Name: Tunel
Address: Arap Cami, Tersane Cd. No:9, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye, Beyoğlu
Telephone: +902123722222

At a glance

#2 of 7 Transportation services in Beyoğlu

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.80

1.9 km from the center of Beyoğlu

Rating breakdown

5 ★84%
4 ★13%
3 ★2%
2 ★0%
1 ★1%

Arap Cami, Tersane Cd. No:9, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye

+90 212 372 22 22

Quick facts

What is the rating of Tunel?: Tunel is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 768 reviews.
How does Tunel rank in Beyoğlu?: Tunel is #2 of 7 Transportation services in Beyoğlu by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Tunel located?: Arap Cami, Tersane Cd. No:9, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye — 1.9 km from the center of Beyoğlu.
How can I contact Tunel?: Phone: +90 212 372 22 22

Reviews (8)

Moe N 2023 Nov 26

Love the history behind it. Also super convenient to get up to top of Galata area.

Enes Karaca 2023 Aug 13

Wow. So much history! What a historical place! If you want to visit the galata tower you have to go up there with this historical old train. It is very impressive! Love this!

Geordon Omand 2023 May 31

A tram down history lane! Do make a point to learn the backstory behind the Tünel and its construction (there are info signs across the station and even inside the team) before taking a ride; it brings the experience to life.

The tram runs every few minutes all day long and can be accessed using the standard Istanbul transit card.

Ugo Reghini 2023 May 20

Comfortable transport that bring you a bit in the back.
It makes you as well understand how rich was Istanbul in the past, not that now it's not.

Özkan Solmaz 2021 Aug 27

This trip will take around only 5 or 6 minutes but the efficiency is unexplainable. It is said to be the first metro/tram system introduced in Ottoman Empire and was constructed by the Great Britain back in the time. You will feel like you are traveling in the 19th century.

Ceren K. 2019 Nov 15

The Tünel is still the shortest and easiest way to make the long haul up or down the steep hill between Karaköy and Beyoğlu. Such a short trip may seem pointless, but a quick 90-second trip will sure beat the steep 15 minute (at least) trek that you’d endure.

Either enter from the lower station in Karaköy across from the Galata Bridge or enter the upper station in Beyoğlu at the end of Istiklal Street, on the opposite end from Taksim Square, just follow the Nostalgic Taksim-Tünel Tram. You pay with Istanbul’s public transportation card, an istanbulkart.

SAMET ÖZETCİ 2018 May 03

Inaugurated on January 17, 1875 after having been designed and built by French engineers, istanbul's Tünel is the second-oldest underground train in the world (after London's, 1863).The Tünel allowed European diplomats and businessmen to ride between their waterside offices in Karaköy (Galata) on the Golden Horn and their hilltop residences in Beyoğlu (Pera) on steam-powered, gas-lit, cable-drawn cars—in 90 seconds.For over a century it was Istanbul's only underground train.

Michael Oon 2018 May 01

I was really curious about this historical funicular railway line that goes up the hill in the North side of European side of Istanbul. It was operational in 1875 and said to the 2nd oldest underground railway in the world after London. It was a very straightforward experience using this train. It told you when the train was about to depart and 90 seconds after departure, I arrived at the destination. I wish more journeys could be like this. Of course, the system has been updated to modern working standards and in full working order.