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. These neighborhoods have a rich history shaped by many nationalities, including Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and Bulgarians, who have witnessed significant historical changes.

The first stop will be at the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, the official site of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, an important figure in the Orthodox Church. Next, we'll visit the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, a symbol of the Greek community's perseverance, and the Church of Saint Mary of the Mongols, the oldest active Orthodox Church in Istanbul. We will also stop at the famous colorful stairs of Balat for photographs.

Afterward, we'll visit the Palace of Dimitrie Cantemir and the Panagia Paramythia Church, where we can observe the remaining vestiges of this Orthodox Church. Continuing, we'll stroll along the colored houses of Balat for memorable pictures. The tour will conclude at the Church of Sveti Stefan, also known as the Iron Church, a masterful creation of the Bulgarian community.

The total duration of the tour is three hours.