Speciality Museums

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

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About

Tues-Sat 12.00-20.00 Sun 12.00-18.00

Duration: 1-2 hours

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Top ways to experience SALT Galata, Istanbul and nearby attractions

The area

Address

Neighbourhood: Beyoglu

Istanbul’s most famous street, pedestrianized Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), throbs day and night and offers a fantastic array of architectural sights, shops, treats, and throngs upon teeming throngs of people. At the avenue’s northeastern end is expansive Taksim Square, thought by many to be the very heart of the city, with many of Turkey’s most renowned restaurants and some of Europe’s most happening nightlife in close proximity. In striking contrast, Beyoglu’s less trafficked areas – such as the affluent Cihangir and the antiques district of Cukurcuma – exude Old World charm and provide contemplative calm and splendid diversion via an assortment of cozy cafes, attractive boutiques, and quiet lanes.

How to get there

Şişhane • 6 min walk

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Best nearby

We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.

Restaurants

4,884 within 3 miles

Fb Culture Galata

970

509 ft££ - £££ • Steakhouse • Seafood • International

Pepo Restaurant

808

0.1 mi££ - £££ • Steakhouse • Bar • Seafood

F&B Culture

2,608

520 ft££ - £££ • Steakhouse • Seafood • Turkish

La Terrasse Karaköy

92

0.3 mi££ - £££ • Mediterranean • Barbecue • European

Galata Lily cafe Restaurant

382

0.1 mi£ • International • Mediterranean • Turkish

Molto Bene Galata Restaurant

142

0.3 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean

Skull & Bones

126

0.3 mi££ - £££ • Pub • Vegan options

Dukkan Galata

385

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Cafe • International • European

Salon Galata

174

336 ft£ • Turkish • Fusion • Vegetarian friendly

Vezenan

309

0.2 mi££ - £££ • Bar • Seafood • Mediterranean

See all

Attractions

1,188 within 6 miles

Osmanlı Bankası Müzesi

1

1.1 ftSpeciality Museums

181 ftHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Galata Tower

10,095

0.1 miHistoric Sites • History Museums

Schneidertempel Art Galery

3

244 ftArt Galleries

Tarihi II. Mahmut Duvar Çeşmesi

411 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Tofre Begadim Askenaz Synagogue

2

209 ftReligious Sites

Ceneviz Sarayı

4

221 ftHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Aziz Vaftizci Yahya Kilisesi

2

490 ftChurches & Cathedrals

See all

See what travellers are saying

Citio İstanbul
Istanbul, Türkiye9 contributions
Travel Diaries: Salt Galata
Salt Galata is where history and contemporary art intertwine. Housed in the former Ottoman Bank, this cultural hub pulses with creativity. The exhibitions and events breathe life into the historic walls, making it a place where Istanbul's artistic spirit thrives.
Visited April 2024
Travelled solo
Written 14 June 2024
Nazrin O
Baku, Azerbaijan4 contributions
Stunning
Today I have visited SALT Galata and had an exceptional experience. One aspect that stood out to me was the serene ambiance of the library. The silence there was truly remarkable, providing a peaceful escape from the bustling city outside. It was the perfect environment to read, study, or simply reflect. Beyond the library, the architecture and design of SALT Galata are stunning, blending historical charm with modern aesthetics. The staff were welcoming and helpful. I highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a quiet, inspiring place in Istanbul
Visited June 2024
Travelled solo
Written 20 June 2024
General Manager, Bamboo Union
Lahore, Pakistan195 contributions
A wonderful experience
A beautiful piece of history preserved and restored in a great manner. It was very interesting to go down the bank's vault and see how the bank notes were stored and the bank logs were maintained. Overall a great experience. The access to the vaults are through the library.
Visited July 2024
Travelled as a couple
Written 18 July 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5

98 reviews

Excellent

69

Very good

21

Average

5

Poor

3

Terrible

0

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.

This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Citio İstanbul

Istanbul, Türkiye9 contributions

Travel Diaries: Salt Galata

Apr 2024 • Solo

Salt Galata is where history and contemporary art intertwine. Housed in the former Ottoman Bank, this cultural hub pulses with creativity. The exhibitions and events breathe life into the historic walls, making it a place where Istanbul's artistic spirit thrives.

