Any trip to İstanbul naturally begins with its world-renowned landmarks — the timeless icons that define the city’s skyline and claim a firm spot on every traveller’s bucket list. Yet this metropolis, shaped by millennia of civilisations, offers far more than its celebrated monuments. With its rich and layered past, İstanbul unfolds through its many distinct neighbourhoods, each offering a unique atmosphere and endless opportunities for discovery at every visit. Yedikule and Samatya, the districts stretching along the historic city walls, stand out as some of the city’s most rewarding yet quietly captivating quarters.
Once home to emperors and later to diverse faith communities, Yedikule and Samatya today reflect a vibrant, deeply rooted local culture. Strolling through their cosmopolitan streets, visitors encounter traces of the civilisations that shaped them, alongside long-standing corner shops, historic mansions and traditional coffeehouses (kahvehane) where conversations still flow warmly. The districts also sustain a rich meyhane culinary heritage passed down through generations, making them ideal spots to experience this enduring tradition.
Seven Towers, One Timeless Legacy
Yedikule (Seven Towers) Fortress is the easiest place to start a walk along İstanbul’s ancient city walls, which stretch across much of the city's richest cultural area, the Historical Peninsula. Dating to the 5th century, the structure was erected during the Eastern Roman Empire to defend the city against attacks and was later expanded with the addition of new walls and gates during the Ottoman era. While several gates adorn the structure, one must not miss the renowned Golden Gate, constructed to welcome emperors returning from victorious campaigns. Within the fortress, visitors can also explore the seven towers that give the structure its name, including the dungeon, armoury, and treasury; walk along the passageways connecting the towers; and take in sweeping views over the Marmara Sea and the Historical Peninsula.
After the tower, you can continue your explorations toward Samatya. Along the way, you will encounter a series of architectural gems, including the Church of Sts. Constantine and Helen Rum Orthodox Church, notable for its elegant bell tower. Nearby, just on the edge of Samatya, stand the remains of the Studios Monastery, later converted into the İmrahor Mosque, offering a striking glimpse into the layered Eastern Roman and Ottoman heritage of the area.
From Sacred Stones to Shared Tables: The Spirit of Samatya
Upon arriving in Samatya, the neighbourhood’s historic square, featured in popular Turkish TV soap operas, welcomes you with its warm, inviting atmosphere. As you stroll through the area, second-hand bookshops, cafés, restaurants and pastry shops appear alongside historic wooden mansions that still reveal the district’s timeless character. Some of these mansions, often accompanied by the affectionate presence of street cats, have been lovingly restored as cafés. You can enjoy a cup of frothy Turkish coffee in one of them.
Near the historic railway station at the boundary between Yedikule and Samatya stands the Railway Workers’ Church, also known as the Samatya Church. Today used by the Syriac community, the church is associated with railway workers of the late Ottoman period and reflects the district’s long-standing ties to the area’s railway heritage. Alongside this church, the neighbourhood is also home to the Samatya Surp Kevork Armenian Church, one of the oldest Armenian churches in İstanbul, as well as the Church of St. Memas, both of which vividly reflect Samatya’s deeply rooted multicultural character.
Once a small fishing village along the coast, Samatya also offers an unforgettable culinary feast today, with its many “meyhanes” (Turkish taverns) serving delicious fish accompanied by Turkish rakı, alongside distinctive meze specialities such as topik (a vegetarian meatball made from a chickpea-based paste and caramelised onions usually mixed with potatoes or flour) and fish börek.
Exceptional Bonus Sights: Balıklı Rum Hospital, Aya Haralambos (Hagios Charalambos) Church
In İstanbul, historic hospitals that once served as centres of healing continue to operate to this day. After a tour of culture, history and gastronomy in Yedikule and Samatya, you can also pay a visit to the Balıklı Rum Hospital, a site that holds a unique place in the city’s cultural and social memory. Still actively providing care to patients from both Türkiye and abroad, the hospital is recognised as a cultural heritage site and a living museum. Within its garden stands the Aya Haralambos Church, built in the 18th century for the worship of patients and staff. The church is dedicated to Saint Haralambos, who lived in the 2nd century and is revered in the Orthodox faith as the protector against epidemics. The church carries symbolic meaning as a “spiritual shield” for the hospital, which was founded during a period marked by plague, embodying hope and protection in times of epidemic.