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The Hagia Sophia, one of the historical architectural wonders that still remains standing today, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality.
The Hagia Sophia, the biggest church constructed by the East Roman Empire in Istanbul, has been constructed three times in the same location. When it was first built, it was named Megale Ekklesia (Big Church); however, after the fifth century, it was referred to as the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). The church was the place in which rulers were crowned, and it was also the biggest operational cathedral in the city throughout the Byzantine period.
The first church was constructed by Emperor Konstantios (337-361) in 360. The first church was covered with a wooden roof and expanded vertically (basilica) yet was burned down after the public riot that took place in 404 as a result of the disagreements between Emperor Arkadios’ (395-408) wife empress Eudoksia and Istanbul’s patriarch Ioannes Chrysostomos, who was exiled. The patriarch’s mosaic portrait can still be viewed at the tymphanon wall located in the northern part of the church. No remains have been recovered from the first church; however, the bricks found in the museum storage branded ‘Megale Ekklesia’ are predicted to belong to the first construction.
The second church was reconstructed by Emperor Theodosios II (408-450) in 415. This basilical structure is known to contain five naves and a monumental entrance; it is also covered by a wooden roof.
The church was demolished in January 13, 532, after the public riot (Nika revolts) that took place during the fifth year of Emperor Justinianos’ reign (527-565), when the ‘blues’ who represented the aristocrats, and the ‘greens’ who represented the tradesman and merchants in the society, collaborated against the Empire.
Remains found during the excavations led by A. M Scheinder of the Istanbul German Archeology Institute, 2 meters below ground level, include steps belonging to the Propylon (monumental door), column bases and pieces with lamb embossings that represent the 12 apostles. In addition, other architectural pieces that belong to the monumental entrance can be seen in the west garden.
The current structure was constructed by Isidoros (Milet) and Anthemios (Tralles), who were renowned architects of their time, by Emperor Justinianos’s (527-565) orders. Information from historian Prokopios states that the construction that began on February 23, 532, was completed in a short period of five years and the church was opened to worship with a ceremony on December 27, 537. Resources show that on the opening day of the Hagia Sophia, Emperor Justinianos entered the temple and said, “My Lord, thank you for giving me chance to create such a worshipping place,” and followed with the words “Süleyman, I beat you,” referring to Süleyman’s temple in Jerusalem.
The third Hagia Sophia construction combined the three traditional basilical plans with the central dome plan in design. The structure has three nefi, one apsi, and two narthex, internal and external. The length from the apsis to the outer narthex is 100 m, and the width is 69.5 m. The height of the dome from the ground level is 55.60 m and the radius is 31.87 m in the North to South direction and 30.86 in the East to West direction.
Emperor Justinianos ordered all provinces under his reign to send the best architectural pieces to be used in the construction so that the Hagia Sophia could be bigger and grander. The columns and marbles used in the structure have been taken from ancient cities in and around Anatolia and Syria, such as, Aspendus Ephessus, Baalbeek and Tarsa.
The white marbles used in the structure came from the Marmara Island, the green porphyry from Eğriboz Island, the pink marbles from Afyon and the yellow from North Africa. The decorative interior wall coatings were established by dividing single marble blocks into two and combining them in order to create symmetrical shapes.
In addition, the structure includes columns brought in from the Temple of Artemis in Ephessus to be used in the naves, as well as 8 columns brought from Egypt that support the domes. The structure has a total of 104 columns, 40 in the lower and 64 in the upper gallery.
All the walls of the Hagia Sophia except the ones covered by marble have been decorated with exceptionally beautiful mosaics. Gold, silver, glass, terra cotta and colorful stones have been used to make the mosaics. The plant-based and geometric mosaics are from the 6th century, whereas the figured mosaics date back to the Iconoclast period.
During the East Roman period, the Hagia Sophia was the Empire Church and, as a result, was the place in which the emperors were crowned. The area that is on the right of the naos, where the flooring is covered with colorful stones creating an intertwining circular design (omphalion), is the section in which the Eastern Roman Emperors were crowned.
Istanbul was occupied by Latins between 1204 and 1261, during the Holy Crusades, when both the city and the church were damaged. The Hagia Sophia was known to be in bad condition in 1261, when Eastern Rome took over the city again.
Following Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s (1451-1481) conquer in 1453, Hagia Sophia was renovated into a mosque. The structure was fortified and was well protected after this period, and remained as a mosque. Additional supporting pillars were installed during the East Roman and Ottoman periods as a result of the damage that the structure experienced due to earthquakes in the region. The minarets designed and implemented by Mimar Sinan have also served to this purpose.
A madrasah was built towards the North or Hagia Sophia during Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s reign. This construction was abolished in the 17. Century. During Sultan Abdülmecid’s (1839-1861) reign, renovations were conducted by Fossati and a madrasah was rebuilt in the same place. The remains have been discovered during the excavations in 1982.
During the 16th and 17th century Ottoman period, mihrabs, minbar, maksoorahs, a preachment stand and a muezzin mahfili (a special raised platform in a mosque, opposite the minbar where a muezzin kneels and chants in response to the imam’s prayers) were added to the structure.
The bronze lamps on two sides of the mihrab have been given as gifts to the mosque by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (1520-1566) after his return from Budin.
The two marble cubes dating back to the Hellenistic period (3 - 4 B.C.) on both sides of the main entrance have been specially brought from Bergama and were given by Sultan Murad III (1574-1595) as gifts.
During the Sultan Abdülmecid period between 1847 and 1849, an extensive renovation in the Hagia Sophia was conducted by the Swiss Fossati brothers, where the Hünkâr Mahfili (a separate compartment where the emperors pray) located in a niche in the Northern section was removed and another one towards the left of the mihrab was built.
The 8- 7.5 m diameter calligraphy panels that were written by Caligrapher Kadıasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi were placed in the main walls of the structure. The panels that read “Allah, Hz. Muhammed, Hz. Ebubekir, Hz. Ömer, Hz. Osman, Hz. Ali, Hz. Hasan ve Hz. Hüseyin” are known to be the biggest calligraphy panels in the Islamic world.
The Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s orders and has been functioning as one since February 1, 1935, welcoming both local and foreign visitors. According to a deed dated 1936, the Hagia Sophia is registered as “Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii Şerifi on behalf of the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Foundation for maoseleum, akaret, muvakkithane and madrasah on 57 pafta, 57 island and 7th parcel.”
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Hagia Sophia
No:1 Ayasofya MeydanıThe Hagia Sophia, one of the historical architectural wonders that still remains standing today, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality.
The Hagia Sophia, the biggest church constructed by the East Roman Empire in Istanbul, has been constructed three times in the same location. When it was first built, it was named Megale Ekklesia (Big Church); however, after the fifth century, it was referred to as the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). The church was the place in which rulers were crowned, and it was also the biggest operational cathedral in the city throughout the Byzantine period.
The first church was constructed by Emperor Konstantios (337-361) in 360. The first church was covered with a wooden roof and expanded vertically (basilica) yet was burned down after the public riot that took place in 404 as a result of the disagreements between Emperor Arkadios’ (395-408) wife empress Eudoksia and Istanbul’s patriarch Ioannes Chrysostomos, who was exiled. The patriarch’s mosaic portrait can still be viewed at the tymphanon wall located in the northern part of the church. No remains have been recovered from the first church; however, the bricks found in the museum storage branded ‘Megale Ekklesia’ are predicted to belong to the first construction.
The second church was reconstructed by Emperor Theodosios II (408-450) in 415. This basilical structure is known to contain five naves and a monumental entrance; it is also covered by a wooden roof.
The church was demolished in January 13, 532, after the public riot (Nika revolts) that took place during the fifth year of Emperor Justinianos’ reign (527-565), when the ‘blues’ who represented the aristocrats, and the ‘greens’ who represented the tradesman and merchants in the society, collaborated against the Empire.
Remains found during the excavations led by A. M Scheinder of the Istanbul German Archeology Institute, 2 meters below ground level, include steps belonging to the Propylon (monumental door), column bases and pieces with lamb embossings that represent the 12 apostles. In addition, other architectural pieces that belong to the monumental entrance can be seen in the west garden.
The current structure was constructed by Isidoros (Milet) and Anthemios (Tralles), who were renowned architects of their time, by Emperor Justinianos’s (527-565) orders. Information from historian Prokopios states that the construction that began on February 23, 532, was completed in a short period of five years and the church was opened to worship with a ceremony on December 27, 537. Resources show that on the opening day of the Hagia Sophia, Emperor Justinianos entered the temple and said, “My Lord, thank you for giving me chance to create such a worshipping place,” and followed with the words “Süleyman, I beat you,” referring to Süleyman’s temple in Jerusalem.
The third Hagia Sophia construction combined the three traditional basilical plans with the central dome plan in design. The structure has three nefi, one apsi, and two narthex, internal and external. The length from the apsis to the outer narthex is 100 m, and the width is 69.5 m. The height of the dome from the ground level is 55.60 m and the radius is 31.87 m in the North to South direction and 30.86 in the East to West direction.
Emperor Justinianos ordered all provinces under his reign to send the best architectural pieces to be used in the construction so that the Hagia Sophia could be bigger and grander. The columns and marbles used in the structure have been taken from ancient cities in and around Anatolia and Syria, such as, Aspendus Ephessus, Baalbeek and Tarsa.
The white marbles used in the structure came from the Marmara Island, the green porphyry from Eğriboz Island, the pink marbles from Afyon and the yellow from North Africa. The decorative interior wall coatings were established by dividing single marble blocks into two and combining them in order to create symmetrical shapes.
In addition, the structure includes columns brought in from the Temple of Artemis in Ephessus to be used in the naves, as well as 8 columns brought from Egypt that support the domes. The structure has a total of 104 columns, 40 in the lower and 64 in the upper gallery.
All the walls of the Hagia Sophia except the ones covered by marble have been decorated with exceptionally beautiful mosaics. Gold, silver, glass, terra cotta and colorful stones have been used to make the mosaics. The plant-based and geometric mosaics are from the 6th century, whereas the figured mosaics date back to the Iconoclast period.
During the East Roman period, the Hagia Sophia was the Empire Church and, as a result, was the place in which the emperors were crowned. The area that is on the right of the naos, where the flooring is covered with colorful stones creating an intertwining circular design (omphalion), is the section in which the Eastern Roman Emperors were crowned.
Istanbul was occupied by Latins between 1204 and 1261, during the Holy Crusades, when both the city and the church were damaged. The Hagia Sophia was known to be in bad condition in 1261, when Eastern Rome took over the city again.
Following Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s (1451-1481) conquer in 1453, Hagia Sophia was renovated into a mosque. The structure was fortified and was well protected after this period, and remained as a mosque. Additional supporting pillars were installed during the East Roman and Ottoman periods as a result of the damage that the structure experienced due to earthquakes in the region. The minarets designed and implemented by Mimar Sinan have also served to this purpose.
A madrasah was built towards the North or Hagia Sophia during Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s reign. This construction was abolished in the 17. Century. During Sultan Abdülmecid’s (1839-1861) reign, renovations were conducted by Fossati and a madrasah was rebuilt in the same place. The remains have been discovered during the excavations in 1982.
During the 16th and 17th century Ottoman period, mihrabs, minbar, maksoorahs, a preachment stand and a muezzin mahfili (a special raised platform in a mosque, opposite the minbar where a muezzin kneels and chants in response to the imam’s prayers) were added to the structure.
The bronze lamps on two sides of the mihrab have been given as gifts to the mosque by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (1520-1566) after his return from Budin.
The two marble cubes dating back to the Hellenistic period (3 - 4 B.C.) on both sides of the main entrance have been specially brought from Bergama and were given by Sultan Murad III (1574-1595) as gifts.
During the Sultan Abdülmecid period between 1847 and 1849, an extensive renovation in the Hagia Sophia was conducted by the Swiss Fossati brothers, where the Hünkâr Mahfili (a separate compartment where the emperors pray) located in a niche in the Northern section was removed and another one towards the left of the mihrab was built.
The 8- 7.5 m diameter calligraphy panels that were written by Caligrapher Kadıasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi were placed in the main walls of the structure. The panels that read “Allah, Hz. Muhammed, Hz. Ebubekir, Hz. Ömer, Hz. Osman, Hz. Ali, Hz. Hasan ve Hz. Hüseyin” are known to be the biggest calligraphy panels in the Islamic world.
The Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s orders and has been functioning as one since February 1, 1935, welcoming both local and foreign visitors. According to a deed dated 1936, the Hagia Sophia is registered as “Ayasofya-i Kebir Camii Şerifi on behalf of the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Foundation for maoseleum, akaret, muvakkithane and madrasah on 57 pafta, 57 island and 7th parcel.”
The colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul's Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse) built by order of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, it grew to cover a vast area as lanes between the bedesten, neighbouring shops and hans (caravanserais) were roofed and the market assumed the sprawling, labyrinthine form that it retains today.When here, be sure to peep through doorways to discover hidden hans, veer down narrow lanes to watch artisans at work and wander the main thoroughfares to differentiate treasures from tourist tack. It's obligatory to drink lots of tea, compare price after price and try your hand at the art of bargaining. Allow at least three hours for your visit; some travellers spend three days!
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Μεγάλη Αγορά
Beyazıt CaddesiThe colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul's Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse) built by order of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, it grew to cover a vast area as lanes between the bedesten, neighbouring shops and hans (caravanserais) were roofed and the market assumed the sprawling, labyrinthine form that it retains today.When here, be sure to peep through doorways to discover hidden hans, veer down narrow lanes to watch artisans at work and wander the main thoroughfares to differentiate treasures from tourist tack. It's obligatory to drink lots of tea, compare price after price and try your hand at the art of bargaining. Allow at least three hours for your visit; some travellers spend three days!
This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was constructed using 336 columns, many of which were salvaged from ruined temples and feature fine carved capitals. Its symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are quite breathtaking, and its cavernous depths make a great retreat on summer days.
Like most sites in İstanbul, the cistern has an unusual history. It was originally known as the Basilica Cistern because it lay underneath the Stoa Basilica, one of the great squares on the first hill. Designed to service the Great Palace and surrounding buildings, it was able to store up to 80,000 cu metres of water delivered via 20km of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea, but was closed when the Byzantine emperors relocated from the Great Palace. Forgotten by the city authorities some time before the Conquest, it wasn't rediscovered until 1545, when scholar Petrus Gyllius was researching Byzantine antiquities in the city and was told by local residents that they were able to obtain water by lowering buckets into a dark space below their basement floors. Some were even catching fish this way. Intrigued, Gyllius explored the neighbourhood and finally accessed the cistern through one of the basements. Even after his discovery, the Ottomans (who referred to the cistern as Yerebatan Saray) didn't treat the so-called Underground Palace with the respect it deserved – it became a dumping ground for all sorts of junk, as well as corpses.
The cistern was cleaned and renovated in 1985 by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and opened to the public in 1987. It's now one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Walking along its raised wooden platforms, you'll feel water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and see schools of ghostly carp patrolling the water – it certainly has bucketloads of atmosphere.
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Βασιλική Στέγη
1/3 Yerebatan Cd.This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was constructed using 336 columns, many of which were salvaged from ruined temples and feature fine carved capitals. Its symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are quite breathtaking, and its cavernous depths make a great retreat on summer days.
Like most sites in İstanbul, the cistern has an unusual history. It was originally known as the Basilica Cistern because it lay underneath the Stoa Basilica, one of the great squares on the first hill. Designed to service the Great Palace and surrounding buildings, it was able to store up to 80,000 cu metres of water delivered via 20km of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea, but was closed when the Byzantine emperors relocated from the Great Palace. Forgotten by the city authorities some time before the Conquest, it wasn't rediscovered until 1545, when scholar Petrus Gyllius was researching Byzantine antiquities in the city and was told by local residents that they were able to obtain water by lowering buckets into a dark space below their basement floors. Some were even catching fish this way. Intrigued, Gyllius explored the neighbourhood and finally accessed the cistern through one of the basements. Even after his discovery, the Ottomans (who referred to the cistern as Yerebatan Saray) didn't treat the so-called Underground Palace with the respect it deserved – it became a dumping ground for all sorts of junk, as well as corpses.
The cistern was cleaned and renovated in 1985 by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and opened to the public in 1987. It's now one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. Walking along its raised wooden platforms, you'll feel water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and see schools of ghostly carp patrolling the water – it certainly has bucketloads of atmosphere.
