The most well known settlement is Sykai, later called and better known as Galata, which was the designated 13th region of Constantinople. In the 5th century, the town was large enough to have its own forum and held 435 'mansions'. Justinian awarded it full city rights in his time.

Another settlement at the head of the Golden Horn was Kosmidion, which grew from a monastery.

Defenses on that side of the Golden Horn were relatively few. Galata had city walls, but the coastline was largely unfortified.