Discover Galataport Istanbul: Shopping, Dining, and Culture by the Bosphorus

29.07.2025 - 15:40

In Karaköy, one of the oldest districts of Istanbul, a brand new living area along the coast has become one of the most striking points of the city in recent years. Galataport Istanbul offers an atmosphere compatible with modern city life while preserving the historical texture. This is a place where you can take a walk along the seafront, visit art galleries, experience different cuisines and complete the day with shopping if you wish. If you have not yet discovered Galataport or if you need more information about it, you can find all the details you are curious about in this guide.

A Modern Coastal Renewal Project in the Heart of Istanbul: Galataport Istanbul

Galataport Istanbul is a globally acclaimed waterfront regeneration project located on the Karaköy waterfront, directly opposite the historical peninsula of Istanbul. Stretching along approximately 1.2 kilometres of coastline, this giant project has become a modern attraction centre that brings urban life together with the sea, with a cruise port, shopping and gastronomy areas, museum and cultural centres, international hotel chains and office spaces.

The total investment cost of the project is between USD 1.7 and 1.8 billion and was realised by TMR (a partnership between Doğuş Holding and Bilgili Holding). The aim of Galataport is to reopen Istanbul's Karaköy waterfront, which has been closed to the public for many years, to the use of urbanites and to create a multiplier effect in tourism with a world-class cruise terminal.

What are the Unique Features of Galataport?

Galataport Istanbul has many unique features that distinguish it from other coastal projects. The most remarkable of these is that it has the world's first underground cruise terminal. Thanks to this feature, the security, passport and baggage operations of the terminal where giant ships dock are carried out underground, while the remaining area on the surface is offered to the public as a public walking area.

This underground terminal system covers a special area of 29,000 square metres and operates with a hydraulic hatch system that is activated when the ships dock. Thanks to the system, the normally limited use of the beach has gained continuity and visitors to the region can have continuous contact with the sea.

Galataport has also been designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable architecture. With its seawater cooling system, water-saving infrastructure, energy-efficient materials and infrastructure elements resistant to rising sea level risks, it represents the environmentalist face of modern urban life.

Is Galataport a Shopping Centre?

This question is often asked because Galataport has many shops, restaurants and food and beverage points. However, Galataport is built on a concept quite different from the classic closed-box shopping mall logic. It is a living space designed with open-air architecture and designed like a city square.

Approximately 52,000 square metres of leasable commercial space offers a wide range of shopping opportunities from international brands to local boutiques. Brands in different categories, ranging from fashion to design, accessories to gastronomy, are located in Galataport. In this respect, although the definition of ‘shopping centre’ is technically correct, it offers an experience far beyond the classical shopping mall mould thanks to its architecture, function and integration into the city.

What is inside Galataport?

Galataport does not only consist of shopping and food and beverage points. It is designed as a complex that addresses many needs such as culture, art, accommodation, office and travel at the same time. The main elements that stand out in Galataport Istanbul are as follows:

1. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art

Located in its new building, which bears the signature of a world-renowned architect such as Renzo Piano, Istanbul Modern is a centre where the heart of contemporary art beats. The museum is the first modern and contemporary art museum in Turkey and offers a unique art experience to its visitors in its new location on the seafront.

2. Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture

The museum, which belongs to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, operates in the Antrepo No. 5 building within the boundaries of Galataport. It houses Turkey's most valuable plastic art collections.

3. The Peninsula Istanbul Hotel

Peninsula Hotels, one of the most prestigious hotel chains in the world, made its first investment in Turkey in Galataport. This 177-room hotel was built with the restoration of four historical buildings. The luxury accommodation experience with a Bosphorus view is an important move that raises the bar of Istanbul tourism.

4. Tophane Clock Tower and Historical Buildings

Among the buildings restored within the scope of Galataport are landmarks such as Tophane Clock Tower, Çinili Han, Merkez Han, and Karaköy Passenger Hall. Thus, the project has been designed with an approach that is not only new but also encompasses the historical.

5. Restaurants and Cafes

Galataport offers a wide range of gastronomic options with its seating areas overlooking the Bosphorus and its unique architecture. Offering both local and international cuisine, the restaurants have become a popular destination not only for tourists but also for Istanbulites.

6. Office and Business Centres

The modern office areas within the mixed living fiction created in Galataport attract attention as spacious and prestigious business centres that make it possible to work on the coastline. Many brands, from creative agencies to foreign companies, prefer to locate here.

Is the Entrance to Galataport Free?

Entrance to Galataport Istanbul is completely free of charge. Everyone can take a walk, visit shops, visit museums or sit on the beach at any time. There is no ticket control or fee application at the entrance. Only some special exhibitions, events or concerts may require a ticket.

Car parking is also available, and usually the first 30 minutes are free of charge. Visitors spending over 3000 TL are entitled to free car parking for up to 2 hours.

How to Get to Galataport?

Galataport is located in one of the most central points of Istanbul. It is very advantageous in terms of transport:

By tram: It can be easily reached by getting off at Karaköy or Tophane stops on the T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar line.

By ferry: Ferries travelling from Kadıköy or Üsküdar to Karaköy can be used.

Bus or Dolmus: Many public transport vehicles from Beşiktaş, Eminönü and Taksim directions stop by the area.

On foot: It can be reached by walking along the coast from Karaköy, or by descending down from the Galata Tower.

By car: Galataport has a large underground car park with a capacity of 2,400 vehicles.

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Galataport Istanbul Visiting Hours

In general, shops and restaurants are open between 10:00 - 22:00. However, some restaurants and cafes can stay open until 23:00 at night. Opening/closing hours of museums may vary; it is recommended to check before visiting.

Should You Visit Galataport Istanbul?

Galataport Istanbul is not just a shopping or cruise port; it is a transformation project that brings Istanbul's urban life together with the sea. This area, which blends modern architecture with historical buildings without harming the city fabric, makes a great contribution to the city in terms of cultural, commercial and touristic aspects. It is one of the newest and prestigious areas to be seen in Istanbul for both local visitors and international tourists.