Imagine this. The dying sun casting its fading light on the water, imbibing it with a golden color. Yes, sunsets at the Golden Horn are simply delightful. Located at the city’s European side, this natural harbor has the shape of the horn, hence, its name. It is found at the west end of the Bosphorus and divides the shore on the European side into two. It provides excellent shelter for ships passing through and is one of the reasons why Istanbul is a much-coveted city for centuries.
The Golden Horn (or Halic) is about 8 kilometers in length. The natural harbor the Golden Horn forms, along with the Sea of Marmara, was home of the naval fleet of the Byzantine Empire. And since this was a contested location, the emperor had strong walls built that spanned the shoreline and protected the city from invaders. There used to be a long chain at the entrance of the Golden Horn. The chain, which was put into place during the Byzantine era, prevented foreign boats from entering the area, unless they were allowed by city officials. There are also a number of bridges that span and connect the two shores formed by the Golden Horn.
Today, you will enjoy the relaxing atmosphere – playgrounds, parks and promenades were part of the city’s goal of making this a place where busy Istanbulites can go, put their hair down and just get away from the hurly burly of the city. You can also select a café or restaurant by the shore, so that you can dine and sip on a cup of coffee even as you enjoy the view.
When at the Golden Horn, you should try to see the following:
Eyup Sultan Mosque Complex Part of this is the Eyup Sultan Mosque, which is considered an important place for Muslims. The mosque features the tomb of Eyup Sultan (Abu Ayyub al-Ansari), who is one of the Prophet Mohammed’s friends and his standard bearer as well. The mosque is said to hold an imprint of the prophet’s footprint. It is also where families come to pray or present themselves prior to a circumcision or to a wedding. There is also a bazaar nearby. You can buy interesting Ottoman souvenirs and knick-knacks, such as halka (salty cookies), prayer beads and mats, wooden toys, Koran recordings and scented oils. The complex also includes a cemetery, a traditional bath, as well as a school room.
Pierre Loti Tea Garden Sip your tea under the shelter of the trees with the Golden Horn’s soothing panorama in sight. The café is located on top of a hill and it is named after the writer Loti, who is said to be a constant visitor at the café.
Rahmi Koc Industrial Museum (Haskoy Caddesi 27, Haskoy) This museum outlines the history of the country’s Communications, Commercial and Transport Industries. The extensive collection includes items from the people’s daily lives, how these developed and improved. You will find models and samples of aircraft, radios, televisions and even gramophones.
Miniaturk This is the Turkey in miniature. In fact, the park is the largest in the world in terms of the area the models cover. A visit to the Miniaturk is like a tour of all the major tourist spots of the country as well as important sites in Anatolia – you will see models of the Galata Tower, the Hagia Sophia, the Halicarnassus Mausoleum and others places and monuments.
Galata Tower This is a large cylinder capped by a cone. Dubbed Christea Turris (Tower of Christ), this is the newer version of the old Galata Tower (Megalos Pyrgos). The old one used to hold the chain that protected the Golden Horn from the entry of unwanted ships and was destroyed during the early 1200s. The tower has nine stories and is around 67 meters in height. You can enjoy great vistas of the Golden Horn and the city at the top of the tower.