Galata Tower

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About Galata Tower

Visiting Tips for Galata Tower

Is Galata Tower free - Visiting Galata Tower is easy because there is no early booking needed. You can pay the entry fee either online or just at the entrance. There is a pricing policy varying for students, adults, and foreigners, but all the prices are very low compared to many others. It is designed like a museum, so you can enjoy your time through a guided Galata Tower tour. A strongly recommended one is the Genoese Walks Galata tour that provides you with very interesting stories about the historical building as well as its surroundings.

Does Galata Tower have a lift– Galata deserves the name of ¨tower¨ because its architectural plan was designed to have nine floors with a height of almost 220 feet that is exactly 66.90 meters, from the ground up to the cone. Originally, it used to have only steps to climb but in 1967, Istanbul Municipality added a lift to the renovation and today, Galata Tower lift allows tourists to go directly up to the window-room where a nice restaurant and cafe is located.

How many stairs in Galata Tower – In order to calculate how many stairs in Galata Tower are, small tips should be given about the entrance. The gate, which is in the south, requires ten steps to climb. Inside the building, there are 146 steps dispersed to five halls.

What time does Galata Tower open and close - Galata Tower opening and closing schedule allows visitors to see the daytime and sunset views of Istanbul. It opens at 09:00 and closes at 19:00 every day. It is possible to enjoy the night panorama of the city on the top of Galata Tower accompanied by a tasty dinner until 22:00. For a table booking, you can contact istanbul.com customer services to have the details.
 

The History of Galata Tower

Galata Tower is an interesting building with its construction, structural features and of course, the delicate mixture of East Roman, Genoese and Ottoman characteristics.

Who built Galata Tower – There are two stories about the construction of this tower. The first assumption is that Byzantium Empire Anastasios was the first person who built Galata Tower in 528 as a lighthouse. The second assumption dates the history back to 1348 when the Genoese arrived and Galata city walls were built to protect inside. Galata Tower was built to function as a surveillance tower on the walls.

Why was the Galata Tower built – Originally, it is assumed that the need for a lighthouse against Genoese siege was the reason why was the Galata tower built. It became the main tower of Galata city walls for defense in the 14th century.

What was the Galata Tower used for - It is known that the Galata Tower was primarily used for military purposes. The defense function of Galata Tower during the East Romans was converted into the main fire detection tower by the Ottomans and it became a dungeon for dockyard prisoners during Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent.

Why is Galata Tower famous - There are several events underlying the reasons why Galata Tower is famous among travelers of Istanbul. First of all, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi succeeded to fly from Galata Tower to Usküdar Doğancan using his wooden wings in 1638. After the establishment of the first modern Ottoman Fire Brigade in 1714, it started to be used as a fire detection tower due to its height and perfect location. Apart from these successful attempts, a sorrowful event occurred in 1973, when famous Turkish poet Umit Yaşar Oğuzcan’s 15-year-old son Vedat committed suicide, there. The famous poet wrote one of his elegies for the memoir of his son.

What's inside Galata Tower- There is a museum and a restaurant-cafe combination inside Galata Tower. The current conic top, which has 14 windows, was designed and added to the structure during the reign of Mahmut II in the 19th century. Today, this part serves visitors as a nice restaurant with a terrace to have a panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and real Istanbul.
 

Activities and Transportation around Galata Tower

It is easy to reach Galata Tower by bus, tram and even underground. The closest station to Galata Tower is Karaköy station. For travelers, the easiest transportation from Galata Tower to the airport is to take the tram interconnected underground at Karaköy or Eminönü stations. However, if you prefer saving time, there is a better alternative: Istanbul Airport Private Transfer picks up at any point you decide for a very reasonable price.

What to do near Galata Tower- Due to its excellent location, there are many alternatives for the ones who consider what to do near Galata Tower. It is possible to walk around the historical zone of Istanbul or go to Beyoğlu to participate in cultural activities. The best choice of combining both is to attend Genoese Walks in Istiklal Street and Galata as it gives a chance to go shopping and sightseeing in the area. Another advice for the ones who consider what to eat near Galata Towerdepends on your taste. In the Galata district, there are lots of restaurants, cafes, and fast food corners. PePo Café and Restaurant in Galata serve different delicacies in the magnificent atmosphere around the tower. It is always a good idea to cross the Galata Bridge and to have the insight of Eminönü as Galata Tower and bridge are two unified components. During this exploration, you can take a rest at famous Coffee Sapiens Karaköy to sip your coffee.