İstanbul's most photogenic building was the grand project of Sultan Ahmet I (r 1603–17), whose tomb is located on the north side of the site facing Sultanahmet Park. The mosque's wonderfully curvaceous exterior features a cascade of domes and six slender minarets. Blue İznik tiles adorn the interior and give the building its unofficial but commonly used name.
With the mosque's exterior, the architect, Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, managed to orchestrate a visual wham-bam effect similar to that of nearby star Aya Sofya's interior. Its curves are voluptuous; it has six minarets (more than any other mosque at the time it was built); and its courtyard is the biggest of all of the Ottoman mosques. The interior has a similarly grand scale: the İznik tiles number in the tens of thousands; there are 260 windows; and the central prayer space is huge.
To best grasp the mosque's design, enter the complex via the Hippodrome rather than from Sultanahmet Park. Once inside the courtyard, which is the same size as the mosque's interior, you'll appreciate the building's perfect proportions.
The mosque is such a popular attraction that admission is controlled in order to preserve its sacred atmosphere. Only worshippers are admitted through the main door; visitors must use the south door (follow the signs). The mosque is closed to nonworshippers during the six daily prayer times: two hours before dawn, dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and right before the last light of the day.
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Τζαμί του Σουλτάνου Αχμέτ
No:10 Atmeydanı Cd.İstanbul's most photogenic building was the grand project of Sultan Ahmet I (r 1603–17), whose tomb is located on the north side of the site facing Sultanahmet Park. The mosque's wonderfully curvaceous exterior features a cascade of domes and six slender minarets. Blue İznik tiles adorn the interior and give the building its unofficial but commonly used name.
With the mosque's exterior, the architect, Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa, managed to orchestrate a visual wham-bam effect similar to that of nearby star Aya Sofya's interior. Its curves are voluptuous; it has six minarets (more than any other mosque at the time it was built); and its courtyard is the biggest of all of the Ottoman mosques. The interior has a similarly grand scale: the İznik tiles number in the tens of thousands; there are 260 windows; and the central prayer space is huge.
To best grasp the mosque's design, enter the complex via the Hippodrome rather than from Sultanahmet Park. Once inside the courtyard, which is the same size as the mosque's interior, you'll appreciate the building's perfect proportions.
The mosque is such a popular attraction that admission is controlled in order to preserve its sacred atmosphere. Only worshippers are admitted through the main door; visitors must use the south door (follow the signs). The mosque is closed to nonworshippers during the six daily prayer times: two hours before dawn, dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset and right before the last light of the day.
Topkapı is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives.
Mehmet the Conqueror built the first stage of the palace shortly after the Conquest in 1453, and lived here until his death in 1481. Subsequent sultans lived in this rarefied environment until the 19th century, when they moved to the ostentatious European-style palaces they built on the shores of the Bosphorus.
Before you enter the palace's Imperial Gate (Bab-ı Hümayun), take a look at the ornate structure in the cobbled square just outside. This is the rococo-style Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, built in 1728 by the sultan who so favoured tulips.
The main ticket office is in the First Court, just before the gate to the Second Court.
First Court
Pass through the Imperial Gate into the First Court, which is known as the Court of the Janissaries or the Parade Court. On your left is the Byzantine church of Hagia Eirene, more commonly known as Aya İrini.
Second Court
The Middle Gate (Ortakapı or Bab-üs Selâm) led to the palace’s Second Court, used for the business of running the empire. In Ottoman times, only the sultan and the valide sultan (mother of the sultan) were allowed through the Middle Gate on horseback. Everyone else, including the grand vizier, had to dismount.
The Second Court has a beautiful park-like setting. Unlike typical European palaces, which feature one large building with outlying gardens, Topkapı is a series of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers, kiosks and sleeping quarters built around a central enclosure.
The great Palace Kitchens on the right (east) as you enter have reopened following years of restoration. They hold a small portion of Topkapı’s vast collection of Chinese celadon porcelain, valued by the sultans for its beauty but also because it was reputed to change colour if touched by poisoned food.
On the left (west) side of the Second Court is the ornate Imperial Council Chamber (Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn). The council met here to discuss matters of state, and the sultan sometimes eavesdropped through the gold grille high in the wall. The room to the right showcases clocks from the palace collection.
North of the Imperial Council Chamber is the Outer Treasury, where an impressive collection of Ottoman and European arms and armour is displayed.
Harem
The entrance to the Harem is beneath the Tower of Justice on the western side of the Second Court. If you decide to visit – and we highly recommend that you do – you'll need to buy a dedicated ticket. The visitor route through the Harem changes when rooms are closed for restoration or stabilisation, so some of the areas mentioned here may not be open during your visit.
As popular belief would have it, the Harem was a place where the sultan could engage in debauchery at will. In more prosaic reality, these were the imperial family quarters, and every detail of Harem life was governed by tradition, obligation and ceremony. The word 'harem' literally means 'forbidden' or 'private'.
The sultans supported as many as 300 concubines in the Harem, although numbers were usually lower than this. Upon entering the Harem, the girls would be schooled in Islam and in Turkish culture and language, as well as the arts of make-up, dress, comportment, music, reading, writing, embroidery and dancing. They then entered a meritocracy, first as ladies-in-waiting to the sultan's concubines and children, then to the valide sultan and finally – if they were particularly attractive and talented – to the sultan himself.
The sultan was allowed by Islamic law to have four legitimate wives, who received the title of kadın (wife). If a wife bore him a son she was called haseki sultan; if she bore him a daughter, haseki kadın.
Ruling the Harem was the valide sultan, who often owned large landed estates in her own name and controlled them through black eunuch servants. Able to give orders directly to the grand vizier, her influence on the sultan, on his wives and concubines, and on matters of state was often profound.
The earliest of the 300-odd rooms in the Harem were constructed during the reign of Murat III (r 1574–95); the harems of previous sultans were at the now-demolished Eski Sarayı (Old Palace), near present-day Beyazıt Meydanı.
The Harem complex has six floors, but only one of these can be visited. This is approached via the Carriage Gate. Next to the gate is the recently opened Dormitory of the Zülüflü Baltacılar Corps, a meticulously restored structure featuring swathes of magnificent 16th- and 17th-century İznik tiles. Inside the gate is the Dome with Cupboards. Beyond it is a room where the Harem's eunuch guards were stationed. This is decorated with fine Kütahya tiles from the 17th century.
Beyond this room is the narrow Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs, also decorated with Kütahya tiles. Behind the marble colonnade on the left are the Black Eunuchs' Dormitories. In the early days white eunuchs were used, but black eunuchs sent as presents by the Ottoman governor of Egypt later took control. As many as 200 lived here, guarding the doors and waiting on the women of the Harem.
At the far end of the courtyard is the Main Gate into the Harem, as well as a guard room featuring two gigantic gilded mirrors. From here, the Concubines' Corridor leads left to the Courtyard of the Concubines and Sultan's Consorts. This is surrounded by baths, a laundry fountain, a laundry, dormitories and private apartments.
Across the Concubines' Corridor from the courtyard is Sultan Ahmet's Kiosk, decorated with a tiled chimney, followed by the Apartments of the Valide Sultan, the centre of power in the Harem. From these ornate rooms the valide sultan oversaw and controlled her huge 'family'. Of particular note is the Salon of the Valide Sultan with its lovely 19th-century murals featuring bucolic views of İstanbul.
Past the Courtyard of the Valide Sultan is a splendid reception room with a large fireplace that leads to a vestibule covered in Kütahya and İznik tiles dating from the 17th century. This is where the princes, valide sultan and senior concubines waited before entering the handsome Imperial Hall for an audience with the sultan. Built during the reign of Murat III, the hall was redecorated in baroque style by order of Osman III (r 1754–57).
Nearby is the Privy Chamber of Murat III, one of the most sumptuous rooms in the palace. Dating from 1578, virtually all of its decoration is original and is thought to be the work of Sinan. The restored three-tiered marble fountain was designed to give the sound of cascading water and to make it difficult to eavesdrop on the sultan's conversations. The gilded canopied seating areas are later 18th-century additions.
Continue to the Privy Chamber of Ahmed III and peek into the adjoining dining room built in 1705. The latter is lined with wooden panels decorated with images of flowers and fruits painted in lacquer.
Back through the Privy Chamber of Murat III are two of the most beautiful rooms in the Harem – the Twin Kiosk/Apartments of the Crown Prince. These two rooms date from around 1600; note the painted canvas dome in the first room and the fine İznik tile panels above the fireplace in the second. The stained glass is also noteworthy.
Past these rooms is the Courtyard of the Favourites. Over the edge of the courtyard (really a terrace) you'll see a large empty pool. Overlooking the courtyard are the tiny windows of the many small dark rooms comprising the kafes (cage) where brothers or sons of the sultan were imprisoned.
From here, you can follow the passage known as the Golden Road and exit into the palace's Third Court, or follow the corridor north and exit into the Fourth Court by the Circumcision Room.
Third Court
The Third Court is entered through the Gate of Felicity. The sultan’s private domain, it was staffed and guarded by white eunuchs. Inside is the Audience Chamber, constructed in the 16th century but refurbished in the 18th century. Important officials and foreign ambassadors were brought to this little kiosk to conduct the high business of state. The sultan, seated on a huge divan, inspected the ambassadors' gifts and offerings as they were passed through the doorway on the left.
Right behind the Audience Chamber is the pretty Library of Ahmet III, built in 1719.
On the eastern edge of the Third Court is the Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force, which now houses a rich collection of imperial robes, kaftans and uniforms worked in silver and gold thread. Also here is a fascinating collection of talismanic shirts, which were believed to protect the wearer from enemies and misfortunes of all kinds.
On the other side of the Third Court are the Sacred Safekeeping Rooms. These rooms, sumptuously decorated with İznik tiles, house many relics of the Prophet. When the sultans lived here, the rooms were opened only once a year, for the imperial family to pay homage to the memory of the Prophet on the 15th day of the holy month of Ramazan.
Next to the sacred Safekeeping Rooms is the Dormitory of the Privy Chamber, which houses an exhibit of portraits of 36 sultans. The highlight is a wonderful painting of the Enthronement Ceremony of Sultan Selim III (1789) by Konstantin Kapidagli.
Imperial Treasury
Located on the eastern edge of the Third Court, Topkapı's Treasury features an incredible collection of objects made from or decorated with gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, jade, pearls and diamonds. The building itself was constructed during Mehmet the Conqueror's reign in 1460 and was used originally as reception rooms. It was closed for a major restoration when we last visited.
When it re-opens, look out for the jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent and the extraordinary Throne of Ahmed I (aka Arife Throne), which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and was designed by Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, architect of the Blue Mosque. And don't miss the Treasury's famous Topkapı Dagger, object of the criminal heist in Jules Dassin’s 1964 film Topkapı. This features three enormous emeralds on the hilt and a watch set into the pommel. Also worth seeking out is the Kasıkçı (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond, a teardrop-shaped 86-carat rock surrounded by dozens of smaller stones that was first worn by Mehmet IV at his accession to the throne in 1648.
Fourth Court
Pleasure pavilions occupy the palace's Fourth Court. These include the Mecidiye Kiosk, which was built by Abdül Mecit (r 1839–61) according to 19th-century European models. Beneath this is the Konyalı restaurant, which offers wonderful views from its terrace but is let down by the quality and price of its food. Up steps from the Mecidiye Kiosk is the Head Physician’s Pavilion. Interestingly, the head physician was always one of the sultan’s Jewish subjects. On this terrace you will also find the Kiosk of Mustafa Pasha, sometimes called the Sofa Köşkü. During the reign of Ahmet III, the Tulip Garden outside the kiosk was filled with the latest varieties of the flower.
Up the stairs at the end of the Tulip Garden is the Marble Terrace, a platform with a decorative pool, three pavilions and the whimsical İftariye Kameriyesi, a small structure commissioned by İbrahim I ('the Crazy') in 1640 as a picturesque place to break the fast of Ramazan.
Murat IV built the Revan Kiosk in 1636 after reclaiming the city of Yerevan (now in Armenia) from Persia. In 1639 he constructed the Baghdad Kiosk, one of the last examples of classical palace architecture, to commemorate his victory over that city. Notice its superb İznik tiles, painted ceiling and mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell inlay. The small Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odası) was used for the ritual that admits Muslim boys to manhood. Built by İbrahim I in 1640, the outer walls of the chamber are graced by particularly beautiful tile panels.
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Παλάτι του Τοπκαπί
Topkapı is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace's opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives.
Mehmet the Conqueror built the first stage of the palace shortly after the Conquest in 1453, and lived here until his death in 1481. Subsequent sultans lived in this rarefied environment until the 19th century, when they moved to the ostentatious European-style palaces they built on the shores of the Bosphorus.
Before you enter the palace's Imperial Gate (Bab-ı Hümayun), take a look at the ornate structure in the cobbled square just outside. This is the rococo-style Fountain of Sultan Ahmet III, built in 1728 by the sultan who so favoured tulips.
The main ticket office is in the First Court, just before the gate to the Second Court.
First Court
Pass through the Imperial Gate into the First Court, which is known as the Court of the Janissaries or the Parade Court. On your left is the Byzantine church of Hagia Eirene, more commonly known as Aya İrini.
Second Court
The Middle Gate (Ortakapı or Bab-üs Selâm) led to the palace’s Second Court, used for the business of running the empire. In Ottoman times, only the sultan and the valide sultan (mother of the sultan) were allowed through the Middle Gate on horseback. Everyone else, including the grand vizier, had to dismount.
The Second Court has a beautiful park-like setting. Unlike typical European palaces, which feature one large building with outlying gardens, Topkapı is a series of pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers, kiosks and sleeping quarters built around a central enclosure.
The great Palace Kitchens on the right (east) as you enter have reopened following years of restoration. They hold a small portion of Topkapı’s vast collection of Chinese celadon porcelain, valued by the sultans for its beauty but also because it was reputed to change colour if touched by poisoned food.
On the left (west) side of the Second Court is the ornate Imperial Council Chamber (Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn). The council met here to discuss matters of state, and the sultan sometimes eavesdropped through the gold grille high in the wall. The room to the right showcases clocks from the palace collection.
North of the Imperial Council Chamber is the Outer Treasury, where an impressive collection of Ottoman and European arms and armour is displayed.
Harem
The entrance to the Harem is beneath the Tower of Justice on the western side of the Second Court. If you decide to visit – and we highly recommend that you do – you'll need to buy a dedicated ticket. The visitor route through the Harem changes when rooms are closed for restoration or stabilisation, so some of the areas mentioned here may not be open during your visit.
As popular belief would have it, the Harem was a place where the sultan could engage in debauchery at will. In more prosaic reality, these were the imperial family quarters, and every detail of Harem life was governed by tradition, obligation and ceremony. The word 'harem' literally means 'forbidden' or 'private'.
The sultans supported as many as 300 concubines in the Harem, although numbers were usually lower than this. Upon entering the Harem, the girls would be schooled in Islam and in Turkish culture and language, as well as the arts of make-up, dress, comportment, music, reading, writing, embroidery and dancing. They then entered a meritocracy, first as ladies-in-waiting to the sultan's concubines and children, then to the valide sultan and finally – if they were particularly attractive and talented – to the sultan himself.
The sultan was allowed by Islamic law to have four legitimate wives, who received the title of kadın (wife). If a wife bore him a son she was called haseki sultan; if she bore him a daughter, haseki kadın.
Ruling the Harem was the valide sultan, who often owned large landed estates in her own name and controlled them through black eunuch servants. Able to give orders directly to the grand vizier, her influence on the sultan, on his wives and concubines, and on matters of state was often profound.
The earliest of the 300-odd rooms in the Harem were constructed during the reign of Murat III (r 1574–95); the harems of previous sultans were at the now-demolished Eski Sarayı (Old Palace), near present-day Beyazıt Meydanı.
The Harem complex has six floors, but only one of these can be visited. This is approached via the Carriage Gate. Next to the gate is the recently opened Dormitory of the Zülüflü Baltacılar Corps, a meticulously restored structure featuring swathes of magnificent 16th- and 17th-century İznik tiles. Inside the gate is the Dome with Cupboards. Beyond it is a room where the Harem's eunuch guards were stationed. This is decorated with fine Kütahya tiles from the 17th century.
Beyond this room is the narrow Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs, also decorated with Kütahya tiles. Behind the marble colonnade on the left are the Black Eunuchs' Dormitories. In the early days white eunuchs were used, but black eunuchs sent as presents by the Ottoman governor of Egypt later took control. As many as 200 lived here, guarding the doors and waiting on the women of the Harem.
