28/02/2026
- Balat, Istanbul - A wish to stay in a local neighbourhood with diverse culture made us find a small hotel in Balat.
This area is a mosaic of history, holding stories of j£*s, Greeks, Armenians and Turks who once formed this area by the Golden Horn. Today, it has beautiful pastel houses - old walls - quite cafés and intricate carved structures that are just an absolute treat as you walk through.
What you’d enjoy the most here beyond the colorful facades is the rhythm. The Roma - Gypsy community. That have been a long part if Istanbul’s cultural fabric. They carry wonderful culture through music, dance and rituals that feel too raw and timeless.
History of Balat isn’t silent - it sings, it dances and it moves forward! Swipe to see a fun video of their night culture.
(Istanbul, History, Turkey, Gypsy, Travel)