{"id":594,"date":"2026-08-25T22:49:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T19:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/?p=594"},"modified":"2026-08-26T13:41:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T10:41:30","slug":"istanbuls-fener-balat-colorful-houses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/istanbuls-fener-balat-colorful-houses\/","title":{"rendered":"Istanbul\u2019s Fener and Balat: Colorful Houses, Crumbling Staircases, Hidden Gems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Istanbul\u2019s Fener and Balat: Colorful Houses, Crumbling Staircases, Hidden Gems<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Aleks<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Merhaba!<\/p>\n

Planning a trip to Istanbul and looking for those colorful houses from the reels? There are actually two such neighborhoods \u2014 one in the European part of the megacity, one in the Asian part. I’ve already written about Kuzguncuk on Istanbul’s Asian side<\/a>; today we’re walking through Fener and Balat.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I’ve been here more than once, so the weather and light in the photos may vary. But that’s not the main point.<\/p>\n

I want to lower your expectations a bit right away, so you don’t end up standing there thinking “that’s it? I should’ve just gone to Zara instead!”<\/p>\n

Don’t expect the whole neighborhood to be painted in every color of the rainbow. In reality, it’s much more modest: only a limited number of houses are painted. We’re not even talking about entire streets \u2014 just individual facades, put together to make a picture.<\/p>\n

Personally, the fun for me isn’t standing in line for a photo by the blue wall (I’ll give you the list of those streets), but turning into the next alley over. That’s where it stops feeling like Istanbul and starts feeling almost like Naples: laundry hanging overhead (my personal photo fetish), peeling plaster, and life without filters.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\"Istanbul<\/p>\n

\"Istanbul<\/p>\n

\"Istanbul<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Where to Go<\/h2>\n

I’d suggest getting to the starting point on Istanbul’s most iconic mode of transport \u2014 the ferry. Get off at the Fener pier. Head back from the Balat pier. If that doesn’t work for you, take the bus to the Fener stop.<\/p>\n