Galata tower marked our first official adventure, having spent the prior few days resting in our accommodation exploring just the immediate area (mostly for food).

The trip to Galata tower involved catching a historic tram along İstiklal Caddesi a well known and very busy pedestrian street. I joke that I saw more people walking that street in one day than live in all of Wellington (and based on the stats it’s not a joke, again Istanbul is huge).

After the tram ride it was a short walk to the base of the tower. Once inside, you take an elevator to the top in order to explore the view and the unique display that takes over the center of the towers room.

The views from the windows and balcony of Galata tower are absolutely incredible. Originally built as a watch tower its not surprising how much of the city you can see. In its first watchtower days it formed part of the walls around the Genoese colony, it then became a prison, a fire watch tower, and now finds itself telling its history and sharing its views of the city.

After taking in the view at the top you can make your way down the stairs that circle the outer walls stopping in at each level to learn about the history of the tower, and of Istanbul. At the time I went there was also a floor dedicated to the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founding father of the modern Turkish Republic.