At the far end of the courtyard is the Main Gate into the Harem, as well as a guard room featuring two gigantic gilded mirrors. From here, the Concubines' Corridor leads left to the Courtyard of the Concubines and Sultan's Consorts. This is surrounded by baths, a laundry fountain, a laundry, dormitories and private apartments.
Across the Concubines' Corridor from the courtyard is Sultan Ahmet's Kiosk, decorated with a tiled chimney, followed by the Apartments of the Valide Sultan, the centre of power in the Harem. From these ornate rooms the valide sultan oversaw and controlled her huge 'family'. Of particular note is the Salon of the Valide Sultan with its lovely 19th-century murals featuring bucolic views of İstanbul.
Past the Courtyard of the Valide Sultan is a splendid reception room with a large fireplace that leads to a vestibule covered in Kütahya and İznik tiles dating from the 17th century. This is where the princes, valide sultan and senior concubines waited before entering the handsome Imperial Hall for an audience with the sultan. Built during the reign of Murat III, the hall was redecorated in baroque style by order of Osman III (r 1754–57).
Nearby is the Privy Chamber of Murat III, one of the most sumptuous rooms in the palace. Dating from 1578, virtually all of its decoration is original and is thought to be the work of Sinan. The restored three-tiered marble fountain was designed to give the sound of cascading water and to make it difficult to eavesdrop on the sultan's conversations. The gilded canopied seating areas are later 18th-century additions.
Continue to the Privy Chamber of Ahmed III and peek into the adjoining dining room built in 1705. The latter is lined with wooden panels decorated with images of flowers and fruits painted in lacquer.
Back through the Privy Chamber of Murat III are two of the most beautiful rooms in the Harem – the Twin Kiosk/Apartments of the Crown Prince. These two rooms date from around 1600; note the painted canvas dome in the first room and the fine İznik tile panels above the fireplace in the second. The stained glass is also noteworthy.
Past these rooms is the Courtyard of the Favourites. Over the edge of the courtyard (really a terrace) you'll see a large empty pool. Overlooking the courtyard are the tiny windows of the many small dark rooms comprising the kafes (cage) where brothers or sons of the sultan were imprisoned.
From here, you can follow the passage known as the Golden Road and exit into the palace's Third Court, or follow the corridor north and exit into the Fourth Court by the Circumcision Room.
Third Court
The Third Court is entered through the Gate of Felicity. The sultan’s private domain, it was staffed and guarded by white eunuchs. Inside is the Audience Chamber, constructed in the 16th century but refurbished in the 18th century. Important officials and foreign ambassadors were brought to this little kiosk to conduct the high business of state. The sultan, seated on a huge divan, inspected the ambassadors' gifts and offerings as they were passed through the doorway on the left.
Right behind the Audience Chamber is the pretty Library of Ahmet III, built in 1719.
On the eastern edge of the Third Court is the Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force, which now houses a rich collection of imperial robes, kaftans and uniforms worked in silver and gold thread. Also here is a fascinating collection of talismanic shirts, which were believed to protect the wearer from enemies and misfortunes of all kinds.
On the other side of the Third Court are the Sacred Safekeeping Rooms. These rooms, sumptuously decorated with İznik tiles, house many relics of the Prophet. When the sultans lived here, the rooms were opened only once a year, for the imperial family to pay homage to the memory of the Prophet on the 15th day of the holy month of Ramazan.
Next to the sacred Safekeeping Rooms is the Dormitory of the Privy Chamber, which houses an exhibit of portraits of 36 sultans. The highlight is a wonderful painting of the Enthronement Ceremony of Sultan Selim III (1789) by Konstantin Kapidagli.
Imperial Treasury
Located on the eastern edge of the Third Court, Topkapı's Treasury features an incredible collection of objects made from or decorated with gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, jade, pearls and diamonds. The building itself was constructed during Mehmet the Conqueror's reign in 1460 and was used originally as reception rooms. It was closed for a major restoration when we last visited.
When it re-opens, look out for the jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent and the extraordinary Throne of Ahmed I (aka Arife Throne), which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and was designed by Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, architect of the Blue Mosque. And don't miss the Treasury's famous Topkapı Dagger, object of the criminal heist in Jules Dassin’s 1964 film Topkapı. This features three enormous emeralds on the hilt and a watch set into the pommel. Also worth seeking out is the Kasıkçı (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond, a teardrop-shaped 86-carat rock surrounded by dozens of smaller stones that was first worn by Mehmet IV at his accession to the throne in 1648.
Fourth Court
Pleasure pavilions occupy the palace's Fourth Court. These include the Mecidiye Kiosk, which was built by Abdül Mecit (r 1839–61) according to 19th-century European models. Beneath this is the Konyalı restaurant, which offers wonderful views from its terrace but is let down by the quality and price of its food. Up steps from the Mecidiye Kiosk is the Head Physician’s Pavilion. Interestingly, the head physician was always one of the sultan’s Jewish subjects. On this terrace you will also find the Kiosk of Mustafa Pasha, sometimes called the Sofa Köşkü. During the reign of Ahmet III, the Tulip Garden outside the kiosk was filled with the latest varieties of the flower.
Up the stairs at the end of the Tulip Garden is the Marble Terrace, a platform with a decorative pool, three pavilions and the whimsical İftariye Kameriyesi, a small structure commissioned by İbrahim I ('the Crazy') in 1640 as a picturesque place to break the fast of Ramazan.
Murat IV built the Revan Kiosk in 1636 after reclaiming the city of Yerevan (now in Armenia) from Persia. In 1639 he constructed the Baghdad Kiosk, one of the last examples of classical palace architecture, to commemorate his victory over that city. Notice its superb İznik tiles, painted ceiling and mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell inlay. The small Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odası) was used for the ritual that admits Muslim boys to manhood. Built by İbrahim I in 1640, the outer walls of the chamber are graced by particularly beautiful tile panels.
Gülhane Park was once the outer garden of Topkapı Palace, accessible only to the royal court. These days crowds of locals come here to picnic under the many trees, promenade past the formally planted flowerbeds, and enjoy wonderful views of the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Princes' Islands from the Set Üstü Çay Bahçesi on the park's northeastern edge. The park is especially lovely during the İstanbul Tulip Festival, when tulips are arranged to resemble nazar boncuk 'evil eye' charms.
Green-fingered beautification has brought improvements to walkways and amenities, and the park has seen the opening of the İstanbul Museum of the History of Science & Technology in Islam.
Next to the southern entrance is the Alay Köşkü (Parade Kiosk), now open to the public as the Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library.
Across the street and 100m downhill from the park's main gate is an outrageously curvaceous rococo gate leading into the precincts of what was once the grand vizierate, or Ottoman prime ministry, known in the West as the Sublime Porte thanks to this flamboyant entrance. Today the buildings beyond the gate hold various offices of the İstanbul provincial government (the Vilayeti).
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Πάρκο Γκιουλχανέ
Kennedy CaddesiGülhane Park was once the outer garden of Topkapı Palace, accessible only to the royal court. These days crowds of locals come here to picnic under the many trees, promenade past the formally planted flowerbeds, and enjoy wonderful views of the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Princes' Islands from the Set Üstü Çay Bahçesi on the park's northeastern edge. The park is especially lovely during the İstanbul Tulip Festival, when tulips are arranged to resemble nazar boncuk 'evil eye' charms.
Green-fingered beautification has brought improvements to walkways and amenities, and the park has seen the opening of the İstanbul Museum of the History of Science & Technology in Islam.
Next to the southern entrance is the Alay Köşkü (Parade Kiosk), now open to the public as the Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum Library.
Across the street and 100m downhill from the park's main gate is an outrageously curvaceous rococo gate leading into the precincts of what was once the grand vizierate, or Ottoman prime ministry, known in the West as the Sublime Porte thanks to this flamboyant entrance. Today the buildings beyond the gate hold various offices of the İstanbul provincial government (the Vilayeti).
The Süleymaniye crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. Though it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest and most beautiful. It's also unusual in that many of its original külliye (mosque complex) buildings have been retained and sympathetically adapted for reuse.
Commissioned by Süleyman I, known as 'the Magnificent', the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul and it certainly lives up to its patron's nickname. The mosque and its surrounding buildings were designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. Sinan's türbe (tomb) is just outside the mosque's walled garden, next to a disused medrese (seminary) building.
Mosque
The mosque was built between 1550 and 1557. Its setting and plan are particularly pleasing, featuring gardens and a three-sided forecourt with a central domed ablutions fountain. The four minarets with their 10 beautiful şerefes (balconies) are said to represent the fact that Süleyman was the fourth of the Osmanlı sultans to rule the city and the 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.
In the garden behind the mosque is a terrace offering lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. The street underneath once housed the mosque complex's arasta (street of shops), which was built into the retaining wall of the terrace. Close by was a five-level mülazim (preparatory school).
Inside, the building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity. Sinan incorporated the four buttresses into the walls of the building – the result is wonderfully 'transparent' (ie open and airy) and highly reminiscent of Aya Sofya, especially as the dome is nearly as large as the one that crowns the Byzantine basilica.
The mihrab (niche in a minaret indicating the direction of Mecca) is covered in fine İznik tiles, and other interior decoration includes window shutters inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gorgeous stained-glass windows, painted muqarnas (corbels with honeycomb detail), a spectacular persimmon-coloured floor carpet, painted pendentives and medallions featuring fine calligraphy.
Külliye
Süleyman specified that his mosque should have the full complement of public services: imaret (soup kitchen), medrese, hamam, darüşşifa (hospital) etc. Today the imaret, with its charming garden courtyard, houses the Dârüzziyafe cafe and is a lovely place to enjoy a çay. On its right-hand side (north) is a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that was being restored at the time of writing, and on its left-hand side (south) is Lale Bahçesi, a popular tea garden set in a sunken courtyard.
The main entrance to the mosque is accessed from Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, formerly known as Tiryaki Çarşışı (Market of the Addicts). The buildings here once housed three medreses and a primary school; they're now home to the Süleymaniye Library and a raft of popular streetside fasulye (bean) restaurants that used to be teahouses selling opium (hence the street's former name). On the corner of Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi and Şifahane Sokak is the darüşşifa, also under restoration.
The still-functioning Süleymaniye Hamamı is on the eastern side of the mosque.
Tombs
To the right (southeast) of the main entrance is the cemetery, home to the octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). The tile work surrounding the entrances to both is superb and the ivory-inlaid panels in Süleyman's tomb are lovely.
Surrounding Area
The streets surrounding the mosque are home to what may well be the most extensive concentration of Ottoman timber houses on the historical peninsula, many of which are currently being restored as part of an urban regeneration project. To see some of these, head down Felva Yokuşu (between the tabhane and Sinan's tomb) and then veer right into Namahrem Sokak and Ayrancı Sokak. One of the many Ottoman-era houses here was once occupied by Mimar Sinan; it now houses a cafe.
Alternatively, from Professor Siddık Sami Onar Caddesi head southwest into narrow Ayşekadin Hamamı Sokak (it's hidden in the middle of the souvenir stands) and follow it and Kayserili Ahmetpaşa Sokak down through the Molla Hüsrev district, which is slowly being restored as part of the Süleymaniye Urban Regeneration Project. Kayserili Ahmetpaşa Sokak is home to a number of pretty timber houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Τζαμί Σουλεϊμανίε
No:1 Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd.The Süleymaniye crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. Though it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest and most beautiful. It's also unusual in that many of its original külliye (mosque complex) buildings have been retained and sympathetically adapted for reuse.
Commissioned by Süleyman I, known as 'the Magnificent', the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul and it certainly lives up to its patron's nickname. The mosque and its surrounding buildings were designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. Sinan's türbe (tomb) is just outside the mosque's walled garden, next to a disused medrese (seminary) building.
Mosque
The mosque was built between 1550 and 1557. Its setting and plan are particularly pleasing, featuring gardens and a three-sided forecourt with a central domed ablutions fountain. The four minarets with their 10 beautiful şerefes (balconies) are said to represent the fact that Süleyman was the fourth of the Osmanlı sultans to rule the city and the 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.
In the garden behind the mosque is a terrace offering lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. The street underneath once housed the mosque complex's arasta (street of shops), which was built into the retaining wall of the terrace. Close by was a five-level mülazim (preparatory school).
Inside, the building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity. Sinan incorporated the four buttresses into the walls of the building – the result is wonderfully 'transparent' (ie open and airy) and highly reminiscent of Aya Sofya, especially as the dome is nearly as large as the one that crowns the Byzantine basilica.
The mihrab (niche in a minaret indicating the direction of Mecca) is covered in fine İznik tiles, and other interior decoration includes window shutters inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gorgeous stained-glass windows, painted muqarnas (corbels with honeycomb detail), a spectacular persimmon-coloured floor carpet, painted pendentives and medallions featuring fine calligraphy.
Külliye
Süleyman specified that his mosque should have the full complement of public services: imaret (soup kitchen), medrese, hamam, darüşşifa (hospital) etc. Today the imaret, with its charming garden courtyard, houses the Dârüzziyafe cafe and is a lovely place to enjoy a çay. On its right-hand side (north) is a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that was being restored at the time of writing, and on its left-hand side (south) is Lale Bahçesi, a popular tea garden set in a sunken courtyard.
The main entrance to the mosque is accessed from Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, formerly known as Tiryaki Çarşışı (Market of the Addicts). The buildings here once housed three medreses and a primary school; they're now home to the Süleymaniye Library and a raft of popular streetside fasulye (bean) restaurants that used to be teahouses selling opium (hence the street's former name). On the corner of Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi and Şifahane Sokak is the darüşşifa, also under restoration.
The still-functioning Süleymaniye Hamamı is on the eastern side of the mosque.
Tombs
To the right (southeast) of the main entrance is the cemetery, home to the octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). The tile work surrounding the entrances to both is superb and the ivory-inlaid panels in Süleyman's tomb are lovely.
Surrounding Area
The streets surrounding the mosque are home to what may well be the most extensive concentration of Ottoman timber houses on the historical peninsula, many of which are currently being restored as part of an urban regeneration project. To see some of these, head down Felva Yokuşu (between the tabhane and Sinan's tomb) and then veer right into Namahrem Sokak and Ayrancı Sokak. One of the many Ottoman-era houses here was once occupied by Mimar Sinan; it now houses a cafe.
Alternatively, from Professor Siddık Sami Onar Caddesi head southwest into narrow Ayşekadin Hamamı Sokak (it's hidden in the middle of the souvenir stands) and follow it and Kayserili Ahmetpaşa Sokak down through the Molla Hüsrev district, which is slowly being restored as part of the Süleymaniye Urban Regeneration Project. Kayserili Ahmetpaşa Sokak is home to a number of pretty timber houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Vividly coloured spices are displayed alongside jewel-like lokum (Turkish delight) at this Ottoman-era marketplace, providing eye candy for the thousands of tourists and locals who make their way here every day. Stalls also sell caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts and dried fruits. The number of stalls selling tourist trinkets increases annually, yet this remains a great place to stock up on edible souvenirs, share a few jokes with vendors and marvel at the well-preserved building.
The market was constructed in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque, with rent from the shops supporting the upkeep of the mosque as well as its charitable activities, which included a school, hamam and hospital. The market's Turkish name, the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Market), references the fact that the building was initially endowed with taxes levied on goods imported from Egypt. In its heyday, the bazaar was the last stop for the camel caravans that travelled the Silk Road from China, India and Persia.
On the west side of the market there are outdoor produce stalls selling fresh foodstuff from all over Anatolia, including a wonderful selection of cheeses. Also here is the most famous coffee supplier in İstanbul, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, established over 100 years ago. This is located on the corner of Hasırcılar Caddesi, which is full of shops selling food and kitchenware.
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Αίγυπτος Αγορά
92 Erzak Ambarı Sok.Vividly coloured spices are displayed alongside jewel-like lokum (Turkish delight) at this Ottoman-era marketplace, providing eye candy for the thousands of tourists and locals who make their way here every day. Stalls also sell caviar, dried herbs, honey, nuts and dried fruits. The number of stalls selling tourist trinkets increases annually, yet this remains a great place to stock up on edible souvenirs, share a few jokes with vendors and marvel at the well-preserved building.
The market was constructed in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque, with rent from the shops supporting the upkeep of the mosque as well as its charitable activities, which included a school, hamam and hospital. The market's Turkish name, the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Market), references the fact that the building was initially endowed with taxes levied on goods imported from Egypt. In its heyday, the bazaar was the last stop for the camel caravans that travelled the Silk Road from China, India and Persia.
