Two Golden Horn quarters that were home to Greek Orthodox and Jewish communities for centuries, with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, historic synagogues, the iron Bulgarian St Stephen Church and the Red School of Fener. Their two-storey timber houses with bay windows (cumba) survive best on the stepped Merdivenli Yokuş and colourful Kiremit Caddesi.
- Address
- Merdivenli Yokuşu, Balat Mahallesi, Fatih
- Hours
- Always open
- Best time to go
- Morning · About 2 h
- Price level
- ₺
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Follow our 'Balat, Fener and the land walls' walking route, which links the churches and synagogues with the Kariye Museum.
- Come early on a weekday: later in the day film crews and photographers crowd Merdivenli Yokuş.
- Browse the second-hand (eskici) and antique shops between the cafés (GoTürkiye).