks among the busiest ferry terminals in the city. Commuter boats reach Kadikoy and Uskudar, on the Asian shore, in roughly 20 minutes, and longer Bosphorus cruises depart from here as well. Fares and timetables shift with the seasons, so look up the Sehir Hatlari schedule on the day you travel. The commuter routes accept the Istanbulkart transit card.

Best time to visit

Mornings are quiet, with the first fishermen and cargo boats out on the water. Sunset is when most people come: the domes of the old city darken against the sky and the cafes on the lower deck get busy. Try to skip the weekday rush, roughly 17:00 to 19:00, when the square at Eminonu gets packed.

Our Istanbul Half-Day Private Old City Tour & Hagia Sophia Fast-Track gives you a private guide for four hours through Sultanahmet and on down to the Eminonu bazaars, from US$200. If food is your interest, the Istanbul Night Food Tour with Traditional Meyhane Experience runs one evening from Karakoy over to Kadikoy and Moda, from US$81 per person, with food and drinks paid for on the spot. On the Luxury Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show, from US$90, you pass the illuminated bridge by boat after dark.

Tips

• Cross on the upper deck and come back on the lower one; each gives a different view.
• Stay clear of hooks and fishing lines, particularly if you have children with you.
• At the Eminonu end, the underpass has stairs and shops; with a pushchair, use the lifts or the tram stop instead.
• For a calmer look at the bridge, ride the short ferry over to Karakoy or Kadikoy and turn around.

Our guides to the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar cover two more sights within easy walking distance of Eminonu.

Frequently Asked Questions