Galata Tower

Galata Tower review

Originally named the Tower of Christ, this watchtower was built in 1348 at the apex of fortified walls. After the Ottoman conquest, it was used to house prisoners of war and later became an observatory; during the 19th century, it was a look-out post to watch for the fires that frequently broke out in the city's largely wooden buildings. In the 1960s, the tower was restored and a horribly cheesy restaurant and nightclub were added. They have barely changed since, and both are very much missable, but it's worth paying the rather hefty entrance fee to ascend to the 360-degree viewing gallery, with commanding views of the entire sprawling metropolis.