Istiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi) or Independence Avenue is perhaps the most popular place for walking and evening entertainment in Istanbul. This is a wide modern street surrounded by Art Nouveau houses. Sometimes it seems that half of the city is walking along Istiklal on a day off.
Istiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi)
It stretched for almost three kilometers and starts near and ends near Taksim Square. Sometimes it seems that half of the city is walking along Istiklal on a day off. The street is exclusively pedestrian, but there is one retro exception here. This is a red wooden tram that rumbles up and down from Tunel to. And if you do not want to walk along the avenue on foot, then take the old tram and watch from the windows at the vibrant life around. Firstly, Istiklal is the center of foreign embassies, including the Russian one. Secondly, in one place there are churches belonging to completely different confessions: Armenian, Greek, Turkish. If you are interested in church architecture, then we advise you to visit the churches of Santa Maria Draperis and the Catholic Church of St. Antoine, built at the beginning of the last century.
It can be useful
Interesting excursions in Istanbul
Istiklal Street or Independence Avenue
The architecture of the buildings on Istiklal is truly extraordinary and is a mixture of different styles. Here and neoclassical with neo-gothic and renaissance, revival and art deco with art nouveau - architectural styles characteristic of the 19-20 centuries. It was during this period that Istiklal was finally built up and was called Cadde-I Kebir, which meant Big Avenue. Turkish bohemia lived here - writers and artists. Later, the Beyoglu area was flooded with Europeans, who gave the street the name Grand Rue de Pera. When Türkiye became an independent republic in 1923, the street was finally renamed Istiklal. The oldest and most famous hotel is also located on the street -. And he is famous for the fact that Agatha Christie wrote her famous bestseller Murder on the Orient Express in the hotel. Among the guests of this luxury hotel were Greta Garbo, Jacqueline Kennedy and even Mata Hari. In 2009, after restoration, the famous cafe Patisserie de Pera and the restaurant Agfhta reopened.
Book a room at Pera Palas Hotel
The atmosphere of antiquity and modern customs of Istiklal Street
The center of Istiklal Street is Galata Square. In this area are the Galatasaray Lyceum, the post office of 1875, famous for its beer bars, the Fish Passage, as well as the classical one. Restaurants and bars here are always full to overflowing, and prices are 20% higher than in neighboring streets. But still, it is worth visiting here, and not only to taste a variety, but also to plunge into this atmosphere of antiquity, modernity and a motley audience. In addition to many tourists from all over the world and local residents, Isstiklal is constantly flooded with wandering musicians, artists and hanging out with local youth. In general, Istiklal, in a sense, is not a safe place.
In the evening there are a lot of tipsy people here, you can easily run into pickpockets and there are also a lot of different kinds of extortionists. In addition, Turkish youth often go on strike here and you can get into trouble. So be on the alert, and better
Today, the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul can be called an autonomous settlement, consisting of 45 separate parts. Currently, about 225,000 residents permanently live on its territory. But since Beyoglu is the center of business, recreation and culture, life in it does not stop for a minute. Every day there are up to several million visitors, which include both the Turks themselves and tourists.
Beyoglu district in Istanbul
In Byzantine times, this area was called the Vineyards of Pern. For a long time, foreigners called Beyoglu simply Pera, and the locals called it more widely - Pera Beyoglu. The last part of this name nevertheless began to dominate over time, and the name of Per was completely forgotten after it was withdrawn from official circulation in 1925.
The history of Beyoglu is very rich and varied. The settlement of these territories began about 8 thousand years ago. Replacing each other, a variety of peoples lived here - from the Thracians to the Greeks and the ancient Romans, but before the Ottomans came to power, the area was minimally developed and was considered just a suburb of Constantinople, although important in terms of trade.
Active development began in 1492, when water supply was established in Beyoglu and foreign embassies began to concentrate here. The area between Galatasaray and Tunel began to develop not only as a commercial, but also as a residential area.
Due to the fact that foreigners lived in Beyoglu almost from its very foundation, the area turned out to be much more Europeanized than other similar areas of Istanbul.
