Location:
The apartment is close to public transport and shopping areas. Supermarkets and restaurants are reached by walking. Galata is steep so the whole area is not perfect for handicapped people but if you are good on foot, chances are you don’t need any transportation. On the downside, it’s in the heart of a large city that doesn’t sleep long during the night so it’s not quite at night compared to the suburbs. It’s surprising how fast one could get used to the noises of the city in the midnight and the prayer voice from the neighboring mosque, which will be heard at dawn (could be 4am depending on the season). So, yeah, it’s in the middle of Istanbul in an old neighborhood, what did you expect :)
The Urban Bread bakery right next door offers great lobes of bread, cookies and good coffee.
Apartment:
Impressive old building and spacious apartment and it has been equipped with a gas heater even though it’s not well isolated, it was warm enough for us. The dishwasher in the kitchen was a great help for us. Quit comfortable for 4 people and even doable for 6. The sound of the gas heater in the bedroom might need a bit of getting used to if you leave it on during sleep time.
We slept quite well despite all the noises and sounds during the night.
Host:
Eyup is a very approachable and helpful host and speaks English very well. The transfer to airport was seamless with a Mercedes-Benz van and a very friendly driver.
Extra point:
Windows of this apartment in the first floor open to gaps between walls of the neighboring buildings so you shouldn’t expect a wide landscape, however, we were delighted to see a piece of Galata tower from our bedroom window, quite unexpectedly.