Explore the Camondo Stairs: Istanbul’s Art Nouveau Marvel
In the late 1800s, banker Abraham Salomon Camondo commissioned a grand stone staircase in the Turkish city of Constantinople—now known as Istanbul—so that his family could traverse one of the city’s steepest hills and travel to work and school with greater ease. The Camondo Stairs are a sprawling staircase with a distinctive curved design that is said to safeguard against accidents and falls.
Abraham Salomon Camondo was a Jewish banker with ties to Turkey, France, and Italy. Camondo was so well-connected that he attended the wedding of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria to Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria. Camondo built a handful of stately structures in Turkey, including the seaside Camondo Palace and the opulent Camondo apartments.
The Camondo Stairs are a fine example of Art Nouveau architecture. The Art Nouveau movement was wildly popular near the end of the 19th century. Art Nouveau integrates lines that are inspired by nature, such as curved vines, flowing water, and oval-shaped flowers. The Camondo Stairs draw so much inspiration from nature that the staircase is adorned with several stone planters.
In 1964, French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson immortalized the Camondo Stairs in an iconic photograph. In the decades that followed the Cartier-Bresson image, photographers have flocked to the Camondo Stairs to capture models, brides, and musicians striking a pose on one of the world’s most distinctive staircases.
No stroll through the gorgeous streets of Istanbul is complete without a jaunt up or down the Camondo Stairs. The Camondo Stairs serve as the scenic route to reach Galata Tower, which is an ancient observation tower that was used to scan the horizon for fires and potential invaders in previous centuries. Visitors can scan the horizon for the Camondo Stairs when looking at the city of Istanbul from the upper levels of Galata Tower.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Kamondo (Camondo) Stairs, Bankalar Caddesi/Voyvoda Street, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Coordinates
- 41.02397, 28.97378
- Access
- The Kamondo Stairs are a public pedestrian stairway between Bankalar Caddesi (Voyvoda Street) and the Galata/Karaköy side of Beyoğlu. The route is steep and has steps throughout; it is not step-free. Use care and keep the stairs clear for people passing through.
- Admission
- The city tourism source describes the stairs as an urban landmark on the public street route; it lists no ticket or admission charge. No separate visitor ticket is published.
- Time needed
- No official visit duration is published. Allow about 5–15 minutes as a planning estimate for the stairway and a brief look or photo stop; this is a pedestrian route rather than an indoor attraction.
- Best season
- Istanbul’s tourism office does not identify a preferred season. The outdoor stairway can be seen year-round when accessible; daylight and weather will affect comfort and photographs.
- Opening hours
- No fixed daily visitor hours are published for the public street stairway. Check for temporary street works or access restrictions.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-23
Location
Use the zoom buttons or pinch to zoom. Use arrow keys to pan when the map is focused.
Interactive map loads when in view.
Suggest an edit
No account needed. Your update goes to the editor for review.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