On the west side of the market there are outdoor produce stalls selling fresh foodstuff from all over Anatolia, including a wonderful selection of cheeses. Also here is the most famous coffee supplier in İstanbul, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, established over 100 years ago. This is located on the corner of Hasırcılar Caddesi, which is full of shops selling food and kitchenware.
These days it’s fashionable for architects and critics influenced by the less-is-more aesthetic of Bauhaus masters to sneer at buildings such as Dolmabahçe. However, the crowds that throng to this imperial pleasure palace with its neoclassical exterior and over-the-top interior clearly don’t share that disdain, flocking here to visit its Selâmlık (Ceremonial Suites), Harem and Veliaht Dairesi (Apartments of the Crown Prince). The latter houses the National Palaces Painting Museum, which can be visited on a Selâmlık or Harem ticket.
More rather than less was certainly the philosophy of Sultan Abdül Mecit I (r 1839–61), who decided to move his imperial court from Topkapı to a lavish new palace on the shores of the Bosphorus. For a site he chose the dolma bahçe (filled-in garden) where his predecessors, Sultans Ahmet I and Osman II, had filled in a little cove in order to create a royal park complete with wooden pleasure kiosks and pavilions.
Abdül Mecit commissioned imperial architects Nikoğos and Garabed Balyan to construct an Ottoman-European palace that would impress everyone who set eyes on it. Traditional Ottoman palace architecture was eschewed – there are no pavilions here, and the palace turns its back to the splendid view rather than celebrating it. The designer of the Paris Opera was brought in to do the interiors, which perhaps explains their exaggerated theatricality. Construction was completed in 1854, and the sultan and his family moved in two years later. Though it had the wow factor in spades, Abdül Mecit’s extravagant project precipitated the empire’s bankruptcy and signalled the beginning of the end for the Osmanlı dynasty. During the early years of the republic, Atatürk used the palace as his İstanbul base and died here on 10 November 1938.
The tourist entrance to the palace grounds is the ornate imperial gate, with an equally ornate clock tower just inside. Sarkis Balyan designed the tower between 1890 and 1895 for Sultan Abdül Hamit II (r 1876–1909). There is an outdoor cafe near here with premium Bosphorus views and reasonable prices (yes, really).
Set in well-tended gardens, the palace is divided into three sections: the Selâmlık, Harem and Veliaht Dairesi. Entry is via a compulsory and dreadfully rushed guided tour (up to 50 people per group), which focuses on the Selâmlık but visits parts of the Harem as well; you can visit the National Palaces Paintings Museum independently. In busy periods English-language tours leave every 10 minutes or so; during quiet times every 25 minutes is more likely.
Note that visitor numbers in the palace are limited to 3000 per day and this ceiling is often reached on weekends and holidays – come midweek if possible, and even then be prepared to queue (often for long periods and in full sun). If you only take one tour; we recommend the Selâmlık for its huge chandeliers and crystal staircase made by Baccarat. Note, admission here is not covered by the Museum Pass İstanbul.
Just outside the gate, the Dolmabahċe Mosque (Dolmabahçe Camii) on Muallim Naci Caddesi was designed by Nikoğos Balyan and completed in 1853.
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Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahçe CaddesiThese days it’s fashionable for architects and critics influenced by the less-is-more aesthetic of Bauhaus masters to sneer at buildings such as Dolmabahçe. However, the crowds that throng to this imperial pleasure palace with its neoclassical exterior and over-the-top interior clearly don’t share that disdain, flocking here to visit its Selâmlık (Ceremonial Suites), Harem and Veliaht Dairesi (Apartments of the Crown Prince). The latter houses the National Palaces Painting Museum, which can be visited on a Selâmlık or Harem ticket.
More rather than less was certainly the philosophy of Sultan Abdül Mecit I (r 1839–61), who decided to move his imperial court from Topkapı to a lavish new palace on the shores of the Bosphorus. For a site he chose the dolma bahçe (filled-in garden) where his predecessors, Sultans Ahmet I and Osman II, had filled in a little cove in order to create a royal park complete with wooden pleasure kiosks and pavilions.
Abdül Mecit commissioned imperial architects Nikoğos and Garabed Balyan to construct an Ottoman-European palace that would impress everyone who set eyes on it. Traditional Ottoman palace architecture was eschewed – there are no pavilions here, and the palace turns its back to the splendid view rather than celebrating it. The designer of the Paris Opera was brought in to do the interiors, which perhaps explains their exaggerated theatricality. Construction was completed in 1854, and the sultan and his family moved in two years later. Though it had the wow factor in spades, Abdül Mecit’s extravagant project precipitated the empire’s bankruptcy and signalled the beginning of the end for the Osmanlı dynasty. During the early years of the republic, Atatürk used the palace as his İstanbul base and died here on 10 November 1938.
The tourist entrance to the palace grounds is the ornate imperial gate, with an equally ornate clock tower just inside. Sarkis Balyan designed the tower between 1890 and 1895 for Sultan Abdül Hamit II (r 1876–1909). There is an outdoor cafe near here with premium Bosphorus views and reasonable prices (yes, really).
Set in well-tended gardens, the palace is divided into three sections: the Selâmlık, Harem and Veliaht Dairesi. Entry is via a compulsory and dreadfully rushed guided tour (up to 50 people per group), which focuses on the Selâmlık but visits parts of the Harem as well; you can visit the National Palaces Paintings Museum independently. In busy periods English-language tours leave every 10 minutes or so; during quiet times every 25 minutes is more likely.
Note that visitor numbers in the palace are limited to 3000 per day and this ceiling is often reached on weekends and holidays – come midweek if possible, and even then be prepared to queue (often for long periods and in full sun). If you only take one tour; we recommend the Selâmlık for its huge chandeliers and crystal staircase made by Baccarat. Note, admission here is not covered by the Museum Pass İstanbul.
Just outside the gate, the Dolmabahċe Mosque (Dolmabahçe Camii) on Muallim Naci Caddesi was designed by Nikoğos Balyan and completed in 1853.
Taksim Square is the most known modern city center of Istanbul. Many hotels and restaurants are in or near the Square and on Istiklal Street, and there is a local bus terminal for public transportation and the main subway station. Istiklal pedestrian street has many bars, night clubs and movie theaters therefore it's always busy with young people almost for 24 hours a day. The Square is also the meeting place to celebrate New Year's Eve, parades, public concerts and other shows.
The most important monument in Taksim Square is the Independence Monument (Istiklal Aniti in Turkish), standing at the beginning of Istiklal pedestrian street. This is also the turnaround point for the old tram which is the only vehicle permitted on Istiklal Street beside official (police and government) cars.
The monument was made by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica and opened in 1928, it describes Atatürk, founder of the Republic, as a military commander-in-chief and a statesman. Since it's opening, the monument became the center spot of official ceremonies in Istanbul.
On its south façade overlooking the Siraselviler Street, there is Atatürk, Ismet Inönü and Fevzi Çakmak in the front and other figures behind them, including two Russian generals. On the north façade overlooking at Cumhuriyet Street, the War of Independence is symbolized. On the east and west façades, the Turkish Army is symbolized with a soldier holding the Turkish Flag.
Across this monument on the other side of the Square, there is a huge building which is Atatürk Cultural Center. In the early years of the Republic, an opera building was started to build which was completed after a long construction period of 13 years. It was opened with the name of Istanbul Cultural Palace in 1969 but suffered a great damage because of a fire in 1970. It was renovated and was given the name of Atatürk Cultural Center in 1978, known as AKM. Several national and international concerts, operas, meetings, exhibitions and premiers were held in AKM, especially performances of Istanbul State Theaters, State Opera and Ballet, State Symphony Orchestra, State Turkish Classic Music Chorus, and International Istanbul Festival attracted many spectators. Nowadays it's being rennovated again thus closed since 2008.
During the late Ottoman period Sultan Mahmut I arranged Taksim as a point where the main water lines from north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other districts of the city. Therefore the Square took its name from the big stone reservoir located on the west side of the square; "taksim" means "distribution" in Turkish.
Taksim Square
Tak-ı Zafer CaddesiTaksim Square is the most known modern city center of Istanbul. Many hotels and restaurants are in or near the Square and on Istiklal Street, and there is a local bus terminal for public transportation and the main subway station. Istiklal pedestrian street has many bars, night clubs and movie theaters therefore it's always busy with young people almost for 24 hours a day. The Square is also the meeting place to celebrate New Year's Eve, parades, public concerts and other shows.
The most important monument in Taksim Square is the Independence Monument (Istiklal Aniti in Turkish), standing at the beginning of Istiklal pedestrian street. This is also the turnaround point for the old tram which is the only vehicle permitted on Istiklal Street beside official (police and government) cars.
The monument was made by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica and opened in 1928, it describes Atatürk, founder of the Republic, as a military commander-in-chief and a statesman. Since it's opening, the monument became the center spot of official ceremonies in Istanbul.
On its south façade overlooking the Siraselviler Street, there is Atatürk, Ismet Inönü and Fevzi Çakmak in the front and other figures behind them, including two Russian generals. On the north façade overlooking at Cumhuriyet Street, the War of Independence is symbolized. On the east and west façades, the Turkish Army is symbolized with a soldier holding the Turkish Flag.
Across this monument on the other side of the Square, there is a huge building which is Atatürk Cultural Center. In the early years of the Republic, an opera building was started to build which was completed after a long construction period of 13 years. It was opened with the name of Istanbul Cultural Palace in 1969 but suffered a great damage because of a fire in 1970. It was renovated and was given the name of Atatürk Cultural Center in 1978, known as AKM. Several national and international concerts, operas, meetings, exhibitions and premiers were held in AKM, especially performances of Istanbul State Theaters, State Opera and Ballet, State Symphony Orchestra, State Turkish Classic Music Chorus, and International Istanbul Festival attracted many spectators. Nowadays it's being rennovated again thus closed since 2008.
During the late Ottoman period Sultan Mahmut I arranged Taksim as a point where the main water lines from north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other districts of the city. Therefore the Square took its name from the big stone reservoir located on the west side of the square; "taksim" means "distribution" in Turkish.
The Galata Tower, Galata Kulesi in Turkish, is one of the highest and oldest towers of Istanbul. 63 meter (206 feet) high tower provides a panoramic view of the old town. It was built in the 14th century by the Genoese colony as part of the defense wall surrounding their district at Galata directly opposite ancient Constantinopolis. They called the tower as "Christea Turris", or "Tower of Christ". The Genoese were involved in trade with the Byzantines and the tower was used for the surveillance of the Harbor in the Golden Horn. After the conquest of Constantinople by Mehmet II, it served to detect fires in the city.
Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi was the first flying Turk during the Ottoman Empire of the 17th century. He copied bird wings and studied air flows, than jumping from the Galata Tower he overflew the Bosphorus and landed at Uskudar district on the Asian side, around 6 kilometers (4 miles) in distance.
After the Republic, Galata Tower was restored and opened to the public in 1967. The tower houses a cafeteria on top, there was also a night club which is closed down after the last restoration in 2013. A couple of elevators will take you up but there are still three more floors to climb by stairs to get on the panoramic terrace which is 52 meters above the ground. A small souvenir shop is located inside the tower just across the ticket office at the entrance level.
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Πύργος της Γαλατάς
The Galata Tower, Galata Kulesi in Turkish, is one of the highest and oldest towers of Istanbul. 63 meter (206 feet) high tower provides a panoramic view of the old town. It was built in the 14th century by the Genoese colony as part of the defense wall surrounding their district at Galata directly opposite ancient Constantinopolis. They called the tower as "Christea Turris", or "Tower of Christ". The Genoese were involved in trade with the Byzantines and the tower was used for the surveillance of the Harbor in the Golden Horn. After the conquest of Constantinople by Mehmet II, it served to detect fires in the city.
Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi was the first flying Turk during the Ottoman Empire of the 17th century. He copied bird wings and studied air flows, than jumping from the Galata Tower he overflew the Bosphorus and landed at Uskudar district on the Asian side, around 6 kilometers (4 miles) in distance.
After the Republic, Galata Tower was restored and opened to the public in 1967. The tower houses a cafeteria on top, there was also a night club which is closed down after the last restoration in 2013. A couple of elevators will take you up but there are still three more floors to climb by stairs to get on the panoramic terrace which is 52 meters above the ground. A small souvenir shop is located inside the tower just across the ticket office at the entrance level.
The famous cafe entitled with the name of Pierre Loti, a famous French writer, is reached on getting to this ridge on which the perfect view of Golden Horn can be watched.
The real name of Pierre Loti, who lived in Istanbul for long years and was a real Istanbul lover, was Julien Viaud.The historical cafe is the most ideal place to watch this mentioned view.
It is said that, in those years Pierre Loti used to come this cafe often, named as “Rabia Kadın Kahvesi” in those years, and write his novel “Aziyade” overlooking Golden Horn.Today, this district, still kept as an original Turkish settlement by being restorated, consists of many spaces serving as a tourist facility.The district is also mentioned in Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname ( travel book) as “Idris Köşkü Mesiresi”. There are many historical artifacts and building in Pierre Loti, commonly visited by tourists and travelers who come to Istanbul in 19th century. Double-epigraphed, wooden “Kaşgari Tekkesi”, dated 1813 and located on the way from the tourist facility to Eyüp Mosque, is one of these structures.Another important Persian-epigraphed building, at the right corner of the service area and located at a trivium, is “Çolak Şeyh Hasan Türbesi.” A part of this building is çilehane(çilehane is a place in which a dervish undergoes and suffers to strength his patience.) and Çolak Hasan Dede’s grave is here too.The historical building, on the same way with “Çolak Şeyh Hasan Tekkesi”, is “Sıbyan Mektebi” or a nursery school in today’s context. (Today, that school is used as a prayer room that belongs to the service area.)The grave of a whirling dervish called “Iskender Dede”, passed away in 1589,takes place in Pierre Loti Tourist Facility located forefront Sıbyan Mektebi that was built by Ottoman history writer İdris-i Bitlisi.One of the two water wells infront of Iskender Dede is the famous “Dilek Kuyusu” (a water well for wishes) Evliya Çelebi writes about this water well in his Seyahatname and says: the people who look in to the well, can see their own wishes they keep in their hearts. There is also a drinking fountain next to the frontage of Sıbyan Mektebi.In addition, a cistern, supposed to be built in Byzantine period, survives in the middle of the garden area in the tourist facility.
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Τουριστικό κατάλυμα Pierre Loti Tepesi
İdris Köşkü CaddesiThe famous cafe entitled with the name of Pierre Loti, a famous French writer, is reached on getting to this ridge on which the perfect view of Golden Horn can be watched.
The real name of Pierre Loti, who lived in Istanbul for long years and was a real Istanbul lover, was Julien Viaud.The historical cafe is the most ideal place to watch this mentioned view.
It is said that, in those years Pierre Loti used to come this cafe often, named as “Rabia Kadın Kahvesi” in those years, and write his novel “Aziyade” overlooking Golden Horn.Today, this district, still kept as an original Turkish settlement by being restorated, consists of many spaces serving as a tourist facility.The district is also mentioned in Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname ( travel book) as “Idris Köşkü Mesiresi”. There are many historical artifacts and building in Pierre Loti, commonly visited by tourists and travelers who come to Istanbul in 19th century. Double-epigraphed, wooden “Kaşgari Tekkesi”, dated 1813 and located on the way from the tourist facility to Eyüp Mosque, is one of these structures.Another important Persian-epigraphed building, at the right corner of the service area and located at a trivium, is “Çolak Şeyh Hasan Türbesi.” A part of this building is çilehane(çilehane is a place in which a dervish undergoes and suffers to strength his patience.) and Çolak Hasan Dede’s grave is here too.The historical building, on the same way with “Çolak Şeyh Hasan Tekkesi”, is “Sıbyan Mektebi” or a nursery school in today’s context. (Today, that school is used as a prayer room that belongs to the service area.)The grave of a whirling dervish called “Iskender Dede”, passed away in 1589,takes place in Pierre Loti Tourist Facility located forefront Sıbyan Mektebi that was built by Ottoman history writer İdris-i Bitlisi.One of the two water wells infront of Iskender Dede is the famous “Dilek Kuyusu” (a water well for wishes) Evliya Çelebi writes about this water well in his Seyahatname and says: the people who look in to the well, can see their own wishes they keep in their hearts. There is also a drinking fountain next to the frontage of Sıbyan Mektebi.In addition, a cistern, supposed to be built in Byzantine period, survives in the middle of the garden area in the tourist facility.