Mass building "under Europe" began in the 20s of the 20th century, during the reign of Kemal Ataturk, who was famous for his progressive views and moods. But at the same time, monuments of ancient architecture, such as the Galata Tower, were preserved.
Until 1927, the most famous street in the area, Istiklal, was called Cadde-i Kebir (Cadde-i Kebir), Büyük Cadde (Big Street - Büyük Cadde) or Grande Rue de Péra in French.
It is worth saying a little more about the sights of Beyoglu.
Attractions Beyoglu (Beyoğlu)
Among the sights of Beyoglu - Galata Tower
Beyoglu is a storehouse of everything unusual and interesting. It is very difficult to single out one thing in a series of historical and modern cultural monuments, but there are several places that you should definitely visit.
Arabic mosque: This Istanbul shrine dates back to 1337. The initiators of its construction were the Genoese. Initially, it played the role of a Latin church, but with the advent of Muslim conquerors, it was turned into a mosque with extremely interesting architecture (a mixture of stone and wood).
: the construction dates back to 1348. The height of the tower allows you to see the beauty of Istanbul at a glance. Therefore, travelers are happy to pay for an entrance ticket in order to enjoy the breathtaking city panorama. 
Church of Christ: interesting not only from a historical, but also from an architectural point of view. The interior decoration is striking in its splendor. Many people talk about unusual church acoustics, so it is worth visiting Christ Church during the service.
Jewish Museum of Turkey: Not far from the Galata Bridge is the beautiful Jewish Synagogue of Zilfaris. It was within its walls that a compact museum complex was founded at the beginning of the 21st century. A small but harmonious collection tells about the historical and cultural relationship between Jews and Muslims.
Artist on Istiklal street
Church of St. Mary Draperis (Santa Maria Draperis Kilisesi). In the central part of the Istanbul district of Beyoglu, the famous Catholic shrine rises - the Latin church of St. Mary Draperi. The landmark, dating back to the 17th century, has been badly damaged by fires several times in its history, but each time it has been restored. The church acquired its modern look thanks to the famous architect from Italy, to whom the ruler Abdulahmet II issued permission for the reconstruction of the Catholic monastery in 1904.
Salt Galata Cultural Center: This is one of the main attractions of Beyoglu. A large number of exhibition areas of various directions are located on an impressive territory. Scientific conferences and seminars are regularly held here. Extensive research activities have been launched on the basis of the cultural center. The building itself is also an architectural monument, erected at the end of the 19th century under the direction of the architect Alexander Vallor and modernized with the help of the architectural bureau Mimarlar Tasarym.
You can also look at the Fish Market (Balık pazarı) - the name of the market is conditional, since in fact everything is sold here, fruits, vegetables, seafood, spices, sweets, leather goods and much more. In front of the entrance to it there is an arch with a sign erected in honor of his 150th birthday.
These are not all the sights of Beyoglu, which should be paid close attention to the guests of the city. Of great interest are the Mevlevi Museum in Galata, the Depo Cultural Center, Casa Galeri and much, much more.
Taksim Square (Taksim Meydanı) in Beyoğlu
Especially in detail it is necessary to study the local Taksim square. It can be called a kind of border line between the old and the new city. Luxurious hotels and hotels, expensive and budget catering establishments, etc. are located around the square. The transport network is very developed. Taksim Square is a traditional venue for large-scale public events and military parades.
A large number of attractions of the area are concentrated on this territory - the park of the same name Taksim, the Independence Monument, the Holy Trinity Church, the Ataturk Cultural Center, the Taksim Mosque, the Taksim Art Gallery and much more.
Not far from the square, the famous Istanbul Istiklal Street originates, leading to the historical center of Beyoglu.
It is on Taksim Square that official demonstrations are often held. By the way, it is here that Gezi Park is located nearby, due to the demolition of which strikes began in Taksim in 2013. As a result, after lengthy skirmishes, the demolition of the park was stopped.
Fans of Galatasaray and Beşiktaş also gather in the square after matches.
