Aloft Istanbul Karakoy

Istanbul Modern, Türkiye’s first museum of modern and contemporary art, serves as a bridge for sharing the country’s artistic heritage with the world while bringing together creative productions from different geographies in Istanbul. To provide space for artistic diversity, it collects, preserves, exhibits, documents, and researches works of modern and contemporary art. Through exhibitions, programs, and events, the museum supports art production, accessibility to art, and collaborations. With a mission to build a sustainable art ecosystem and foster inclusivity, Istanbul Modern encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in dialogue with art, inviting audiences to be curious and think collectively. The museum’s exhibition and education programs harness technological developments to strengthen communication between artists and audiences, offering an innovative and multi-faceted museum experience. Bringing together works by artists from Turkey and around the world, the museum’s collection explores the interactions and transformations in art history through thematic or chronological selections. The Temporary Exhibition Hall hosts retrospectives and thematic group exhibitions featuring modern and contemporary artists. The Short-Term Exhibition Hall provides space for special projects from various disciplines, as well as emerging and rising artists. The Photography Gallery presents the historical transformation of photography and the reflections of art movements in the field of photography. Istanbul Modern also expands its scope through education and social projects, film programs, and interdisciplinary events held in its library, cinema, and store.

The Camondo Stairs (Turkish: Kamondo Merdivenleri) are 19th century stairs on Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) in the Galata quarter (modern Karaköy) of the Pera district (modern Beyoğlu) in Istanbul, Turkey.[1][2] The curvaceous stairs were designed in a unique mix of the Neo-Baroque and early Art Nouveau styles, and built circa 1870–1880 by the renowned Ottoman-Venetian Jewish banker Abraham Salomon Camondo, the patriarch of the House of Camondo. The stairs link Bankalar Caddesi with Kart Çınar Sokak (the latter was known as Rue Camondo during the 19th and early 20th centuries).[3] Abraham Salomon Camondo constructed the stairs to provide an easy connection between Kart Çınar Sokak, where he lived, and Bankalar Caddesi, where he worked. The stairs were also frequently used by his children who studied at the nearby St. George's Austrian High School. The stairs were famously photographed by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1964,[4] and have featured in Barbara Nadel's crime novel Pretty Dead Things.[5] According to Lonely Planet, "The curvaceous 19th-century Camondo Stairs, one of Beyoğlu's most distinctive pieces of urban design, run south from Kart Çınar Sokak.

Istiklal Caddesi is a bustling 1.4 km street that begins at Taksim Square and stretches all the way to the Funicular Tunel, a unique transportation method connecting Karaköy to Taksim. If you continue along this vibrant street downhill, the iconic Galata Tower, one of Istanbul's most celebrated landmarks, comes into view. Given its popularity, it's unsurprising that Istiklal Caddesi often buzzes with visitors. Remember to be mindful of your belongings, as the bustling environment can sometimes attract opportunistic thieves. That being said, don't let this deter you from fully enjoying your experience. Istiklal Caddesi is a vibrant thoroughfare full of experiences awaiting your discovery.

Stroll along Bankalar Caddesi, once Istanbul’s financial hub, now lined with magnificent historic buildings. Although most of the grand 19th-century buildings that line both sides of the street have survived into the 21st century, they are increasingly being converted into hotels, restaurants and cultural centres. The southern stop of Tünel (1875), the world's second oldest subterranean railway line after London's Underground (1863), is just minutes' walk away from the eastern end of Bankalar Caddesi. The Karaköy tram stop on the T1 line is also very close to the start of the street.

The Galata Tower Museum is a tower located in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul. It takes its name from the Galata neighborhood where it is situated. Originally built as a watchtower within the Galata Walls, the tower has served various purposes throughout different periods and, since 2020, has operated as an exhibition space and museum. It is one of the landmark structures of both Beyoğlu and Istanbul.

It spans a 1.2 km waterfront along the Bosphorus and is among the world’s most significant destination projects. Located in the heart of the city, Galataport Istanbul offers an ecosystem that brings together all the conveniences of digitalization and the latest technologies to make daily life easier. While transforming the city’s historic port into a world-class cruise terminal and a new destination, Galataport Istanbul also opens the waterfront — closed to the public for many years — back to public access. With its accessible and low-rise buildings, neighborhood concept design, architecture in harmony with the area’s historical texture, and alternative transportation options, Galataport Istanbul offers visitors a “breathing” environment for a healthy and safe cultural, artistic, working, shopping, and dining experience. Serving as an inspiration for similar projects worldwide, it is home to the world’s first underground terminal, brought to life with a unique hatch system. The historic port continues to be Istanbul’s gateway to the world from the sea.