The Golden Horn (Turkish name: Altın Boynuz or Haliç) is a large body of water in Istanbul, which is a narrow curved bay (bay) connecting to the Bosphorus Strait at the point where the Bosphorus meets the Sea of Marmara.
The name "Golden Horn" comes from the following:
- "horn", because the reservoir, if viewed panoramically, has the silhouette of a horn;
- "golden" - remains more unclear, but historians believe that the name refers to the fact that the bay was an important trade route and gave a military advantage to the city. There is also a version that the word "Golden" used in the name refers to romantic artistic interpretations of shades of golden color shining on the waters of the bay when the sun sets.
The Golden Horn was formed naturally before our era. In Ottoman times, there were a lot of fish in the bay, and oysters were also caught for serving on the sultan's table. Over time, the reservoir (1950s) was polluted with industrial waste from factories, warehouses and shipyards along its shores. Since the 1980s, clean-up work has begun, and local fish, wildlife and flora are largely being restored.
The Golden Horn resembles a riverbed in shape, has a length of about 8 kilometers and a width of 90 to 750 meters. The maximum depth of the bay at the confluence with the Bosphorus is about 35-40 meters.
Bridges are thrown across the Golden Horn, and along its waters run embankments, parks, there are attractions, museums, mosques, cafes and restaurants, as well as accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments) 
The Golden Horn is located in the European part of Istanbul and divides the historical part of the city into:
- The "old city", which is located on the site of the former Byzantium and Constantinople (now the city of Istanbul) and today is a large district of Istanbul - Fatih, which contains most of the main historical and cultural attractions of the city, comprehensively included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. More about the Fatih district...
View of the Fatih and Golden Horn area
- a large and lively Beyoglu district, which is one of the most famous in the city, with some significant sights and colorful neighborhoods, including Karakoy. Learn more about Beyoglu and Karakey area...
View of Beyoglu and Golden Horn area
Bridges over the Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is crossed by transport and pedestrian bridges that connect the Fatih district with the Beyoglu district.
The most visited and famous is the two-level transport and pedestrianGalata Bridge or Galata Bridge (Galata Köprüsü) with restaurants and observation decks on the lower tier. More about Galastky Bridge...
The second most popular is the Halic Metro Bridge or the Golden Horn Bridge (Haliç Metro Köprüsü), which is railway and pedestrian.
The M2 metro line passes over the Halic Bridge, and in the center of the bridge is the metro station of the same name "Haliç". Therefore, this bridge is also called the "metromost". Learn more about the Halich Metro bridge...
Upstream of the Golden Horn there are bridges such as:
- Atatürk Bridge, also known as the Atatürk Bridge (Unkapanı Bridge), built in 1940 and is a pedestrian and transport bridge;
- Halic Bridge (Haliç Köprüsü), built in 1974 and is also a pedestrian and transport bridge.
Earlier, the Golden Horn was crossed by the Old Galata Bridge, now defunct, which was dismantled and moved upstream after significant damage in 1992 caused by a fire that occurred in the kitchen of one of the restaurants located on the lower level of the bridge.
Walking on the waters of the Golden Horn
Small ferries and yachts ply the Golden Horn Bay.
You can enjoy the views of the Golden Horn and its shores from the water from ferries that function as public transport in Istanbul (Istanbul transport cards are valid) and connect both the shores of the Golden Horn itself and the Golden Horn with the shores of the Bosphorus. Ferry berths are located both on both shores of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus Strait.
You can also walk along the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, taking an excursion walk through the reservoirs of Istanbul
Golden Horn panoramas (the best viewpoints)
You can enjoy the views of the Golden Horn not only from the embankments along the bay and from the bridges over the Golden Horn, but also from some of the observation decks of Istanbul in the districts of Fatih and Beyoglu.
There are paid and free viewing platforms.
Pierre Loti Hill
Pierre Loti Hill (Pierre Loti) is a hill with a height of 53 meters, which is one of the best and most famous viewing platforms in Istanbul.
Panoramic views of the Golden Horn and the European part of Istanbul open from the observation deck of the hill.
In addition to the observation deck on the hill there are also: a panoramic cafe of the same name, a couple of souvenir shops, a toilet, a restaurant and the hotel Turkhouse, which overlooks the 7 hills of Istanbul and the Golden Horn Bay. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Guests can make use of a sauna and a hammam. Link to the hotel
Pierre Loti Hill is located on the European side of Istanbul, in the Eyup area near the waters of the Golden Horn.
The observation deck on the hill itself is free.
You can climb (descend) to the hill on foot through the old cemetery (free of charge) or by using the Eyüp-Piyer Loti Teleferik Hatt (TF2) gondola cable car, which is the public transport of the city (Istanbul transport cards are valid). More about the hill and the Pierre Loti lookout...
Blachernae Palace
The Blachernae Palace or Tekfur Palace (Tekfur Sarayı, Tekfur sarayı) today is the remains of a former palace built for the son of the Byzantine emperor.
Now part of the ruins of the palace have been restored, and is used as a museum with part of the walls, an interior room with an exposition, a courtyard, an elevator and an observation deck in the upper part.
Entrance to the territory of the palace and the observation deck is paid.
The Blachernae Palace is located in the European part of Istanbul, in the Fatih district, at the address: Ayvansaray Mahallesi, Şişhane Caddesi, 34087 Fatih/Istanbul.
