Tour of the Fener & Balat Neighborhoods

Are you interested in discovering Istanbul's most colorful neighborhoods? On this tour of Fener and Balat, you'll explore these historic and charming neighborhoods.

Tour Details

At the designated time, we'll meet at the Fener bus stop to begin this tour of the neighborhoods of Fener and Balat. Different nationalities, including Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and Bulgarians, have lived in these neighborhoods historically, experiencing significant events through time.

Our first stop will be at the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, linked to Hagia Sophia and home to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, a notable figure in the Orthodox Church.

Next, we'll visit the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, symbolizing the resilience of the Greek community in Istanbul, followed by the Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols, and the colorful stairs of Balat, perfect for photographs.

We will then visit the Palace of Dimitrie Cantemir reflecting the area's multicultural history, and the Panagia Paramythia Church, notable for its remaining Orthodox heritage.

Continuing, we'll walk along the colored houses of Balat, ideal for memorable pictures. The tour concludes at the Church of Sveti Stefan, also known as the Iron Church, a masterpiece of the Bulgarian community. After exploring these vibrant neighborhoods, we will wrap up our three-hour tour of Fener and Balat.