Galata

Galata has the nightlife scene and Galata Tower, but the steep streets are hard to navigate and it gets very crowded at night. Better for daytime visits unless you're confident handling busy nightlife areas.

Galata Tower is worth seeing for the views, but the crowds can be intense, especially in the afternoon. The streets around it have some good restaurants and the old instrument shops along Galip Dede Caddesi are interesting to browse. But heads up - these cobblestone streets are seriously steep and get slippery when wet. Don't even think about wearing heels here. The nightlife scene picks up after 10 PM with bar crawlers making it pretty chaotic and loud. Street lighting is hit or miss on the side streets, so stick to the main roads if you're out after dark. The old Tünel funicular is a quick way down to Karaköy if you don't want to navigate those steep streets on foot.