Would you like to experience more than just the highlights and immerse yourself in local Istanbul? Then this bike tour is perfect for you.
We depart from the old center in Sirkeci at our office and continue along the vibrant district of Eminönü, with a view of the Galata Tower and Bridge, the 350-year-old New Mosque, and the Spice Bazaar. Once by the water of the Golden Horn, we ride through newly constructed parks and bike paths, offering fantastic views of the neighborhoods of ancient Byzantium and Constantinople. We will see the impressive Greek School, the exceptional Bulgarian iron church Sveti Stefan, the spectacular Byzantine old city walls, and the former Feshane, the old fez factory from the Ottoman period, with its captivating history.
Once in the pilgrimage site of Eyüp, a charming Turkish neighborhood, we will enjoy halva with ice cream together with devout Muslims amidst the greenery and numerous old Ottoman monuments. It’s like an open-air museum here. Enthusiasts can visit the beautiful mosque and tomb of the holy Eyüp Sultan before we further explore the area. After that, we’ll discover the colorful old abandoned Jewish and Greek neighborhoods of Balat and Fener, which are slowly regaining their old glory thanks to private investments and international support. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is definitely worth a visit before we return.
This bike tour lasts for over three and a half hours and allows you to taste and enjoy the historical and contemporary Istanbul on wheels!
Important highlights of this tour include:
- The Spice Bazaar and New Mosque
- Galata Bridge and views over the Bosphorus and Beyoglu, Galata Tower
- Bulgarian iron church Sveti Stefan
- Greek School
- Feshane, the old hat factory from the Ottoman period
- Eyüp neighborhood / open-air museum with, among others, Eyüp Mosque, tombs, madrasas and the old Ottoman soup kitchen
- The abandoned old Greek neighborhood Fener
- The abandoned old Jewish neighborhood Balat
- The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
OUR MEETING POINT Mimar Kemalletin Caddesi Emirname Sokak No 1A Sirkeci
