[2025 Istanbul Attraction] Travel Guide for Salt Galata (Updated Apr)

#europetrip SALT Galata in Istanbul’s Karakoy district is a cultural gem that seamlessly blends history and modernity. Housed in the former Imperial Ottoman Bank building, this venue offers a rich array of experiences, from contemporary art exhibitions to a specialized library and a permanent exhibition on the Ottoman Bank’s history. The building itself, designed by French-Levantine architect Alexandre Vallauri, is a marvel of late 19th-century architecture. Visitors can enjoy a coffee at the ground floor café or dine at the gourmet restaurant Neolokal. You can find SALT Galata at Bankalar Caddesi 11, Karakoy, Istanbul.

Visiting Istanbul, how can you miss the various niche museums? Here are a few free museums, all located in the European side. Just walk around, and in half a day, you can get it all done with a full harvest! IBB casa botter: Free all day, closed on Mondays. It's currently hosting a special exhibition by the female artist Selma Gurbuz, which is incredibly creative. There are various silhouette shapes mixed with oriental design elements, truly an eye-opener. Kamondo Steps: Said to be an Instagram hotspot, there were quite a few people taking photos when I visited. The layered steps indeed make for great pictures. Salt galata: Ottoman Bank Museum, established in 2002, is part of the Ottoman Bank Archives and Research Centre. It's the first museum in Turkey founded by a private bank. The building was designed by Levantine architect Alexandre Vallauri in 1892, served as the headquarters of the Ottoman Bank, and was transformed into Salt Galata in 2011. Cat museum: As a city that loves cats, how can you not visit the cat museum here? Although it's small in size, it's free, and it's very close to the Galata Tower. There are also quite a few design shops nearby to browse. After half a day of touring today, it felt pretty good. You can feel the city's new vitality. If you encounter bad weather, I highly recommend visiting these museums.

you could go there to study, learn, and discover all kinds of books and Turkish culture and history. With such an historical building and a modern touch you could aesthetic pictures there and enjoy it. You could check the availability hours online. I go there regularly to study and work as there is a lot of space and internet available, it really sets the mood and vibe to study and spend some time with friends.