We were happy to hike up the stairs because the view from the apartment was so fantastic. The apartment also has a good vibe and you can tell it has been decorated by somebody with a sense of style. There are some maintenance issues but nothing major. The neighborhood is interesting. We decided to wander and explore it the first day and to be honest we were pretty shocked at its appearance. It is the Tarlebasi neighborhood. Once you figure out the efficient route to Istiklal Caddesi under Tarlebasi boulevard you can easily get to the area with shopping and eateries in 5-10 minutes walking, so it's very close. I would concur with others that it is safe. It's pretty easy to get to other tourist areas around the city via public transport. Lots of buses stop along Tarlebasi, the historic tram is also 5 minutes away or you can walk down to Tophane in about 20 minutes and take the T1 tram.