VODAFONE PARK
ABOUT VODAFONE PARKEXECUTIVE BOX SEAT FEATURESVIP SEAT FEATURES1903 STAND FEATURESSEATING PLAN
VODAFONE PARK
Opening its doors to publicon 3 November 1947, the İnönü Stadium, which would eventually be replaced bythe Vodafone Park, had been a symbol of Beşiktaş JK’s glorious years and ahome to numerous Beşiktaş JK legends such as Süleyman Seba, Hakkı Yeten (BabaHakkı), Sanlı Sarıalioğlu, Rasim Kara, Rıza Çalımbay as well as the unforgettablescoring trio of Metin-Ali-Feyyaz.
At the end of the 2012/13season, Beşiktaş JK Management led by the Chairman Fikret Orman tore down theInönü Stadium and started building the Vodafone Park on its place, using the Club’s own means.
After 1065 days, Turkey’s oneand only smart stadium was completed and held its first game on 11 April 2016when Beşiktaş hosted Bursaspor in a Turkish Super League action.
The official inauguration ofthe Black Eagle’s new shrine took place on 10 April 2016 and attended by the PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Turkish Staterepresentatives, politicians, Beşiktaş JK Chairman Fikret Orman and the membersof the Beşiktaş JK Council and Executive Board.
To help the fans experiencea day to remember, Vodafone has equipped the new stadium with rich-contentdigital displays, which are commonly found in many modern stadiums today, alongwith broadband mobile and wireless networks. Different sized interactive HDscreens installed all over the stadium are going to broadcast fan interviews,on-going promotions, game statistics and live scores from other matches on anon-stop basis. The WiFi service will ensure that smart phones can access thelatest game information easily and without delay.
In addition to being hometo Beşiktaş, the 42.000 seater, multi-purpose Vodafone Park is designed tofunction as an entertainment and fashion center. Throughout the year, it willhost numerous concerts and fashion shows by famous artists and designers. Inthe meantime, the high-class restaurants, Beşiktaş JK Museum, Beşiktaş Shop andVodafone Mobile Center located inside the stadium will offer top qualityservice to their visitors and customers at all times. In short, Beşiktaş JK'snew stadium Vodafone Park is going to be a hub of city activity not onlyduring match days but on everyday of the year.
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BJK Vodafone Park
No:1 Dolmabahçe Cd.VODAFONE PARK
ABOUT VODAFONE PARKEXECUTIVE BOX SEAT FEATURESVIP SEAT FEATURES1903 STAND FEATURESSEATING PLAN
VODAFONE PARK
Opening its doors to publicon 3 November 1947, the İnönü Stadium, which would eventually be replaced bythe Vodafone Park, had been a symbol of Beşiktaş JK’s glorious years and ahome to numerous Beşiktaş JK legends such as Süleyman Seba, Hakkı Yeten (BabaHakkı), Sanlı Sarıalioğlu, Rasim Kara, Rıza Çalımbay as well as the unforgettablescoring trio of Metin-Ali-Feyyaz.
At the end of the 2012/13season, Beşiktaş JK Management led by the Chairman Fikret Orman tore down theInönü Stadium and started building the Vodafone Park on its place, using the Club’s own means.
After 1065 days, Turkey’s oneand only smart stadium was completed and held its first game on 11 April 2016when Beşiktaş hosted Bursaspor in a Turkish Super League action.
The official inauguration ofthe Black Eagle’s new shrine took place on 10 April 2016 and attended by the PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Turkish Staterepresentatives, politicians, Beşiktaş JK Chairman Fikret Orman and the membersof the Beşiktaş JK Council and Executive Board.
To help the fans experiencea day to remember, Vodafone has equipped the new stadium with rich-contentdigital displays, which are commonly found in many modern stadiums today, alongwith broadband mobile and wireless networks. Different sized interactive HDscreens installed all over the stadium are going to broadcast fan interviews,on-going promotions, game statistics and live scores from other matches on anon-stop basis. The WiFi service will ensure that smart phones can access thelatest game information easily and without delay.
In addition to being hometo Beşiktaş, the 42.000 seater, multi-purpose Vodafone Park is designed tofunction as an entertainment and fashion center. Throughout the year, it willhost numerous concerts and fashion shows by famous artists and designers. Inthe meantime, the high-class restaurants, Beşiktaş JK Museum, Beşiktaş Shop andVodafone Mobile Center located inside the stadium will offer top qualityservice to their visitors and customers at all times. In short, Beşiktaş JK'snew stadium Vodafone Park is going to be a hub of city activity not onlyduring match days but on everyday of the year.
Turkish poet and author Mr. Sunay Akın has opened the first and only private toy museum of Turkey on April 23, 2005. This opening date was not choosen randomly. April 23rd is an important day in history of the Turkish Republic. It was on this day that the Grand National Assembly first met in 1923. It is also when the country simultaneously celebrates National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, dedicated this important day to the children of the world.
Museum’s each room resembles a different theater stage. For instance, when you enter the gallery of space toys, you encounter shining stars overhead, whereas miniature train sets are exhibited in a genuine train compartment. You have to pass through a submarine in order to reach the toilets on the basement. Visitors can relaxed in the cafe where antique dolls, dollhouse and miniature furnitures a theater that has 70 seats and gift shop where Sunay Akın’s boks and museum souvenirs are sold.
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Μουσείο Παιχνιδιών Κωνσταντινούπολης
17 Dr. Zeki Zeren SkTurkish poet and author Mr. Sunay Akın has opened the first and only private toy museum of Turkey on April 23, 2005. This opening date was not choosen randomly. April 23rd is an important day in history of the Turkish Republic. It was on this day that the Grand National Assembly first met in 1923. It is also when the country simultaneously celebrates National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, dedicated this important day to the children of the world.
Museum’s each room resembles a different theater stage. For instance, when you enter the gallery of space toys, you encounter shining stars overhead, whereas miniature train sets are exhibited in a genuine train compartment. You have to pass through a submarine in order to reach the toilets on the basement. Visitors can relaxed in the cafe where antique dolls, dollhouse and miniature furnitures a theater that has 70 seats and gift shop where Sunay Akın’s boks and museum souvenirs are sold.
The Princess Islands are a combination of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. Regular or fast passenger ferries operate to the four of these islands from different parts of the city; from Bostanci, Kadikoy and Kartal neighborhoods on the Asian side, from Sirkeci and Kabatas neighborhoods on the European side. Motorists are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to the local municipality for public works, therefore you have to walk or rent a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage (fayton in Turkish), even a donkey. Many local people in Istanbul own or rent their summer houses, or just go there at the weekends for swimming in the tiny beaches and for picnicking.
These four islands are called in general as Adalar (Islands) in Turkish and their names are; Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kinaliada. Sedefada is the fifth inhabited island but it isn't much popular as the other ones, there is a very small settlement on it. Beside these, Tavsan Adasi, Sivriada and Yassiada have no settlements on them, meanwhile Kasik Adasi is a private island. Yassiada whitnessed a tragic moment in our recent history when one of our early Republic period prime ministers, Adnan Menderes, was sentenced to death penalty after spending his last days of life in a prison on this island.
The name of the islands comes from the Byzantine period, when royal princes and empresses were exiled there. With the intruduction of steamboats during the late Ottoman period around the 19th century, these islands became popular resorts for the rich people who built their wooden houses. Jewish, Greek and Armenian communities were a large part of the inhabitants here. Today, the islands are popular tourist destinations for daily excursions especially in the summer time. There are many monasteries and historic buildings on the islands, besides 19th century Victorian style old wooden mansions.
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Kizil Adalar Island
The Princess Islands are a combination of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. Regular or fast passenger ferries operate to the four of these islands from different parts of the city; from Bostanci, Kadikoy and Kartal neighborhoods on the Asian side, from Sirkeci and Kabatas neighborhoods on the European side. Motorists are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to the local municipality for public works, therefore you have to walk or rent a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage (fayton in Turkish), even a donkey. Many local people in Istanbul own or rent their summer houses, or just go there at the weekends for swimming in the tiny beaches and for picnicking.
These four islands are called in general as Adalar (Islands) in Turkish and their names are; Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kinaliada. Sedefada is the fifth inhabited island but it isn't much popular as the other ones, there is a very small settlement on it. Beside these, Tavsan Adasi, Sivriada and Yassiada have no settlements on them, meanwhile Kasik Adasi is a private island. Yassiada whitnessed a tragic moment in our recent history when one of our early Republic period prime ministers, Adnan Menderes, was sentenced to death penalty after spending his last days of life in a prison on this island.
The name of the islands comes from the Byzantine period, when royal princes and empresses were exiled there. With the intruduction of steamboats during the late Ottoman period around the 19th century, these islands became popular resorts for the rich people who built their wooden houses. Jewish, Greek and Armenian communities were a large part of the inhabitants here. Today, the islands are popular tourist destinations for daily excursions especially in the summer time. There are many monasteries and historic buildings on the islands, besides 19th century Victorian style old wooden mansions.
An Important Culture and Tourism Investment from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc.
Miniaturk: Where time stands still
Miniatürk, bringing together the rich architectural heritage of the civilizations that had ruled and left their marks on this ancient land from ancient ages to Rome, Byzantine, Seljuk Empire and Ottoman Empire, was completed by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc. on May 2nd, 2003 and opened by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Miniaturk has become a showcase of Turkey with the Slogan of 'A small Model of a Big Country'.
135 models in total, 62 from Istanbul, 60 from Anatolia and 13 from Ottoman territory outside of Turkey, that were selected among thousands of architectural works based on their reput. All models are 1/25 of the real size.
Miniaturk is not limited to Turkey and Turkish culture. It carries the life experiences of the nearby geography, including the values that give Anatolia its character. Reaching to the Golden Horn three thousand years ago, the traces left by the civilizations ruled by peace, tolerance and justice are brought together in this park.
On one side, the caravanserais, social complexes, madrasas, bridges, stations, piers, castles, city walls, tombs, mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, mansions, obelisks, monuments and sculptures, on the other side, unique natural formations from fairy chimnies to Pamukkale were selected by the meticulous work of an expert team.
Also, two of the seven wonders of the ancient ages, Artemis Temple and Halicarnassus Mausoleum, which were built in Anatolia and do not exist are displayed.
In Miniaturk, everything is so original that you feel as if you are traveling all over the country from east to west, from north to south. Of course, it is not the same as seeing the actual works but besides willingness to see the actual ones, it feels quite privileged to able to enjoy these works presented in such an aspect.
In Miniaturk, you can find Audio Guide Mobile Application service. The Miniaturk Mobile application is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. The Miniatürk Mobile Application where you can also see the actual location information of models in Miniatürk can be listened to in 9 languages including Turkish, English, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Persian, Japanese and Spanish. IMM WIFI is available on our route.
The total area of Miniatürk is 60.000 square meters. Every detail has been carefully designed to ensure visitors a quality experience while having fun in Miniaturk including the 15.000 square meters area where the models are located as well as Panaromic Victory Museum and Istanbul Crystal Museum, parking area for 300 cars, restaurant, cafeteria, gift shop, exhibition hall, outdoor show area, children’s playground, ferryboat, remote controlled boat, train, tale tree, mini stadium with 4 biggest teams, chess hall and labyrinth area, Turkey-Istanbul simulation helicopter tour.
Taking its strength and beauty from its 3,000-year-old civilization, Miniatürk is a pleasant park as well as a cultural and social responsibility project at the same time. Young generations will discover the deep roots of their civilizations in Miniaturk.
Miniaturk is one of the first addresses in Istanbul of local and foreign tourists, and an ideal place for those who want to experience a fabulous and quick tour of Turkey. In short, it is Turkey's Showcase.
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Miniatürk
An Important Culture and Tourism Investment from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc.
Miniaturk: Where time stands still
Miniatürk, bringing together the rich architectural heritage of the civilizations that had ruled and left their marks on this ancient land from ancient ages to Rome, Byzantine, Seljuk Empire and Ottoman Empire, was completed by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc. on May 2nd, 2003 and opened by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Miniaturk has become a showcase of Turkey with the Slogan of 'A small Model of a Big Country'.
135 models in total, 62 from Istanbul, 60 from Anatolia and 13 from Ottoman territory outside of Turkey, that were selected among thousands of architectural works based on their reput. All models are 1/25 of the real size.
Miniaturk is not limited to Turkey and Turkish culture. It carries the life experiences of the nearby geography, including the values that give Anatolia its character. Reaching to the Golden Horn three thousand years ago, the traces left by the civilizations ruled by peace, tolerance and justice are brought together in this park.
On one side, the caravanserais, social complexes, madrasas, bridges, stations, piers, castles, city walls, tombs, mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, mansions, obelisks, monuments and sculptures, on the other side, unique natural formations from fairy chimnies to Pamukkale were selected by the meticulous work of an expert team.
Also, two of the seven wonders of the ancient ages, Artemis Temple and Halicarnassus Mausoleum, which were built in Anatolia and do not exist are displayed.
In Miniaturk, everything is so original that you feel as if you are traveling all over the country from east to west, from north to south. Of course, it is not the same as seeing the actual works but besides willingness to see the actual ones, it feels quite privileged to able to enjoy these works presented in such an aspect.
In Miniaturk, you can find Audio Guide Mobile Application service. The Miniaturk Mobile application is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. The Miniatürk Mobile Application where you can also see the actual location information of models in Miniatürk can be listened to in 9 languages including Turkish, English, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Persian, Japanese and Spanish. IMM WIFI is available on our route.
The total area of Miniatürk is 60.000 square meters. Every detail has been carefully designed to ensure visitors a quality experience while having fun in Miniaturk including the 15.000 square meters area where the models are located as well as Panaromic Victory Museum and Istanbul Crystal Museum, parking area for 300 cars, restaurant, cafeteria, gift shop, exhibition hall, outdoor show area, children’s playground, ferryboat, remote controlled boat, train, tale tree, mini stadium with 4 biggest teams, chess hall and labyrinth area, Turkey-Istanbul simulation helicopter tour.
Taking its strength and beauty from its 3,000-year-old civilization, Miniatürk is a pleasant park as well as a cultural and social responsibility project at the same time. Young generations will discover the deep roots of their civilizations in Miniaturk.
Miniaturk is one of the first addresses in Istanbul of local and foreign tourists, and an ideal place for those who want to experience a fabulous and quick tour of Turkey. In short, it is Turkey's Showcase.
Welcome to Istanbul Modern!
Istanbul Modern was founded in 2004 as Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. Committed to sharing Turkey’s artistic creativity and cultural identity with the local and international art worlds, the museum hosts a broad array of interdisciplinary activities.
Istanbul Modern embraces a global vision to collect, preserve, document and exhibit works of modern and contemporary art and make them accessible to the public at large. The museum offers a variety of cultural activities in its permanent and temporary exhibition halls, photography gallery, spaces for educational and social programs, library, cinema, café, and store.
Through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, the museum aims to instill a love of the arts in visitors from all walks of life and encourage their active participation in the arts. Established in a building occupying an 8,000 square meter site in Karaköy on the shores of the Bosphorus, where it hosted exhibitions and events for 14 years, Istanbul Modern has now moved to a temporary space in Beyoğlu, where it will welcome visitors from May 2018 onward for three years while its new building is being constructed.
From the Chair of the Board
It all began in 1987 with the dream of providing Istanbul with a museum of modern art. But it wasn’t until December 11, 2004, that we were able to open the doors of a venue that would further enrich the culture of our geography through contemporary art. That date represented the culmination of years of struggle.
Founded by the private sector, with the support of the public sector and local government, Istanbul Modern set out on its journey as Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art in Antrepo #4, a former customs warehouse in Karaköy. Our goal was to offer audiences the opportunity to see, learn about, enjoy and appreciate art and to observe its continual development. We wanted to establish a dynamic institution that would turn museum-going into a habit, increase the number and diversity of visitors, and keep their interest alive. Today, I can proudly say that we have succeeded in achieving this goal.
While providing a venue for exhibiting Turkey’s multicultural heritage and universal values, we have also become a symbol of Istanbul, of the transformation in contemporary art, and of our country’s modern identity.
Our collection and temporary exhibition halls, photography gallery, video area, library, cinema, educational activities, store, and café provide a comprehensive space for living that invites visitors both to witness what is produced and to produce themselves.