Website of the Blachernae Palace: tekfursarayi.istanbul. More about the palaces of Istanbul...
Selim Yazuva Mosque
The mosque of Selim Yavuz or Selim the Terrible (Yavuz Sultan Selim Camii) is an Ottoman imperial mosque of the 16th century with narrow minarets and a large dome.
The mosque's garden offers panoramic views of part of Istanbul and the Golden Horn Bay.
Admission is free (free).
The mosque is located in the European part of Istanbul, in the Balat quarter of Fatih district, at the address: Balat, Sultan Selim Cd. No:18, 34087 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey. Learn more about Istanbul mosques...
Pantokrator Monastery (Zeyrek Mosque)
The Pantokrator Monastery or Molla Zeyrek Mosque (Molla Zeyrek Camii) is the second largest, after Hagia Sophia Mosque, a monument of Byzantine architecture preserved from Constantinople.
One of the features of the monastery is its location on a hill, where near the monastery there is a panoramic cafe with a beautiful observation deck, which offers magnificent panoramic views of Istanbul, including the old historical part of the city and the Golden Horn.
In order to enjoy the views from the observation deck, it is not necessary to order something in a cafe.
The viewing room is free.
The monastery is located on the European side of Istanbul, in the Fatih district, in the Zeyrek quarter, at the address: Zeyrek, Ibadethane Sk. No:2, 34083 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey. Learn more about the Zeirek Mosque and the panoramic observation deck...
Suleymaniye Mosque
The Suleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) is a masterpiece of architecture of the Ottoman Empire and the second most important, after Blue Mosque, a mosque in the city.
The mosque was built in 1551-1557 by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
Suleymaniye is a complex in which, in addition to the mosque itself with a monumental courtyard, turbe (tombs-mausoleums) are notable Suleiman the Magnificent, his beloved wife Hurrem (Roksolana) and their daughter Mihrimah.
Since the mosque is located on a hill, then from its territory (terraces) There are panoramic views of part of Istanbul and the Golden Horn.
The mosque is located in the European part of Istanbul, in the Fatih district, at the address: Süleymaniye Mah, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd. No:1, 34116 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey.
Entrance to the mosque complex is free (free of charge). More about the Suleymaniye Mosque...
Roof "Takht Istanbul"
Taht Istanbul is a photo studio, from the roof of which, decorated in Turkish style, offers beautiful panoramic views, including the Golden Horn.
Photos from this site can often be seen in Istanbul travel guides.
The photo studio is paid.
The roof of "Takht Istanbul" is located near the Suleymaniye Mosque, at the address: Süleymaniye Mah. Siyavuşpaşa Sok. Kurtel Iş Hanı, D:No:14 D:301, 34116 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey.
Photo studio website: tahtistanbul.com/tr .
Topkapi: Sultan Abdul-Majid's mansion and Marble Terrace
The Empire-style mansion of Sultan Abdul-Majid (Mecidiye Köşkü) is located on the territory of the Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) and its terrace is also a popular observation deck of the city; there is also a restaurant with a panoramic terrace. There are views of the Bosphorus, the Asian side of Istanbul and partly the Marmara Sea.
Also on the territory of the Topkapi Palace (on the opposite side from the terrace of the mansion) there is a Marble terrace with partial views of the Golden Horn.
Entrance to the Topcaps is paid.
Topkapi Palace is located on the European side of the city, in the old historical part of Istanbul's Fatih district, at the address: Cankurtaran Mh., 34122 Fatih / Istanbul.
Topkapi Palace website: topkapi-sarayi. More about Topkapi Palace...
Observation deck behind Topkapi Palace
If you do not want to go to the Topkapi Palace, then you can bypass the complex from the Bosphorus and go to the embankment and a small park area near the waters (the place where the Ataturk monument is located), and also admire, only from the ground, the views of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, and partly the Marmara Sea.
This place is popular during sunsets.
Galata Tower
Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) is one of the symbols and one of the main attractions of Istanbul.
The tower is accessible to visitors. It houses a museum exhibition, and on the upper levels of the tower there are circular (indoor and outdoor) observation decks, giving beautiful panoramic 360-degree views of Istanbul, including the historical center, the Golden Horn Bay and the Bosphorus Strait.
The viewing room is paid.
Galata Tower is located in the historical center of Istanbul, in the European part of the city, in the Galata quarter of Beyoğlu district, near the main pedestrian street of the city - Istiklal (Istiklal caddesi), at the address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/Istanbul.
Galata Tower website: muze.gov.tr/muze-detay. Learn more about the Galata Tower and the observation deck with photos and description...
Attractions along the shores of the Golden Horn
The territory surrounding the Golden Horn on both sides includes embankments, parks and numerous attractions, as well as museums, mosques, etc., which are located, including in close proximity to the waters of the bay.
We advise you to find out about all the sights of the districts near the Golden Horn, and these are the districts of Fatih and Beyoglu, in separate articles, since there are a lot of attractions in the districts.
Learn more about the Fatih district with photos, interesting places and other information...
Learn more about the Beyoglu district with photos, interesting places and other information...
All accommodation facilities in Istanbul, including in the historical center, near the waters of the Golden Horn, on the European and Asian sides of the city, can be viewed and booked here
