Taksim & Pera Private Immersive Tour

The Grand Avenue of Pera, now İstiklal Street (Independence Avenue), features some of the city’s most notable architecture. Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and late Ottoman era buildings grace this elegant street, making your stroll a sight to behold. Known for art, culture, shopping, and food, you will explore the best the district has to offer.

Here, you will visit the French Cultural Institute to learn more about French influence in the region. French is not the only European influence here, as Pera is also home to a variety of European Consulates, many of which are also home to academic institutions, adding to the international atmosphere. Religious diversity is also evident in the mosques, synagogues, and numerous churches of various rites (Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Roman Catholic, Church of England), which you will find on and around the street and district.

Your private expert TE guide will also lead you through a few of these fascinating places of worship, like the nineteenth-century Aga Camii Mosque and Hagia Triada, or Church of the Holy Trinity, the largest Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul, and the first domed church built since the fall of Constantinople.

Going back to high school was never so fascinating as this visit with your expert private TE guide to the Ottoman Empire’s oldest high school. Galatasaray, which means ‘Galata Palace Imperial School’, has been nurturing students for centuries, preparing them to become statesmen, diplomats, writers, composers, scientists, and more.

Discover the fascinating story of its founding and of its various transformations from Ottoman beginnings, the adoption of the French education system in the nineteenth century, and its modernization period, making Galatasaray the prestigious institution it is today.

Every city has its unexpected treasures, and for the Pera District, French Street is one of them. This lively street is beautifully lined with colorful buildings, outdoor brassieres and cafes, all designed in the French style. In the 1800s, the zone’s first theaters, cinemas, hotels, and cafes were built, sometimes by the French. This charming street is bustling with people, strolling or relaxing at one of the numerous local spots, enjoying live music, or simply taking in the street’s energy.

The beauty doesn’t end here. Cicek Pasaji, or the “Flower Passage,” is well worth the visit. Your expert private TE guide will regale you with the history of the galleria: first a theater frequented by Sultans, then transformed into a galleria or passage. Famous for its beautiful architecture, it takes its name from Cicek Pasaji, which means “flower shower” and refers to its many flower-shower shops.

The French were not the only influence on the districts of Taksim and Pera. Other Europeans also played a role, as evidenced by the buildings and places of worship of these communities. The largest Catholic Church in Istanbul, the Church of Saint Antoine (Saint Anthony of Padua), was built by the Italian Community, which historically resided in the Galata district. Your expert private TE guide will share the fascinating history of the predominantly Genoese and Venetian community, dating back to the Middle Ages.

An interesting example of Gothic Revival architecture is the Crimean Memorial Church, also known as Christ Church. It was built in memory of the British soldiers who fought alongside the Ottomans and the French in the Crimean War, and was built by Sultan Abdulmecit in 1868 in their honor.