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+1
Waste of time if you are not looking for Adrenalin: it’s a shady poor neighbourhood of Istanbul - in my opinion really dangerous area.... The colourful buildings that we came to see appeared to be really colourful buildings located in between dilapidated old and ugly buildings. We were happy to take few pics and catch taxi to escape:). Reminded me about Napolitanian neighbourhood / Sanita:)…
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Date of experience: December 2020
1 Helpful vote
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+1
Balat with Öner, licensed Tour Guide I had a great half day tour in Balat, the Fatih district that used to be the traditional Jewish quarter of Istanbul, with a private guide. Balat is considered conservative, but it is full of colour, and even though it was and still is a poor area of the city, today it is a tourist attraction, due to its atmosphere. Cute narrow and cobbled streets, typical houses, small art galleries cafes, restaurants and shops with souvenirs, this is Balat ! I visited the area many years ago and I wanted to see it again. And with Öner it was really different. I enjoyed every moment! He showed me the renovated old Imperial Palace and the former Byzantine churches of Fanar. When I saw the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus years ago (a late 13th-century Byzantine structure called Tekfur Sarayi today), it was just a ruin. They did a good job regarding the restoration, as good as could be done with the few remains, after so many centuries. Öner was a great guide! I even visited a church closed to the public due to his connections. In the winding, tangled alleys of Fanar/Balat, it is really good to go with a local. Öner is a patient person, very attentive and very kind. I highly recommend him and his tour in Balat. Thank you Öner for such a wonderful day!…
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Date of experience: November 2020
2 Helpful votes
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The area was so beautiful, there is some wall paint, and they have more special coffee shops and different than the other in turkey. But we upset due to the beggars who ask you to go to the something called”ofra”, ”حفرة” or ”hole” in English, and If you don't want to go there, they will ask you for money. …
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Date of experience: November 2020
2 Helpful votes
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We loved exploring the streets, all beautifuk coloured houses, coffee shops and resturants. Really cheap affordable food and such a great vibe. Lots of bakeries, small shops. It is so different to the tourist hub!! A must in Istanbul.
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Date of experience: October 2020
2 Helpful votes
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This place is cool, kind of like the Shoreditch of Istanbul. The buildings are run down but it's quite a funky place! The road with all the cafes is cool and there are some colourful steps and buildings, but other than that nothing else tbh. Also the locals here seem a bit less friendly but no issues really, on the plus side the food was amazing! I would say with lunch you need about 2 hours here. Just to add the food here is very cheap, main meals for 2 is like 50 liras (£5) in total!…
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Date of experience: October 2020
2 Helpful votes
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