It is interesting that the square has been reconstructed a significant number of times, the architectural appearance has been improved, but at the same time the general style, which appeared in the late 30s of the 20th century through the efforts of the Frenchman Henri Prost, has been preserved to this day.
The Marmara Taksim Hotel in Beyoglu
There are a lot of hotels in this area, respectively, and the range of prices is quite large. The most popular hotels are as follows:
- Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah
- Gezi Hotel Bosphorus
- Tomtom Suites
- Rixos Pera Istanbul
- Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Pera
- Witt Istanbul Suites
- Corinne Hotel
- Georges Hotel Galata
- CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul
If you are going to spend most of your time on excursions and trips, then of course it makes no sense to take an expensive hotel, given that you will only spend the night in it. I advise you to spend more time walking, having breakfast outside the hotel in picturesque places - this is much more interesting, and will also give you the opportunity to get to know Turkish cuisine and flavor better.
Shopping in Beyoglu: Istiklal Street (Istiklal Caddesi)
Istiklal Street in Istanbul (Istiklal Caddesi)
The concentration of a large number of shops is Istiklal Street, which stretches from Taksim Square to the final stop of the famous red tram.
Here you can find everything: souvenirs, clothes, silver and gold, cosmetics, shoes, antiques, Turkish sweets and much more.
Therefore, when you are going for a walk along the boulevard, plan your time taking into account the fact that you want to look into different shops and this will not be limited to one or two hours.
Basically, all stores are open as freestanding, there is only one shopping center and a small one - Demirören Avm. On the ground floor there is a large department of Sephora, there are also departments of Gizia, DeFacto, Vakko (brand clothing store), Brandroom (brand clothing store), Guess, Gap, Koton and others.
Throughout Istiklal Street you can find shops: Colins's, Mango, H&M, Adidas, Lacoste, Diesel, Flo, Waikiki, MAC, SNR Shop, Kemal Tanca, Hotiç, Tudors, Elle, Mavi, Collezione, New Balance, Yves Rocher, Faik Sonmez and much more (mass market and accessories stores).
Istikal street on the map:
Restaurants and cafes on Istiklal street in Beyoglu
Restaurant 360 Istanbul on Istiklal Street
For lovers of cafes, restaurants and party places in the Beyoglu district on Istiklal Street, as well as on the lanes close to it, you can find a huge number of different establishments, sometimes completely different from each other.
These are fish restaurants, club-restaurants with an unusual view, traditional Turkish kebab restaurants, pide and much more.
I will give examples of those institutions that would be interesting to visit for a tourist.
Flower Arcade (Çiçek Pasajı)
Flower Arcade in Istanbul (Çiçek Pasajı)
First of all, be sure to check out the "Flower Passage" (Çiçek Pasajı), which is a historical landmark of the Beyoglu district. It was partially restored and reconstructed, its approximate age is about 140 years. On the territory now occupied by the building, in the 19th century there was a wooden theater of Mikhail Naum Dukhani.
Today, on the ground floor of the passage, there are restaurants popular with both locals and tourists.
The Flower Passage is interesting not only for its restaurants, but also for its unconventional architecture, which can vaguely resemble the passages of France.
Flower passage on the map
Restaurant-bar Leb-i Derya
Located on the top floor of the Richmond Hotel. The restaurant offers a beautiful view of the strait. Here you can spend the evening both in the format of a restaurant and at the bar overlooking the sea.
On weekends, Leb-i derya plays local DJs, Lounge, Nu Jazz, Electro Bossa, Chillhouse, Nu Disco, Lounge, Jazz, Oldies and Chilout style music.
Menu prices for 2017: hot dishes from 36 to 55 Turkish liras, salads from 14 to 20 liras, snacks from 14 to 36 liras, desserts from 8 to 20 liras.
Restaurant ELEOS
Eleos Restaurant in Beyoglu
It is located in an alley next to Istiklal. If you pass the Russian Consulate (it will be on your left), you need to turn into the first lane on the left, after a couple of minutes of walking you will find it.
The view from the top floor of the restaurant is great.
Before visiting, it is advisable to reserve a table, especially if you plan to visit in the evening.
