Galata Antique Hotel Istanbul - Taksim, Beyoglu

Tunel is the second oldest subway in the world after London Underground. It is also most probably the shortest underground railway in the world. It was built in 1873 by French engineers and has a length of about 500 meters. French engineer Eugene Henri Gavand observed human traffic going back and forth between Galata which was center of social life and Pera where heart of trade and banking used to beat and considered an alternative way to Yüksekkaldırım and Galip Dede street. He went to Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz Khan for permission to his project which building funicular railway to connect two centers. Most foreign businessmen and all the foreign embassies moved to Beyoglu Istanbul. However, business, offices and companies stayed in Karakoy (Galata). The primarily purpose of the construction of this small subway was to avoid climbing up and down.

Single trip takes about 2 minutes, Tünel connects Karaköy and Beyoğlu everyday offering an enjoyable and historical journey to its passanger. There is no chance to get out at the wrong station, for there're only two, one in Karakoy (Galata) and one in Beyoglu at Tunel Square end of Istiklal Street.