Galata Bridge

The Galata Bridge is one of Istanbul’s most charming landmarks. Much more than simply a link connecting the old and new across the Golden Horn, it’s also a place where the city’s locals gather to fish, eat, drink, smoke and shop.

The Bridge itself is quite new; it was built in 1992 to replace an older, iron structure and the three bridges before that. At a length of almost 500 metres, the Galata Bridge has a walkway and lanes for traffic and for the city’s tramway. The T1 Zeytinburnu – Kabatas tram line passes over the Bridge, with stops on either side at Eminonu and Karakoy.

The views are spectacular from the top of the Galata Bridge. Peer out at Kadikoy’s giant balloon on the Asian side, the ramshackle Ottoman houses and mosques of the old town on the Eminonu peninsula, and the bohemian chic of Beyoglu on the opposite side. It’s also a good place to spot the seagulls flying around the iconic Galata Tower, just a short walk from Karakoy.

If the nut stalls, fresh corn or simit sellers on the top of the Bridge don’t satisfy your cravings, head down under for a unique Istanbul experience. Here you’ll find a number of cafes and restaurants with a view, offering tea, coffee, nargile and a large variety of seafood including the famous Balik Ekmek- a delicious fish sandwich with salad and lemon juice squeezed on. Watch out for bones.

Join or watch the fishermen who crowd the sides of the Bridge each day to try their hand at catching a big one. If you walk underneath the bridge, beware of their hanging lines lest you be snagged instead of the fish.

Practical Information

The Galata Bridge stands opposite the Spice Bazaar and the historic New Mosque in Eminonu, where ferries depart to the Princes’ Islands, Kadikoy and Bosphorus tours. On the Beyoglu side, it’s just downhill from the Galata Tower.

Main picture: ©Yildirim Incealemdaroglu