Written 14 June 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

_zmir_T_rkiye3101 Beste Erbak

Izmir, Türkiye13,326 contributions

Old, too old

Nov 2023 • Couples

I was impressed by the beauty of this historic building.It sits on Bankalar Street in Karacoy.The building was designed by the Levantine architect Alexandre Vallauri for the Bank-i Osmanli-i Şahane (later the Ottoman Bank) and was used as the general governor of the Ottoman Bank between 1892 and 1999. Entered Salt Galata in 2011. Talks and lectures are now running. Use of the library. It also showcases the history of the institution with the Ottoman Bank Museum Collection. It''s a complete complex with a diner and cafe. Living in history.

Automatically translated

Written 4 October 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nazrin O

Baku, Azerbaijan4 contributions

Stunning

Jun 2024 • Solo

Today I have visited SALT Galata and had an exceptional experience. One aspect that stood out to me was the serene ambiance of the library. The silence there was truly remarkable, providing a peaceful escape from the bustling city outside. It was the perfect environment to read, study, or simply reflect.
Beyond the library, the architecture and design of SALT Galata are stunning, blending historical charm with modern aesthetics. The staff were welcoming and helpful. I highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a quiet, inspiring place in Istanbul

Written 20 June 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

General Manager, Bamboo Union

Lahore, Pakistan195 contributions

A wonderful experience

Jul 2024 • Couples

A beautiful piece of history preserved and restored in a great manner. It was very interesting to go down the bank's vault and see how the bank notes were stored and the bank logs were maintained.
Overall a great experience. The access to the vaults are through the library.

Written 18 July 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TubaKoseogluOkcu

Istanbul, Türkiye6,779 contributions

Culture Complex in a Remarkable Building

Mar 2019 • Couples

SALT Galata is culture complex which is located in the old headquarters of Ottoman Bank, the central bank of the Ottoman Empire. The building is very impressive with high ceilings and marble ornaments.

Inside the complex there is a library, a bookstore, a café, an upscale restaurant open only 3 nights a week, an exhibition area and conference rooms. It's always vibrant with visitors, mainly students. We were there last weekend for the exhibition about the first Turkish female painter Mihri, The exhibition was very professionally prepared and entrance was free of charge.

Parking is quite problematic here (except at the nights when the upscale restaurant is open, they offer valet service), so best is coming here by foot. It's not a big distance from neither Pera nor Karaköy.

Written 18 March 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fefeko

Istanbul161 contributions

Great place for art

Mar 2015

Place to visit if you are in Pera and Galata area. Hosting great art exhibitions nice old building. You,feel the spirit of Pera.

Written 22 September 2015

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nesligül D

Istanbul, Türkiye6,623 contributions

Beautiful historical building, good exhibitions

May 2014 • Friends

Converted to an art gallery/museum from a bank, this historical building is very impressive. It has a library at the entrance, with mainly art boks and on the lower and upper floors, there are transitory exhibitions.

Don't miss the view from upper floor ( looking at the Golden Horn and accross) and also pay attention to the colored glass
at the top of the patio in the middle.

There is a trendy restaurant inside the building which is nice but a little pricey.

The museum shop at the entrance floor has nice books and gift objects.

Written 5 July 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KarYntravels

Cartagena, Colombia115 contributions

Brilliant Public Space

Jun 2014 • Couples

Ducked into SALT Galata one evening before dinner and fell in love. Brilliant gallery space; with a thought provoking exhibition: tick. Great open space with views out over Istanbul with free WI-FI: tick. Quirky bookshop: tick. Awesome bathroom: tick.
I also really enjoyed the history of the Ottoman Bank exhibition in the basement, all you need to know about setting up a bank, plus great photographs and artefact: fun.

Written 2 July 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

grsteven89

Cary, NC94 contributions

One of the Best Museums in Turkey

Apr 2014 • Solo

If you aren't interested in history, this place will bore you to death. If you are only casually interested in history, it will probably bore you too. However, if you're interested in the socioeconomic history of the Ottoman Empire, it will FASCINATE you.

The free Ottoman Bank Museum allows visitors a view into the history of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and its late attempts at modernization. The museum features historical documents in Ottoman Turkish, English, and French displayed in glass cases with excellent explanations in English and Turkish.

Written 18 April 2014

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kuepper

Manchester, UK1,395 contributions

Interesting art gallery and museum

Jul 2013 • Solo

You have to look for this place which was the former HQ of the Ottoman Bank, it doesn't look like a gallery/museum from the outside and I only found it from the address in my Lonely Planet guide - Bankalar Caddesi 11 . In the basement is the Ottoman Bank museum which is worth a visit, you can even go into a couple of vaults, and elsewhere are exhibitions and a cafe/restaurant and bookshop. Visit this and its sister SALT Beyoglu which is only 10 mins walk away at İstiklal Caddesi 136

Written 15 July 2013

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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