The total fish caught at the Galata bridge in Istanbul is 64 tonnes/year

The Galata Bridge is an iconic 2-storey bridge in Istanbul, Turkey. The Galata is a bascule bridge built-in 1992 which is almost half a -kilometre long and 42m wide. It consists of 3 lines for vehicles and a wide walking path on each side. Galata Bridge is called Galata Köprüsü in Turkish. This bridge does not connect Asia and Europe but it connects Karaköy–Eminönü districts in Istanbul. We visited the bridge on our first day in Istanbul after the Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower. We saved the best for the last because the areas in and around become lively as the day dawns and it’s always fun when there are many people around.

Walk from that Marmaray Sirkeci İstasyonu train station to Galata bridge.

We walked from the Sirkeci train station to the Galata bridge. The walk along the Bosphorus is a must-do and we ended up eating a lot of street food by the time we reached the bridge.

There are marble benches to sit and the view is unbelievable. It is mesmerizing to see the boats go by. I am sure the ocean breeze will change your mood.

Things to do in Galata Bridge

Enjoy the sunset

If you go down the staircase then there are platforms to relax and view the sunset. This is the ideal location to see the sun descend below the horizon and also a perfect Instagram frame.

We spent around 30 mins on the platform and saw many mosques in the background and were trying to guess all the mosques. Most of the mosques have the same architecture as Hagia Sofia and from Galata bridge, we cannot view Hagia Sofia.

Sunset cruise

Sunset cruise was an ultimate experience in Istanbul. Many cruise companies operate but we choose the one that was near the Galata bridge. Stay tuned for more information.

Relish a meal at the restaurant

There are many restaurants, stalls and coffee shops on the Galata bridge. If you are a fan of seafood, the fish sandwich commonly known as balık ekmek won’t let you down.

There are hookah parlours as well, just in case you want to enjoy it watching the sunset. The prices are on the higher side because it is a tourist attraction. Istanbul is known for its food and doesn’t forget to try other street delicacies.

Watch the fishermen

You can witness many fishermen sticking out their fishing rods ready to serve you with a fresh fish sandwich at the restaurants below. I had never seen them so closely and enjoyed my time seeing them live in action. Can you believe that the total fish caught at this bridge is around 64 tonnes in a year?

Pics from a professional photographer

Just at the beginning of the bridge, at the Eminönü end, there was a photographer who clicked decent pictures covering the Bosphorus river, the Galata Tower and the Galata Bridge. 1 Euro ~ 6.2 Turkish Lira(TL). One picture costs 5TL ~ 70 cents and 5TL for 1 photo frame (photo frame is optional) which is a good deal. So if you are interested then you can try it. My experience I thought it would be a normal bridge and we would just walk across it. I had never come across a multi-storeyed bridge and was surprised to see vivid activities going on. It is a must-visit and this should your last destination of the day so that you can thoroughly enjoy without hurrying up. Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

”Travel brings power and love back into your life”-Rumi Jalalud-Din