ShoreTrips says...

Meet your guide in front of the Istanbul Port Passenger Terminal as you disembark your cruise ship. From there, it is only a short walk to Kabatas, where you will board the funicular for a 2-minute ride to Taksim Square, the hub of modern Istanbul.

We'll begin this fascinating tour at Taksim Square, where we'll make our way through Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), the "19th century face of Istanbul" and the city's most popular strolling, shopping, and snacking street, which is now reserved for pedestrians. Walking through the historic Beyoglu district, you'll enjoy observing contemporary Turkish society at neighborhood cafes, boutiques, and cultural activities.

Afterwards, we'll tour the Galata District, which was composed of a Jewish majority from the 1500s and onward. Throughout the 19th century, most of Istanbul's Jewish residents lived in this neighborhood and attended the synagogues that are still in use today, including the Chief Rabbinate, the Neve Shalom and Italian synagogues, the Schneider Synagogue (Terziler Havrasi, now used as an art gallery), and the Zulfaris Synagogue Museum.

We'll also visit Galatasaray Square--easily recognized by the grand gates to Galatasaray Lisesi, the first European-style lycee (high school) erected by the Ottoman government--and St. Anthony Church, established in 1725. You'll be amazed at the beauty of the Pera Palace Hotel, built to accommodate pampered travelers aboard the Orient Express beginning in the 1890s. Its neo-classical, art nouveau, and Oriental styles give Pera Palace its timeless, refined look.

Next on the itinerary is Galata Mevlevihane, the headquarters of Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul, founded in the 1490s. You'll conclude your tour today by visiting the Galata Tower, with its spectacular views of the city.

Walking tours are a great way for visitors to see more and witness local culture firsthand. This walking tour is perfect for people who are making a return trip to Istanbul.