Our activities and events in design, architecture, new media, performance, literature and other disciplines are contributing to the development of future audiences. We are also contributing to the promotion of Turkey abroad and cultural tourism through exhibitions we organize in major museums around the world.
In line with our vision of raising new generations to love art, we have created opportunities for hundreds and thousands of children and young people to learn about and produce art.
Extending our reach beyond national boundaries, Istanbul Modern has partnered with prominent art institutions around the world on international exhibitions and museum programs. Our long-running architectural collaboration with MoMA and educational collaboration with the Centre Pompidou are continuously renewed, offering our visitors completely new experiences.
Energized by the unique and brand-new synergy it creates, Istanbul Modern proudly continues its journey with the support of its members, whose number increases by the day.
Today, Istanbul Modern is 14 years old... and we are counting down the days to a brand-new beginning, filled with the optimism that comes from touching the lives of millions of visitors through their encounters with art. While our new museum building designed by Renzo Piano is being constructed at our original site on the Bosphorus, we are welcoming our visitors at our temporary space in Beyoğlu, where we are hosting a full program of events and exhibitions.
I would like to take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation to all the artists whose productions have added value to the world of art in Turkey and whose support has strengthened us throughout these years. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those individuals and institutions who have supported Istanbul Modern and to all those visitors who have made art an integral part of their lives.
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Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
No:1/1 Tophane İskele CaddesiWelcome to Istanbul Modern!
Istanbul Modern was founded in 2004 as Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. Committed to sharing Turkey’s artistic creativity and cultural identity with the local and international art worlds, the museum hosts a broad array of interdisciplinary activities.
Istanbul Modern embraces a global vision to collect, preserve, document and exhibit works of modern and contemporary art and make them accessible to the public at large. The museum offers a variety of cultural activities in its permanent and temporary exhibition halls, photography gallery, spaces for educational and social programs, library, cinema, café, and store.
Through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, the museum aims to instill a love of the arts in visitors from all walks of life and encourage their active participation in the arts. Established in a building occupying an 8,000 square meter site in Karaköy on the shores of the Bosphorus, where it hosted exhibitions and events for 14 years, Istanbul Modern has now moved to a temporary space in Beyoğlu, where it will welcome visitors from May 2018 onward for three years while its new building is being constructed.
From the Chair of the Board
It all began in 1987 with the dream of providing Istanbul with a museum of modern art. But it wasn’t until December 11, 2004, that we were able to open the doors of a venue that would further enrich the culture of our geography through contemporary art. That date represented the culmination of years of struggle.
Founded by the private sector, with the support of the public sector and local government, Istanbul Modern set out on its journey as Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art in Antrepo #4, a former customs warehouse in Karaköy. Our goal was to offer audiences the opportunity to see, learn about, enjoy and appreciate art and to observe its continual development. We wanted to establish a dynamic institution that would turn museum-going into a habit, increase the number and diversity of visitors, and keep their interest alive. Today, I can proudly say that we have succeeded in achieving this goal.
While providing a venue for exhibiting Turkey’s multicultural heritage and universal values, we have also become a symbol of Istanbul, of the transformation in contemporary art, and of our country’s modern identity.
Our collection and temporary exhibition halls, photography gallery, video area, library, cinema, educational activities, store, and café provide a comprehensive space for living that invites visitors both to witness what is produced and to produce themselves.
Our activities and events in design, architecture, new media, performance, literature and other disciplines are contributing to the development of future audiences. We are also contributing to the promotion of Turkey abroad and cultural tourism through exhibitions we organize in major museums around the world.
In line with our vision of raising new generations to love art, we have created opportunities for hundreds and thousands of children and young people to learn about and produce art.
Extending our reach beyond national boundaries, Istanbul Modern has partnered with prominent art institutions around the world on international exhibitions and museum programs. Our long-running architectural collaboration with MoMA and educational collaboration with the Centre Pompidou are continuously renewed, offering our visitors completely new experiences.
Energized by the unique and brand-new synergy it creates, Istanbul Modern proudly continues its journey with the support of its members, whose number increases by the day.
Today, Istanbul Modern is 14 years old... and we are counting down the days to a brand-new beginning, filled with the optimism that comes from touching the lives of millions of visitors through their encounters with art. While our new museum building designed by Renzo Piano is being constructed at our original site on the Bosphorus, we are welcoming our visitors at our temporary space in Beyoğlu, where we are hosting a full program of events and exhibitions.
I would like to take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation to all the artists whose productions have added value to the world of art in Turkey and whose support has strengthened us throughout these years. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those individuals and institutions who have supported Istanbul Modern and to all those visitors who have made art an integral part of their lives.
Situated in the Sariyer, district of Istanbul, Emirgan Park covers the area of 47.2 hectare which is surrogated high walls. Previously named as ‘’Feridun Gardens,’’ that area was called Emirgan Park anymore. Because the park was given by Ottoman Emperor Murat IV as a present to Persian Emir Gune Han (Ameer Gune Khan) in 17th century. Then it was presented by Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz to Khedive of Egypt Ismail Pasha in 19th century. As it is seen that for centuries, it has passed into other people’s hands.
Once you step into that magnificent park, you feel yourself in metaphysical world due to breathtaking scenery combining with the seaside; don’t be shocked if you encounter a friendly siquirrel with a nut in its hands. They climb the trees and play with the visitors.
Today, it is possible to find quiet places, to watch its charming landscape towards Bosphorus, to lie down and take a sunbath and to read a book on the grass within the park.
Also sometimes people can have a picnic here; you should take a sandwich and a cup tea when you come to the fascinating park. If you want to run, you can do it by watching the sea and by listening the voices of the chirpy birds. Except for those features, there are located three excellent Pavilions; they are Yellow, Pink and White Pavilions.
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Πάρκο Εμίργκαν
Emirgan SokakSituated in the Sariyer, district of Istanbul, Emirgan Park covers the area of 47.2 hectare which is surrogated high walls. Previously named as ‘’Feridun Gardens,’’ that area was called Emirgan Park anymore. Because the park was given by Ottoman Emperor Murat IV as a present to Persian Emir Gune Han (Ameer Gune Khan) in 17th century. Then it was presented by Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz to Khedive of Egypt Ismail Pasha in 19th century. As it is seen that for centuries, it has passed into other people’s hands.
Once you step into that magnificent park, you feel yourself in metaphysical world due to breathtaking scenery combining with the seaside; don’t be shocked if you encounter a friendly siquirrel with a nut in its hands. They climb the trees and play with the visitors.
Today, it is possible to find quiet places, to watch its charming landscape towards Bosphorus, to lie down and take a sunbath and to read a book on the grass within the park.
Also sometimes people can have a picnic here; you should take a sandwich and a cup tea when you come to the fascinating park. If you want to run, you can do it by watching the sea and by listening the voices of the chirpy birds. Except for those features, there are located three excellent Pavilions; they are Yellow, Pink and White Pavilions.
If you're searching for a sense of wilderness in the midst of Istanbul's great mosques, lively bazaars, and cramped dolmuş rides, then your nearest and dearest opportunity would be Belgrad Forest. Just northwest of the city, this 55,000 hectare proliferation of protected woodland provides plenty of hiking, mountain biking, and summer shade for when the days are hot and the thought of a crowded beach makes you squirm.
A very popular area for barbecues, with numerous picnic spots and even an on-site cafe, you'll find Belgrad (Belgrade in English) to be a place of both leisure and activity. There is a 6 km footpath that surrounds a central lake that is a favorite for runners, while there are also a number of unmarked trails that are a rare opportunity for mountain bikers in this metropolis of 17 million people. If you're up for little exploring, there's a massive aqueduct near the road that used to be an Ottoman water supply system that led all the way to Taksim Square, while you'll also encounter the scattered remains of a community formed hundreds of years ago by displaced Serbians from the city of Belgrade.
Getting to and from the forest may be a little tough if you don't have a rental car; a cab ride is decently cheap from Haciosman, while buses depart from various points in Istanbul to Bahcekoy, which is a moderate walk from the park entrance. Check out the included informational links for more.
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Belgrad Forest
If you're searching for a sense of wilderness in the midst of Istanbul's great mosques, lively bazaars, and cramped dolmuş rides, then your nearest and dearest opportunity would be Belgrad Forest. Just northwest of the city, this 55,000 hectare proliferation of protected woodland provides plenty of hiking, mountain biking, and summer shade for when the days are hot and the thought of a crowded beach makes you squirm.
A very popular area for barbecues, with numerous picnic spots and even an on-site cafe, you'll find Belgrad (Belgrade in English) to be a place of both leisure and activity. There is a 6 km footpath that surrounds a central lake that is a favorite for runners, while there are also a number of unmarked trails that are a rare opportunity for mountain bikers in this metropolis of 17 million people. If you're up for little exploring, there's a massive aqueduct near the road that used to be an Ottoman water supply system that led all the way to Taksim Square, while you'll also encounter the scattered remains of a community formed hundreds of years ago by displaced Serbians from the city of Belgrade.
Getting to and from the forest may be a little tough if you don't have a rental car; a cab ride is decently cheap from Haciosman, while buses depart from various points in Istanbul to Bahcekoy, which is a moderate walk from the park entrance. Check out the included informational links for more.
Bring a rug, grab some food and enjoy a picnic under the trees. Locals flock to the city’s green spaces on sunny days, so arrive early to get a good spot. You can also eat and drink at the pavilions – the restaurants are pleasant and they boast pretty Bosphorus views.
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Πάρκο Γιλντίζ
Çırağan CaddesiBring a rug, grab some food and enjoy a picnic under the trees. Locals flock to the city’s green spaces on sunny days, so arrive early to get a good spot. You can also eat and drink at the pavilions – the restaurants are pleasant and they boast pretty Bosphorus views.
The Maçka Democracy Park is located in Şişli, on the Maçka Valley, and covers an area of 156,671 square meters. The first reference to a park in the valley dates from the 19th century, when the area along the stream, that runs through the valley, was used as a recreation spot.
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Maçka Democracy Park
Mim Kemal Öke CaddesiThe Maçka Democracy Park is located in Şişli, on the Maçka Valley, and covers an area of 156,671 square meters. The first reference to a park in the valley dates from the 19th century, when the area along the stream, that runs through the valley, was used as a recreation spot.
Bagdat Street located on the Asian side of Istanbul is a noteworthy part of the city, which brings so much life to the city. The street, also known as Bagdat Caddesi, is an area that is an upper class residential area. Bagdat Street is well known for its posh and glamorous shops, which highlight local and international fashion brands. Bagdat Street is the home to a number of shopping malls, department stores, both local and international gourmet and cuisine restaurants. Something to suit all taste buds! There are also some cafes and pubs for those who like to keep things casual and easy going. Most of the stores that stretch out onto Bagdat Street are open almost on a daily basis, and this gives the visitors and happy shoppers a chance to widen their shopping options. These shops and stores are open even on a Sunday afternoon when most outlets are closed for the day. Bagdat Street stretches out on a 6km stretch and is almost parallel with the coastline of the Sea of Marmara. There is easy access to transportation after spending even a short time paving around the street.
Bagdat Street is located in Maltepe, and the name “Bagdat” literally comes from the word “Baghdad”. The avenue has a one-way traffic street and it can be seen as the counterpart of Istiklal Avenue, which is on the European side when it comes to its importance and high standards. As the main street in an upper-scale residential area, the avenue is always busy and full of life even on a weekday, although the weekend definitely stands out as being the most glamorous and energy filled atmosphere. Despite being urban and modern, the avenue has old plane trees, which flank the elegant shops, which offer the best world famous brands, alongside some of the best restaurants, which serve the best dishes. The avenue also has the best luxury car dealers and bank agencies. The avenue is also recognized as a large open-air shopping mall, and so bargains and negotiations are just the cherry on top for those who love to shop until they literally drop.
Young people use Bagdat Street as a hang out spot as they meet up over the weekend for social events and to spend time together. There is of course the case of traffic congestion but that is only reasonable after considering how busy Bagdat Street is on a daily basis. A former cultural habit of Bagdat Street is street racing, which was started in the 1960’s. Young wealthy men raced their fancy imported muscular cars and showed off their high-end lives that most people can only admire from a distance. This is no longer the case as there were a number of fatal accidents and there was now intense police patrol. Transportation is not an issue in the Bagdat area as there is a variety of transportation alternatives other than buses and taxes. A regional rail runs just north of the avenue and can transport you from one point in the district to another. There is also the traditional commuter ferry as a mode of transport in the area and it is used to connect with the European side of the city and the Princes’ Islands.
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Bağdat Avenue
Bağdat CaddesiBagdat Street located on the Asian side of Istanbul is a noteworthy part of the city, which brings so much life to the city. The street, also known as Bagdat Caddesi, is an area that is an upper class residential area. Bagdat Street is well known for its posh and glamorous shops, which highlight local and international fashion brands. Bagdat Street is the home to a number of shopping malls, department stores, both local and international gourmet and cuisine restaurants. Something to suit all taste buds! There are also some cafes and pubs for those who like to keep things casual and easy going. Most of the stores that stretch out onto Bagdat Street are open almost on a daily basis, and this gives the visitors and happy shoppers a chance to widen their shopping options. These shops and stores are open even on a Sunday afternoon when most outlets are closed for the day. Bagdat Street stretches out on a 6km stretch and is almost parallel with the coastline of the Sea of Marmara. There is easy access to transportation after spending even a short time paving around the street.
Bagdat Street is located in Maltepe, and the name “Bagdat” literally comes from the word “Baghdad”. The avenue has a one-way traffic street and it can be seen as the counterpart of Istiklal Avenue, which is on the European side when it comes to its importance and high standards. As the main street in an upper-scale residential area, the avenue is always busy and full of life even on a weekday, although the weekend definitely stands out as being the most glamorous and energy filled atmosphere. Despite being urban and modern, the avenue has old plane trees, which flank the elegant shops, which offer the best world famous brands, alongside some of the best restaurants, which serve the best dishes. The avenue also has the best luxury car dealers and bank agencies. The avenue is also recognized as a large open-air shopping mall, and so bargains and negotiations are just the cherry on top for those who love to shop until they literally drop.
Young people use Bagdat Street as a hang out spot as they meet up over the weekend for social events and to spend time together. There is of course the case of traffic congestion but that is only reasonable after considering how busy Bagdat Street is on a daily basis. A former cultural habit of Bagdat Street is street racing, which was started in the 1960’s. Young wealthy men raced their fancy imported muscular cars and showed off their high-end lives that most people can only admire from a distance. This is no longer the case as there were a number of fatal accidents and there was now intense police patrol. Transportation is not an issue in the Bagdat area as there is a variety of transportation alternatives other than buses and taxes. A regional rail runs just north of the avenue and can transport you from one point in the district to another. There is also the traditional commuter ferry as a mode of transport in the area and it is used to connect with the European side of the city and the Princes’ Islands.
Semtler
Eminönü is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Istanbul, located in the center of Old City area. Until April 2008, it used to be one of the 32 main districts of the city but with a new regulation in city planning now there are 39 districts and Eminonu is not one of them anymore, it's just a neighborhood today within Fatih district. Being at the entrance of the Golden Horn, the old harbor next to the Sea of Marmara, Eminönü was always an important site since the Byzantine times until today, it was the hub of ancient Constantinople. The city started to grow from this point, thus some of the oldest neighborhoods are located near Eminonu today: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karaköy, Süleymaniye, Cagaloglu, Cemberlitas, Beyazit, Kumkapi, and so on.
During the late Ottoman period, a big train station where the Orient Express used to come and other impressive stone buildings such as Post Office were built in the area. Eminönü continued to be a busy center throught these ages as well.
During the Republic period, roads were widened, a large square was opened, Galata bridge was replaced with a bigger one, Spice market was re-organized, and a tram line was built. Today, Eminönü is one of the busiest neighborhoods of Istanbul and it attracts lots of tourists and local people to its bazaars and other historic sites. It has only 55,000 residents but during the day time it goes up to 2 million people.
The name of the neighborhood comes from Ottoman period, when there were many Maritime Customs and the Customs Superintendent offices (Emin in Turkish) in the neighborhood. And "önü" means "in front of", so this was a neighborhood of courts and customs.
