The Galata Tower is an old Genoese tower in the Galata part of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the (lost) Walls of Galata, the tower is now an exhibition space and museum, and a symbol of Beyoğlu and Istanbul.

Galataport lies just a little way northeast of the ferry terminal at Karaköy which was the city's original terminal for passenger ships. Galataport is a 400,000-square-metre mixed-use development located along 1.2 km (0.75 mi) of shore in the Karaköy neighbourhood of Istanbul, Turkey on the European shore of the Bosporus strait near its confluence with the Golden Horn right in the heart of the city. It includes the city's cruise ship terminal, around 250 shops and restaurants, a Peninsula hotel, the Istanbul Modern art museum, and other cultural and entertainment facilities; the complex also hosts festivals

The design contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a new synthesis. The palace layout and décor reflect the increasing influence of European styles and standards on Ottoman culture and art during the Tanzimat period. The exterior, in particular the view from the Bosporus, shows a classical European two-wing arrangement which is divided by a big avant-corps with two side avant-corps.

The palace, built by Sultan Abdulaziz to replace the old Çırağan Palace which was at the same location, was designed by the Armenian palace architect Nigoğayos Balyan and constructed by his sons Sarkis and Hagop Balyan between 1863 and 1867, during a period in which all Ottoman sultans built their own palaces rather than using those of their ancestors; Çırağan Palace is the last example of this tradition. The inner walls and the roof were made of wood, the outer walls of colorful marble. A beautiful marble bridge connects the palace to the Yıldız Palace on the hill behind. A very high garden wall protects the palace from the outer world.

Yıldız Palace, meaning "Star Palace", was built in 1880 and was used by the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II.[1] The area of the palace was originally made of natural woodlands and became an imperial estate during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I (1603–1617). Various sultans after Ahmed I enjoyed vacationing on these lands and Sultans Abdülmecid I and Abdülaziz built mansions here. The Yildiz Palace was a complex over a large area of hills and valleys. This was an example of traditional Ottoman architecture[2] consisting of a complex of different buildings across a piece of land.

Ortakoy MosqueOriginally built in the 18th century, the current mosque was ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid I in the 19th century and designed by the father-and-son architects Karabet Amira Balyan and Nigoğos Balyan.

The Bosphorus Bridge, is one of the three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul thus connecting Europe and Asia.

The most historically intriguing settlement on the Bosphorus, Rumelihisarı's splendid 15th-century Ottoman fortress guards the narrowest point of the straits, together with the older Anadoluhisari across the water.

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey spanning the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul thus connecting Europe and Asia.

Emirgan is a leafy, middle-class suburb of Istanbul, Turkey, on the western shore of the Bosphorus in the Sarıyer district north of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge

İstinye is a neighbourhood in Istanbul, Turkey, on the European side of the city. It is located in the district of Sarıyer, between the neighbourhoods of Emirgan and Yeniköy, on the northwestern shore of the Bosporus strait. It is one of the finest seashore locations on the Bosporus where people walk around during the weekends.

Sakip Sabanci Museum has a fantastic collection of world-class calligraphy collection. Not only is the original selection on display, but new pieces have been added, including works from the painting section. Featuring some marvellous firmans, Qur'ans and pieces by master calligraphers such as Ahmed Karahisari there has never been a better time to go and see this wonderful permanent exhibit.

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, is a bridge for rail and motor vehicle transit over the Bosphorus strait, to the north of two existing suspension bridges in Istanbul, Turkey. The bridge is located near the Black Sea entrance of the Bosphorus strait, between Garipçe in Sarıyer on the European side and Poyrazköy in Beykoz on the Asian side.

It stands inside a frilly skirt of tea gardens and restaurants but is unadorned and monumental. The fortress had already been fortified under the Palaiologos dynasty.

Kanlıca is a neighbourhood on the Asian side of the Bosphorus strait, in the Beykoz district of Istanbul Province, Turkey.

This attractive castle is the most important early Ottoman landmark in Istanbul. The complex is the oldest surviving Turkish architectural structure built in Istanbul, and further gives its name to the neighborhood around it in the city's Beykoz district.

Originally built in 1828 (in the aftermath the hurrried demise of the dreadful Janissaries) as the Kuleli Cavalry Barracks, it was reconstructed twice, in the 1830s after a fire, and again by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1863, though the second rebuilding happily looks remarkably similar to the Kuleli we see in Thomas Allom’s 1838 engraving. In 1872, it became a military academy, but it would frequently serve as a hospital in time of war, and was used as a quarantine station between 1837 and 1842 – an inspired campaign that saved thousands of lives.

Another Ottoman era piece of architecture covered by the tour is the Beylerbeyi Palace. The palace sits on the Asian shore of Bosphorus and once served as the sultans’ summer residence and important foreign visitors of the Ottoman Empire. Built between 1861-1865, the palace is a unique blend of European and Ottoman architecture with its French neo-baroque style and Ottoman house plan. Apart from the European look, the palace also has European furniture, chandeliers, and decorations. Explore the 6 large halls and 24 rooms within the palace for a taste of the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultan.

Our next stop is the pearl of Bosphorus strait, the Maiden’s Tower. This iconic landmark sits on a small island at the strait’s southern entrance, approximately 200 meters from the coast of Uskudar. The tower, also called Leander’s Tower, was initially built around the 3rd century BCE, but the current structure dates back to 1725 AD. Since then, the tower has been renovated and is now a major visitor attraction, housing a museum and a restaurant serving traditional Turkish dishes. Enjoy a magnificent view of the bay from the tower as you learn its history and the many legends associated with it.