Fener and Balat districts stand out with their centuries-old churches, mosques, synagogues and colorful houses. As a licensed guide, I organize private guided tours in Istanbul and you can discover the hidden treasures of these districts on my Fener Balat walking tour.
On the Fener and Balat tour, you can learn a lot about the life of non-Muslims in Istanbul during the Ottoman period. Between the 15th and 20th centuries, Fener was the Greek quarter and Balat was the Jewish quarter of the city.
Of course, Fener and Balat walk can also be done without a guide. You can take pictures of the colorful houses, enjoy the beautiful cafes and restaurants of the neighborhood, and visit a few historical sites on this self-guided trip.
However, it should be noted that most of the churches in these districts are not open to the public. Anyone who wants to get in must know the attendants. A licensed tour guide who knows the area well can arrange for you to visit these structures.
For this reason, if you want to have a full Fener and Balat experience, you can contact me by filling out the form on the contact page of the site. Thus, you can organize a trip with a private tour guide.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This article is currently being rewritten. For this reason, there may be some deficiencies in the following content. If you visit this page again in a few days, you can find the completed version of the article. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
Things to Do in Fener and Balat (2023)
Things to do in Fener and Balat include seeing the Roman walls of Istanbul, taking pictures of the colorful houses, visiting the structures of the three monotheistic religions, and drinking coffee in retro cafes.
Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the area, it is possible to see mosques, churches and synagogues almost side by side. In this way, you will realize how people of different faiths lived in harmony in Istanbul for 500 years.
1. Kadir Has University
Kadir Has University
2. Cibali Gate
Cibali Gate
3. Gul Mosque
Gul Mosque
4. Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas
5. Atolye Kafasi
Atolye Kafasi
6. Fener Greek Highschool
Fener Greek Highschool
7. Church of St George (Fener)
Church of St George
8. Yildirim Street
Yildirim Street
9. Merdivenli Mektep Street
Merdivenli Mektep Street
10. Yuvakimyon Highschool
Yuvakimyon (Ioakeimeion) Highschool
11. Church of St Mary of the Mongols
Church of St Mary of the Mongols
12. Kiremit Street
Kiremit Street
13. Merdivenli Yokus Street (Balat)
Merdivenli Yokus Street
14. Ahrida Synagogue (Balat)
Ahrida Synagogue
15. Leblebiciler Street
Leblebiciler Street
16. Church of St Stephen (Bulgarian)
Church of St Stephen
Fener & Balat Walking Tour (2023)
Fener and Balat Walking Tour
Written by Serhat Engul
Leave a Reply