There are several tourist sites in Eminönü such as Ottoman mosques, palaces, old bazaars, churches, and several museums. Some of the important historical and touristic monuments within its boundaries are: Sultanahmet Square (ancient Hippodrome) with the Serpentine Column and Stone Obelisk and Egyptian Obelisk, Bayezit Square (Forum Theodosii of the Byzantines), Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene Church, Little St. Sophia (ancient S. Sergius and Bacchus church), Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan today), Topkapi Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Blue Mosque, Beyazit Mosque, Shehzade Mosque, Yeni Mosque, Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Laleli Mosque, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Gulhane Park, Istanbul University, and so on.
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Eminönü
Eminönü is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Istanbul, located in the center of Old City area. Until April 2008, it used to be one of the 32 main districts of the city but with a new regulation in city planning now there are 39 districts and Eminonu is not one of them anymore, it's just a neighborhood today within Fatih district. Being at the entrance of the Golden Horn, the old harbor next to the Sea of Marmara, Eminönü was always an important site since the Byzantine times until today, it was the hub of ancient Constantinople. The city started to grow from this point, thus some of the oldest neighborhoods are located near Eminonu today: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karaköy, Süleymaniye, Cagaloglu, Cemberlitas, Beyazit, Kumkapi, and so on.
During the late Ottoman period, a big train station where the Orient Express used to come and other impressive stone buildings such as Post Office were built in the area. Eminönü continued to be a busy center throught these ages as well.
During the Republic period, roads were widened, a large square was opened, Galata bridge was replaced with a bigger one, Spice market was re-organized, and a tram line was built. Today, Eminönü is one of the busiest neighborhoods of Istanbul and it attracts lots of tourists and local people to its bazaars and other historic sites. It has only 55,000 residents but during the day time it goes up to 2 million people.
The name of the neighborhood comes from Ottoman period, when there were many Maritime Customs and the Customs Superintendent offices (Emin in Turkish) in the neighborhood. And "önü" means "in front of", so this was a neighborhood of courts and customs.
There are several tourist sites in Eminönü such as Ottoman mosques, palaces, old bazaars, churches, and several museums. Some of the important historical and touristic monuments within its boundaries are: Sultanahmet Square (ancient Hippodrome) with the Serpentine Column and Stone Obelisk and Egyptian Obelisk, Bayezit Square (Forum Theodosii of the Byzantines), Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene Church, Little St. Sophia (ancient S. Sergius and Bacchus church), Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan today), Topkapi Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Blue Mosque, Beyazit Mosque, Shehzade Mosque, Yeni Mosque, Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Laleli Mosque, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Gulhane Park, Istanbul University, and so on.
Like with every gentrified district, once upon a time Karaköy was a central but lower neighbourhood where many machine shops and tradesman stores can be found. With time, artists and creative people discovered the potential of the district and came to dwell into the neighborhood to open their ateliers and hip cafe/bars — one by one.
Today, Karaköy is the most gentrified quarter of Istanbul, where many beautifully and mostly industrially designed hipster restaurants, cafes and bars are to be found.
But another, and my favourite, side of this hip neighbourhood is the following: Karaköy is a street art heaven. The graffiti that used be found in solitary streets are now all around the neighborhood. If you find a blank wall or surface, come and visit a couple of days later; it will most probably have been painted. Those graffiti artists even made an art installation over the most central corner of the neighborhood by using their used paint cans (check out the picture and pin on the map).
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Karaköy
Like with every gentrified district, once upon a time Karaköy was a central but lower neighbourhood where many machine shops and tradesman stores can be found. With time, artists and creative people discovered the potential of the district and came to dwell into the neighborhood to open their ateliers and hip cafe/bars — one by one.
Today, Karaköy is the most gentrified quarter of Istanbul, where many beautifully and mostly industrially designed hipster restaurants, cafes and bars are to be found.
But another, and my favourite, side of this hip neighbourhood is the following: Karaköy is a street art heaven. The graffiti that used be found in solitary streets are now all around the neighborhood. If you find a blank wall or surface, come and visit a couple of days later; it will most probably have been painted. Those graffiti artists even made an art installation over the most central corner of the neighborhood by using their used paint cans (check out the picture and pin on the map).
Besiktas is one of the oldest districts and neighborhoods of Istanbul, located on the European side of the city. It's also considered as one of the city centers, both residential and commercial especially for small businesses. At the same time, besides having a major public bus and dolmus terminal, Besiktas is also one of the sea hubs on the Bosphorus from which boats depart for various neighborhoods on the shores of the Asian side.
According to the old sources, the Ottomans called the area as "Bestas" (five stones) probably derived from 5 columns piled into the coast to moore the ships. But Besiktas literaly means "cradle stone" in Turkish and there are other stories about the origins of this name dating back to the Byzantine period. We know that Besiktas became an important residential area after the Conquest of Constantinople when the Ottomans put an end to the pirates coming from the Black Sea and plundering villages outside of the Byzantine city walls.
According to the census of 2000, the population of Besiktas is about 191.000 and it contains some of the best-known neighborhoods of Istanbul: Bebek, Etiler, Levent, Arnavutkoy, Ortakoy, Ulus, Nisantasi, etc. Several museums and palaces are also located within the boundries of this large district (11.000 square kilometers or 4.247 square miles); Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Palace, Ciragan Palace, Feriye Palaces, Ihlamur Pavilion, Naval museum, Barbarossa's mausoleum, and so on. Besiktas has many universities and their faculties within the district as well. Some of the 5-star hotels can be found in Besiktas too; Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Four Seasons the Bosphorus (opening by the end of 2007), Conrad International, The Plaza, and Dedeman are some of them. You can also pay a visit to the local market in the district center which covers a large area.
In the Barbaros Square next to the mausoleum of Barbarossa and the Naval museum, young skateboarders gather to practice their tricks, or sometimes small concerts have being organized. Besiktas has also one of the oldest football (soccer) clubs of Istanbul who plays in the Turkish Premiere League; Besiktas or known as BJK, and nicknamed as "Black Eagles".
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Beşiktaş
Besiktas is one of the oldest districts and neighborhoods of Istanbul, located on the European side of the city. It's also considered as one of the city centers, both residential and commercial especially for small businesses. At the same time, besides having a major public bus and dolmus terminal, Besiktas is also one of the sea hubs on the Bosphorus from which boats depart for various neighborhoods on the shores of the Asian side.
According to the old sources, the Ottomans called the area as "Bestas" (five stones) probably derived from 5 columns piled into the coast to moore the ships. But Besiktas literaly means "cradle stone" in Turkish and there are other stories about the origins of this name dating back to the Byzantine period. We know that Besiktas became an important residential area after the Conquest of Constantinople when the Ottomans put an end to the pirates coming from the Black Sea and plundering villages outside of the Byzantine city walls.
According to the census of 2000, the population of Besiktas is about 191.000 and it contains some of the best-known neighborhoods of Istanbul: Bebek, Etiler, Levent, Arnavutkoy, Ortakoy, Ulus, Nisantasi, etc. Several museums and palaces are also located within the boundries of this large district (11.000 square kilometers or 4.247 square miles); Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Palace, Ciragan Palace, Feriye Palaces, Ihlamur Pavilion, Naval museum, Barbarossa's mausoleum, and so on. Besiktas has many universities and their faculties within the district as well. Some of the 5-star hotels can be found in Besiktas too; Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Four Seasons the Bosphorus (opening by the end of 2007), Conrad International, The Plaza, and Dedeman are some of them. You can also pay a visit to the local market in the district center which covers a large area.
In the Barbaros Square next to the mausoleum of Barbarossa and the Naval museum, young skateboarders gather to practice their tricks, or sometimes small concerts have being organized. Besiktas has also one of the oldest football (soccer) clubs of Istanbul who plays in the Turkish Premiere League; Besiktas or known as BJK, and nicknamed as "Black Eagles".
Ortakoy is one of the nicest neighborhoods of Besiktas districts in the European side of Istanbul on the Bosphorus Strait, right under the first Bosphorus bridge. In Turkish it means "middle village" because it was in the middle of the strait, and during the Ottoman period it was just a small fishing village and a resort for the Ottoman dignitaries because of its attractive location. After many years, the district is still a popular spot for local people and foreign visitors.
Ortakoy has many cafeterias and tea houses around a square near the water or in the alleys, moderate or expensive restaurants, bars, small shops and a market which gets very lively during the weekends. In the summer time there are even small size concerts or street shows etc. Many world class night clubs are also in this area, on the Bosphorus.
Ortakoy center lies within a triangle of a Muslim mosque, a Christian church, and a Jewish synagogue, witnessing the religious freedom and mosaic in Turkey as a secular state. Other interesting sites within Ortakoy district are: Ciragan Palace hotel which used to be a palace, Kabatas High School from late Ottoman period, Feriye restaurant which used be the hunting mansion of the sultans, Princess Hotel, Sortie night club and Reina night club. A small pier is connecting Ortakoy to other neighborhoods on the Asian side by passenger ferries.
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Ortaköy
Ortakoy is one of the nicest neighborhoods of Besiktas districts in the European side of Istanbul on the Bosphorus Strait, right under the first Bosphorus bridge. In Turkish it means "middle village" because it was in the middle of the strait, and during the Ottoman period it was just a small fishing village and a resort for the Ottoman dignitaries because of its attractive location. After many years, the district is still a popular spot for local people and foreign visitors.
Ortakoy has many cafeterias and tea houses around a square near the water or in the alleys, moderate or expensive restaurants, bars, small shops and a market which gets very lively during the weekends. In the summer time there are even small size concerts or street shows etc. Many world class night clubs are also in this area, on the Bosphorus.
Ortakoy center lies within a triangle of a Muslim mosque, a Christian church, and a Jewish synagogue, witnessing the religious freedom and mosaic in Turkey as a secular state. Other interesting sites within Ortakoy district are: Ciragan Palace hotel which used to be a palace, Kabatas High School from late Ottoman period, Feriye restaurant which used be the hunting mansion of the sultans, Princess Hotel, Sortie night club and Reina night club. A small pier is connecting Ortakoy to other neighborhoods on the Asian side by passenger ferries.
Bebek is one of the nicest neighbourhoods on the Bosphorus, located on the European side of Istanbul. This fine neighborhood within the Besiktas district is full of expensive waterside apartments, a small bay where yachts are anchored, fancy restaurants and quaint cafeterias which gets very busy especially during the weekends. But Bebek was a distinct area of Istanbul during the late Ottoman period as well, for its wealthy shore mansions surrounded by forests.
Bebek in Turkish means "baby", probabily derived from a Turkish saying "beautiful as a baby", to outline the beauty of a person or of a place. It's also said that the name comes from Bebek Çelebi, the head of the Law enforcement during the times of sultan Mehmed II, who was appointed to this area during the Conquest of Constantinople to control the security. Before the Ottoman era, these lands were known as Challae, Chilai, Khile, Skallia, or Hallai.
The Egyptian Consulate (Valide Pasha Mansion) is a large waterside building in Bebek. It was built in 1902 by the Italian architect Raimondo D'Aronco for an Ottoman minister, than sold to the Egyptian Embassy when Istanbul was still the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The Bosphorus University is located on the hills of Bebek and is one of the best universities of Turkey. The university was established in 1971 after the conversion from the Robert College, founded in 1863 by an American missionary and named after Christopher Robert. The Robert College still operates today as a highly appreciated highschool and is located between Arnavutkoy and Kurucesme neighborhoods, overlooking the Bosphorus.
Other important and historic buildings or sites in Bebek neighborhood are: Bebek mosque from 18th-19th century, Yilanli Yali (snake mansion) from 19th century, Kavafyan Mansion from 18th century, Ayse Sultan woods and kiosk, Ayios Haralambos Greek Ortodox church from 19th century, Kayalar Mescid (small mosque), Asiyan Park and Tevfik Fikret museum, Asiyan cemetary, Bebek Hotel from 1965, and a small wooden ferry pier. Just passed Bebek and Asiyan, you can visit the impressive Rumeli Fortress.
Several other fine neighborhoods can be found near Bebek, such as Etiler, Rumelihisar and Arnavutkoy.
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Bebek
Bebek is one of the nicest neighbourhoods on the Bosphorus, located on the European side of Istanbul. This fine neighborhood within the Besiktas district is full of expensive waterside apartments, a small bay where yachts are anchored, fancy restaurants and quaint cafeterias which gets very busy especially during the weekends. But Bebek was a distinct area of Istanbul during the late Ottoman period as well, for its wealthy shore mansions surrounded by forests.
Bebek in Turkish means "baby", probabily derived from a Turkish saying "beautiful as a baby", to outline the beauty of a person or of a place. It's also said that the name comes from Bebek Çelebi, the head of the Law enforcement during the times of sultan Mehmed II, who was appointed to this area during the Conquest of Constantinople to control the security. Before the Ottoman era, these lands were known as Challae, Chilai, Khile, Skallia, or Hallai.
The Egyptian Consulate (Valide Pasha Mansion) is a large waterside building in Bebek. It was built in 1902 by the Italian architect Raimondo D'Aronco for an Ottoman minister, than sold to the Egyptian Embassy when Istanbul was still the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The Bosphorus University is located on the hills of Bebek and is one of the best universities of Turkey. The university was established in 1971 after the conversion from the Robert College, founded in 1863 by an American missionary and named after Christopher Robert. The Robert College still operates today as a highly appreciated highschool and is located between Arnavutkoy and Kurucesme neighborhoods, overlooking the Bosphorus.
Other important and historic buildings or sites in Bebek neighborhood are: Bebek mosque from 18th-19th century, Yilanli Yali (snake mansion) from 19th century, Kavafyan Mansion from 18th century, Ayse Sultan woods and kiosk, Ayios Haralambos Greek Ortodox church from 19th century, Kayalar Mescid (small mosque), Asiyan Park and Tevfik Fikret museum, Asiyan cemetary, Bebek Hotel from 1965, and a small wooden ferry pier. Just passed Bebek and Asiyan, you can visit the impressive Rumeli Fortress.
Several other fine neighborhoods can be found near Bebek, such as Etiler, Rumelihisar and Arnavutkoy.
Kadikoy is one of the 32 districts in Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city, at the southern tip of the Bosphorus Strait opening to the Sea of Marmara. Before the foundation of Byzantium it was known as the "land of the blind" according to a legend and its ancient name was Chalcedon. Once prominent in the history of Christianity, it hosted important Ecumenical Council meetings in the 5th century.
Kadikoy is one of the fastest growing districts in Istanbul for the last 25 years, it has areas of up-market shopping with fashionable shops, fine dining and entertainment making it popular especially for wealthy local people. Nice promenades along the waterside, especially around the marinas and yacht clubs, add value to the district.
Baghdad Avenue is one of the most trendy shopping and dining place here, many cafeterias are full of locals and young people enjoying their life. Moda neighborhood is also famous for its restaurants and cafeterias. Kalamis and Fenerbahce neighborhoods have a nice marina and several yacht clubs, and there is a huge stadium of Fenerbahce soccer team here as well.
Haydarpasa Train Station, built in 1906 in the Prussian architectural style, is connecting Istanbul to the east of Turkey by railways. It was the last stop of the Istanbul-Baghdad railway. Next to the station, there is the commercial harbor of the city with many cranes and silos. Selimiye army barracks in Harem neighborhood and the Marmara high school are the most impressive buildings from late Ottoman period, besides Haydarpasa station. During the Crimean War in the 19th century, Florence Nightingale served at Selimiye as a nurse and today her room is preserved as a museum.
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Kadıköy
Kadikoy is one of the 32 districts in Istanbul, on the Asian side of the city, at the southern tip of the Bosphorus Strait opening to the Sea of Marmara. Before the foundation of Byzantium it was known as the "land of the blind" according to a legend and its ancient name was Chalcedon. Once prominent in the history of Christianity, it hosted important Ecumenical Council meetings in the 5th century.
Kadikoy is one of the fastest growing districts in Istanbul for the last 25 years, it has areas of up-market shopping with fashionable shops, fine dining and entertainment making it popular especially for wealthy local people. Nice promenades along the waterside, especially around the marinas and yacht clubs, add value to the district.
Baghdad Avenue is one of the most trendy shopping and dining place here, many cafeterias are full of locals and young people enjoying their life. Moda neighborhood is also famous for its restaurants and cafeterias. Kalamis and Fenerbahce neighborhoods have a nice marina and several yacht clubs, and there is a huge stadium of Fenerbahce soccer team here as well.
Haydarpasa Train Station, built in 1906 in the Prussian architectural style, is connecting Istanbul to the east of Turkey by railways. It was the last stop of the Istanbul-Baghdad railway. Next to the station, there is the commercial harbor of the city with many cranes and silos. Selimiye army barracks in Harem neighborhood and the Marmara high school are the most impressive buildings from late Ottoman period, besides Haydarpasa station. During the Crimean War in the 19th century, Florence Nightingale served at Selimiye as a nurse and today her room is preserved as a museum.
