,url-https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripexpert.com%2Fimages%2Fmarker-fade%402x.png(28.97412,41.02558)/28.971237614750862,41.01787133261029,12.417969869494419/1280x214@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidHJpcGV4cGVydHdlYiIsImEiOiJja2Fud3l2MDcwbXZ0MndyeGF3eGI3ZWhzIn0.zLqNa1RECyZZadF8zfQM5w)
Grand BazaarvsGalata Tower
Both are rated very highly by those who travel for a living. On balance, Grand Bazaar ranks significantly higher than Galata Tower. Grand Bazaar ranks #5 in Istanbul with praise from 7 reviews including Michelin Guide, Travel + Leisure and Lonely Planet.
Grand Bazaar
Fodor's
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
Time Out
Grand Bazaar Istanbul Turkey
From $0/night
Fodor's "Take a deep breath and plunge into this maze of 65 winding, covered streets crammed with 4,000 tiny shops, cafés, restaurants, mosques, and courtyards." Full review
Frommer's "The mother of all tourist traps, the Grand or Covered Bazaar is a vivid illustration of all that's gone wrong with the free market." Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"This labyrinthine and chaotic bazaar is the heart of the Old City and has been so for centuries. No visit to İstanbul would be complete without a stop here." Full review
Travel + Leisure "This massive, dazzling, and cacophonous covered market is the ur-bazaar of the Orient; if you’ve envisioned what it will be like, prepare to have your expectations exceeded." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"The Grand Bazaar is a joyful, feverish universe that can overwhelm and unsettle with its thousands of shops and workshops, caravanserais, warehouses, restaurants, fountains, banks and mosque." Full review
Afar Magazine "Soon after conquering Constantinople and defeating the Byzantines in 1453, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II commissioned the beginnings of the Grand Bazaar to reinvigorate trade to the city." Full review
Time Out "Among the world's oldest and largest covered markets, the Grand Bazaar features thousands of shops spread across dozens of streets." Full review
i
If you're planning on making purchases, be sure to put your bargaining hat on and show no mercy.
Galata Tower Fodor's Lonely Planet Michelin Guide Afar Magazine Michelin Guide Time Out Afar Magazine Travel + Leisure Frommer's Travel + Leisure
Buyuk Hendek Cad., Istanbul, Turkey
From $0/night
Fodor's "The hillside location provided good defense, as well as a perch from which to monitor the comings and goings of vessels in the sea lanes below." Full review
Lonely Planet "Constructed in 1348, it was the tallest structure in the city for centuries, and it still dominates the skyline north of the Golden Horn." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"A district full of life on the banks of the Bosphorus, culminating in the 68m-high Galata Tower... delightful 360° view." Full review
Afar Magazine "On the 21 March, I climbed the Galata Tower to see if a 470 year old Istanbul love story was true." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"The imposing Galata Tower is 68m tall. Built in 1348, it was the main bastion of the Genoese surrounding wall. Modified by the Ottomans, it served as a prison then a watchtower." Full review
Time Out "Built in 1348 during an expansion of the Genoese colony in Constantinople, the Galata Tower is one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks." Full review
Afar Magazine "If you’re missing your daily cappuccino, double espresso, Americano, macchiato or latte, then drop by Galata Lavazza and order a cup to drink on their provincial street-side terrace. " Full review
Travel + Leisure "Built by the Genoese in the 14th century, Galata Tower is an iconic part of the Istanbul skyline. Climb to the top for some of the best views of the city—especially at sunset."
Istanbul Travel Guide
August 16, 2021
Frommer's "The neighborhood of Galata, located on a steep hump of land north of the Golden Horn and historic peninsula, actually sits on the earliest foundations of the city." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The structure that stands today, however, dates back to the 13th century and serves as a gallery and museum. A primary feature of the tower is a 360-degree observation deck that overlooks Istanbul."
25 Best Things to Do in Istanbul
September 28, 2023