This posh and residential neighborhood is a favorite among the young crowd of Istanbul for shopping, dining and let’s be honest- to see and to be seen.
Many high-end fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Christian Louboutin have their stores in this neighborhood alongside Turkish department stores Beymen and Vakko and popular fashion brands.
Most of the cafés have tables on the sidewalks, perfect for an afternoon of people watching over a cup of coffee.
But Nişantaşı isn’t just for shopping and dining. It also has a very laid back feel to it once you start discovering the side streets. Many families have lived here for generations and small businesses such as butchers, produce shops, corner stores, barbershops and tea houses still operate successfully.
Easily accessible from the city center, we recommend spending half a day here when you get a little tired of the sight seeing.
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Nişantaşı
This posh and residential neighborhood is a favorite among the young crowd of Istanbul for shopping, dining and let’s be honest- to see and to be seen.
Many high-end fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Christian Louboutin have their stores in this neighborhood alongside Turkish department stores Beymen and Vakko and popular fashion brands.
Most of the cafés have tables on the sidewalks, perfect for an afternoon of people watching over a cup of coffee.
But Nişantaşı isn’t just for shopping and dining. It also has a very laid back feel to it once you start discovering the side streets. Many families have lived here for generations and small businesses such as butchers, produce shops, corner stores, barbershops and tea houses still operate successfully.
Easily accessible from the city center, we recommend spending half a day here when you get a little tired of the sight seeing.
Sightseeing
Caddebostan Coast (Caddebostan Sahili) is a long stretch of beach, about a kilometer, where anyone can enjoy swimming or sunbathing. During the day the beach offers all the typical things, like chairs, umbrellas, lifeguards, eateries for food and drink.
The beach is surrounded by ancient wooded houses, and the grass here is green. It is also really nice to visit in the afternoons and evenings. Istanbul's residents love this place, nothing better than sitting here on a warm summer night.
If it's a picnic on the grass, volleyball on the sand, or a walk or a run - this is a wonderful way to spend an evening. One of the nice things is that you can see the Prince's Islands in the distance.
Tips
Trying getting here by sunset, and bring some snacks and drinks with you for a calm Istanbul-like evening.
Near the parking lot is a supermarket, where you can buy anything you need.
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Caddebostan Dalyan Park
Caddebostan Sahil YoluCaddebostan Coast (Caddebostan Sahili) is a long stretch of beach, about a kilometer, where anyone can enjoy swimming or sunbathing. During the day the beach offers all the typical things, like chairs, umbrellas, lifeguards, eateries for food and drink.
The beach is surrounded by ancient wooded houses, and the grass here is green. It is also really nice to visit in the afternoons and evenings. Istanbul's residents love this place, nothing better than sitting here on a warm summer night.
If it's a picnic on the grass, volleyball on the sand, or a walk or a run - this is a wonderful way to spend an evening. One of the nice things is that you can see the Prince's Islands in the distance.
Tips
Trying getting here by sunset, and bring some snacks and drinks with you for a calm Istanbul-like evening.
Near the parking lot is a supermarket, where you can buy anything you need.
Moda Sahil Yolu
Moda Sahil YoluKizkulesi is located off the coast of Salacak neighborhood in Üsküdar district, at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus. It literally means "Maiden's Tower" in Turkish. The name comes from a legend: the Byzantine emperor heard a prophecy telling him that his beloved daughter would die at the age of 18 by a snake. So he decided to put her in this tower built on a rock on the Bosphorus isolated from the land thus no snake could kill her. But she couldn't escape from her destiny after all, a snake hidden in a fruit basket brought from the city bit the princess and killed her.
Another legend wrongly mentions Hero and Leander in the tower, therefore some people wrongly call it "Leander's Tower", a sad love story told by Ovidius: Hero was one of the priestess of Aphrodite living in the tower. One day she left the tower to attend a ceremony in the temple where she met Leandros and they fall in love with each other. Leandros swam to the tower every night to visit his love, meanwhile she was holding a torch to guide him in the dark waters towards her in the tower. But on a stormy night Leandros couldn't see the light because it was put out by the winds, and he swam all night loosing his way until he was drowned. Hero, seeing that her lover died, she also jumped into the water and suicided. Some people narrate this love story as it was happened on the Bosphorus, but in fact it's a legend from the Dardanelles, when Leandros was swimming to Hero between Abydos (today's Eceabat) and Sestus (today's Canakkale city).
Kizkulesi on the BosphorusKizkulesi is dating back to the 5th century BC when it was built by the Athenian general Alcibiades on a rock at the entrance of the Bosphorus for the surveillance of the waterway. A chain was pulled from the land to the tower to make it a checkpoint and customs area for the ships going through. After several restorations in wood and stone, Emperor Alexius Comnenos built a strong defense tower in the 12th century AD calling it Arcla, meaning "Small Tower". The tower was used as a lighthouse and control tower also during the Ottoman period after the Conquest of Constantinople. Final restoration was done in 1998 and opened as a restaurant after spending around 3million US dollars.
The tower was featured in one of the James Bond movies in 1999; "The world is not enough", where the terrorists placed a nuclear submarine underneath the tower to be exploded in the heart of the city and where "M" (Judi Dench) was imprisoned by an oil tycoon's daughter (Sophie Marceu) which Bond (Pierce Brosnan) had to kill her.
Today, Kizkulesi is a very popular and classy restaurant and cafeteria-bar. It offers 360 degree views of the Bosphorus and the old city, especially at night. There are several shuttle boats going to the tower at certain times from Kabatas neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul and from Salacak neighborhood on the Asian side. It's also a popular place for summer time weddings. The tower is closed on Mondays.
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Πύργος της Παρθένου
Salacak MevkiiKizkulesi is located off the coast of Salacak neighborhood in Üsküdar district, at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus. It literally means "Maiden's Tower" in Turkish. The name comes from a legend: the Byzantine emperor heard a prophecy telling him that his beloved daughter would die at the age of 18 by a snake. So he decided to put her in this tower built on a rock on the Bosphorus isolated from the land thus no snake could kill her. But she couldn't escape from her destiny after all, a snake hidden in a fruit basket brought from the city bit the princess and killed her.
Another legend wrongly mentions Hero and Leander in the tower, therefore some people wrongly call it "Leander's Tower", a sad love story told by Ovidius: Hero was one of the priestess of Aphrodite living in the tower. One day she left the tower to attend a ceremony in the temple where she met Leandros and they fall in love with each other. Leandros swam to the tower every night to visit his love, meanwhile she was holding a torch to guide him in the dark waters towards her in the tower. But on a stormy night Leandros couldn't see the light because it was put out by the winds, and he swam all night loosing his way until he was drowned. Hero, seeing that her lover died, she also jumped into the water and suicided. Some people narrate this love story as it was happened on the Bosphorus, but in fact it's a legend from the Dardanelles, when Leandros was swimming to Hero between Abydos (today's Eceabat) and Sestus (today's Canakkale city).
Kizkulesi on the BosphorusKizkulesi is dating back to the 5th century BC when it was built by the Athenian general Alcibiades on a rock at the entrance of the Bosphorus for the surveillance of the waterway. A chain was pulled from the land to the tower to make it a checkpoint and customs area for the ships going through. After several restorations in wood and stone, Emperor Alexius Comnenos built a strong defense tower in the 12th century AD calling it Arcla, meaning "Small Tower". The tower was used as a lighthouse and control tower also during the Ottoman period after the Conquest of Constantinople. Final restoration was done in 1998 and opened as a restaurant after spending around 3million US dollars.
The tower was featured in one of the James Bond movies in 1999; "The world is not enough", where the terrorists placed a nuclear submarine underneath the tower to be exploded in the heart of the city and where "M" (Judi Dench) was imprisoned by an oil tycoon's daughter (Sophie Marceu) which Bond (Pierce Brosnan) had to kill her.
Today, Kizkulesi is a very popular and classy restaurant and cafeteria-bar. It offers 360 degree views of the Bosphorus and the old city, especially at night. There are several shuttle boats going to the tower at certain times from Kabatas neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul and from Salacak neighborhood on the Asian side. It's also a popular place for summer time weddings. The tower is closed on Mondays.
Bosphorus is a natural strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, thus being a very strategic waterway. It was a river in the valley during the Tertiary period of the continents, which was drowned by the sea at the end of this period. It's length is 32 kilometers (20 miles) in the north to south direction, width varies between 730-3300 meters (800-3600 yards), and depth is between 30-120 meters (100-395 feet). Bosphorus strait separates the European part from the Asian part of Istanbul. The surface current flows always from north to south; however, a strong countercurrent under the surface creates swirls and eddies.
Bosphorus Strait and Rumeli Fortress - click to enlarge Bosphorus comes from a Thracian word which means "passage of the cow", deriving from the legend of Io who was one of many lovers of Zeus. When Hera, Zeus' wife, suspected her husband being involved in a love affair with Io, Zeus converted Io in a small cow and tried to send her away from Hera's rage. She (the cow) swam across the strait but Hera discovered it and she sent big flies after the cow to bite and disturb her all the time, ending Io in the Aegean Sea (thus named Ionian sea).
Bosphorus in Turkish is known as Bogazici, meaning "inner strait". Since the ancient times it held always an important role because of its strategic location, being the only passage from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean, along with the Dardanelles strait. Especially during the Cold War, the straits were crucial for Soviet navy.
Bosphorus is a very busy waterway with many ships and oil tankers going through it, as well as local fishing and ferries go to the Asian side back and forth. Around 48.000 ships pass through this strait annually, three times denser than the Suez Canal traffic and four times denser than the Panama Canal. Approximately 55 million tones of oil are shipped through the strait each year.
There are three suspension bridges on the Bosphorus connecting Europe to Asia (or vice versa). The first one is known as "Bosphorus Bridge" and was opened on 29th October 1973 between Beylerbeyi and Ortakoy neighborhoods. This bridge's name was changed into "Martyrs of July 15th" dedicated to the victims of the coup attemp on 15th of July 2016. It's 1074 meters (1175 yards) long between two pillars, has 6 lanes, 165 meters (540 feet) height of piers. The second one is known as "Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge" (or FSM Bridge shortly) and was opened in 3rd July 1988 between Anadolu Hisari and Rumeli Hisari neighborhoods. This one is 1090 meters (1192 yards) long, has 8 lanes, and is 65 meters high from the water surface. The FSM bridge is a part of TEM highway (Trans European Motorway) between Ankara and Edirne provinces. The third one is known as "Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge" (or YSS Bridge shortly) and was opened in 26th of August 2016 between Garipce and Poyrazkoy neighborhoods along the shores of the strait. It's one of the longest and highest suspension bridges in the World; 1408 meters (1540 yards) long between 322 meters-high pillars, is 59 meters (65 yards) wide with 8 lanes for motor vehicles + 2 lanes for trains. A new highway is built on both sides of the 3rd bridge for intercontinental trade and commuter traffic. All three bridges are tolled which is paid during the passage to the Asian direction only. On the suspension bridges only vehicles with electronic pass system (called OGS or HGS) are accepted, no cash. No bicycles nor pedestrian traffic is allowed on them.
The tunnel between Uskudar and Yenikapi neighborhoods was put into service in October 2013. It's a big project constructed by Japanese companies, which is delayed for 4 years due to technical reasons and archaeological findings. This tunnel connects only railways / subway between Europe and Asia, not motor vehicles. Another one under the water, a two-level and 5,4 kilometers (3,3 miles) long tunnel runs between Kazlicesme neighborhood in Europe and Goztepe neighborhood in Asia. This project is called "Eurasia tunnel" and was opened in December 2016, used by cars and minibuses only, no motorbikes nor heavy traffic or pedestrians are allowed. More tunnels under the sea are planned in the future.
Bosphorus is one of the most popular areas of Istanbul for its inhabitants, especially during Summer for its climate. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants, cafeterias, and so on.
Some of the interesting neighborhoods on the Bosphorus are: Besiktas, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumelihisar, Emirgan, Tarabya, Yeniköy, Istinye, Sariyer, Üsküdar, Kanlica, Beykoz, Anadoluhisar, Beylerbeyi, Cengelköy, and many others. Best way to see these sites would be taking a nice boat trip along the Bosphorus.
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Bosphorus
Bosphorus is a natural strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, thus being a very strategic waterway. It was a river in the valley during the Tertiary period of the continents, which was drowned by the sea at the end of this period. It's length is 32 kilometers (20 miles) in the north to south direction, width varies between 730-3300 meters (800-3600 yards), and depth is between 30-120 meters (100-395 feet). Bosphorus strait separates the European part from the Asian part of Istanbul. The surface current flows always from north to south; however, a strong countercurrent under the surface creates swirls and eddies.
Bosphorus Strait and Rumeli Fortress - click to enlarge Bosphorus comes from a Thracian word which means "passage of the cow", deriving from the legend of Io who was one of many lovers of Zeus. When Hera, Zeus' wife, suspected her husband being involved in a love affair with Io, Zeus converted Io in a small cow and tried to send her away from Hera's rage. She (the cow) swam across the strait but Hera discovered it and she sent big flies after the cow to bite and disturb her all the time, ending Io in the Aegean Sea (thus named Ionian sea).
Bosphorus in Turkish is known as Bogazici, meaning "inner strait". Since the ancient times it held always an important role because of its strategic location, being the only passage from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean, along with the Dardanelles strait. Especially during the Cold War, the straits were crucial for Soviet navy.
Bosphorus is a very busy waterway with many ships and oil tankers going through it, as well as local fishing and ferries go to the Asian side back and forth. Around 48.000 ships pass through this strait annually, three times denser than the Suez Canal traffic and four times denser than the Panama Canal. Approximately 55 million tones of oil are shipped through the strait each year.
There are three suspension bridges on the Bosphorus connecting Europe to Asia (or vice versa). The first one is known as "Bosphorus Bridge" and was opened on 29th October 1973 between Beylerbeyi and Ortakoy neighborhoods. This bridge's name was changed into "Martyrs of July 15th" dedicated to the victims of the coup attemp on 15th of July 2016. It's 1074 meters (1175 yards) long between two pillars, has 6 lanes, 165 meters (540 feet) height of piers. The second one is known as "Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge" (or FSM Bridge shortly) and was opened in 3rd July 1988 between Anadolu Hisari and Rumeli Hisari neighborhoods. This one is 1090 meters (1192 yards) long, has 8 lanes, and is 65 meters high from the water surface. The FSM bridge is a part of TEM highway (Trans European Motorway) between Ankara and Edirne provinces. The third one is known as "Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge" (or YSS Bridge shortly) and was opened in 26th of August 2016 between Garipce and Poyrazkoy neighborhoods along the shores of the strait. It's one of the longest and highest suspension bridges in the World; 1408 meters (1540 yards) long between 322 meters-high pillars, is 59 meters (65 yards) wide with 8 lanes for motor vehicles + 2 lanes for trains. A new highway is built on both sides of the 3rd bridge for intercontinental trade and commuter traffic. All three bridges are tolled which is paid during the passage to the Asian direction only. On the suspension bridges only vehicles with electronic pass system (called OGS or HGS) are accepted, no cash. No bicycles nor pedestrian traffic is allowed on them.
The tunnel between Uskudar and Yenikapi neighborhoods was put into service in October 2013. It's a big project constructed by Japanese companies, which is delayed for 4 years due to technical reasons and archaeological findings. This tunnel connects only railways / subway between Europe and Asia, not motor vehicles. Another one under the water, a two-level and 5,4 kilometers (3,3 miles) long tunnel runs between Kazlicesme neighborhood in Europe and Goztepe neighborhood in Asia. This project is called "Eurasia tunnel" and was opened in December 2016, used by cars and minibuses only, no motorbikes nor heavy traffic or pedestrians are allowed. More tunnels under the sea are planned in the future.
Bosphorus is one of the most popular areas of Istanbul for its inhabitants, especially during Summer for its climate. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants, cafeterias, and so on.
Some of the interesting neighborhoods on the Bosphorus are: Besiktas, Ortaköy, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumelihisar, Emirgan, Tarabya, Yeniköy, Istinye, Sariyer, Üsküdar, Kanlica, Beykoz, Anadoluhisar, Beylerbeyi, Cengelköy, and many others. Best way to see these sites would be taking a nice boat trip along the Bosphorus.