The average bill for 2017 is 245 Turkish Lira for two with alcohol.
360 Istanbul
This is a fairly well-known and popular place among tourists, which combines a bar, a club and a restaurant. Why is it so famous? Of course, with its view of Istanbul, covering all 360 degrees. This beauty is especially breathtaking at night. I advise you to visit for sure!
The concept of the institution: delicious food, atmosphere and relaxation.
Prices on the menu for 2017: starters from 29 to 37 Turkish liras, hot dishes from 55 to 95 liras, alcohol (bottled) from 145 liras (local Turkish wines) to 2250 liras.
Restaurant Barba Rasimo
Quite an old restaurant, with Greek and Turkish cuisine. The restaurant is located on the terrace overlooking the strait and Istanbul.
Hot and cold snacks: from 10 to 30 Turkish liras, salads from 12 to 18 liras, hot dishes from 26 to 35 liras, desserts from 12 to 16 liras.
Finding the Beyoglu area is quite easy. Beyoglu area on the map.
But not everywhere you can find a street where Catholic churches and nightclubs, museums and cinemas, an old lyceum (with a competition of more than 1000 people for a place!) And an ancient tower of the Ottoman Empire, where Asian and European styles in architecture are combined, and you can feel the spirit of the times .
A tram from 1871 is still functioning here and a unique metro line with only two stations has been built, a street through which about 3 million people pass every day!
Welcome to Istiklal - the heart of the Beyoglu region and the place A must visit in Istanbul!
The history of the appearance of the street begins during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (are there fans of the TV series “The Magnificent Age” among my readers? Istiklal began to be built up precisely at that time).
In the 17th century the street connected the Galata Tower and the Galata Palace, at the same time embassies of other countries began to appear on the street, churches were built, the street bore the title of Main Avenue. At the beginning of the 20th century Turkey declared itself a Republic, and the street was renamed to its current name, which means "Independence Street".
In 1955 the street was seriously destroyed during the Istanbul pogroms and was in decline until the 90s. Now the street is being renovated, historical buildings are being restored, many shops, restaurants and cafes are open.
2. Where is it located and how to get there
Istiklal Street originates at Taksim Square and goes towards. We walked from the Galata Tower, so at first we walked a little along the street Şahkapısı Sk, and then ended up on Istiklal.
Location on the map and our route:
There are several ways to get to Istiklal, depending on where you plan to start the journey and where you are going.
2.1. Walking route from Sultanahmet
In principle, if you live in or Beyoglu, you can walk to Istiklal. A very beautiful route goes from Sultanahmet along the Galata Bridge, through the Galata Tower and to Taksim Square. There you can already take a bus or metro and get to another area. We got there in this way, but we were very tired, because. It took quite a long time to walk. But if you do not have heavy suitcases and / or small children, then the method is great!
2.2. Public transport
You can also get to Istiklal from Sultanahmet by high-speed tram T1 to the Kabatash station, then transfer to the funicular and get to the Taksim station.
From other areas you can get to Karakoy station (also by light rail). From the stop you can take the funicular or walk.
You can also get to Taksim by metro, the station is called Taksim.
2.3. Excursions in Istiklal
You can also walk along Istiklal Street as part of an excursion group. Plus - you will be told historical aspects and unusual facts, minus - the time of the tour is limited and other tourists will be on the tour besides you.
3. Photo walk
The famous historical red tram, which has become the hallmark of Istanbul, you can still ride on it, the route is from Taksim Square to the Tunel metro station:
Some buildings are under renovation:
Even sellers of simits (bagels with sesame) stylized their carts as a historic tram:
The beginning of Istiklal Street (from the side of the Galata Tower):
Immediately we meet the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, built in 1838 - 1845, according to legend, it was built on Russian soil, which was specially brought in by ships. True or not, we will never know, but the fact that the building was recognized as a monument of palace architecture is a fact!
Unfortunately, the street is not monitored, so in some places it looks so unsightly:
Again we meet the tram, it turns out that you can ride not only inside, but also outside:
Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua:
Entrance to the territory is absolutely free:
Statue of John XXIII, who preached in the church in the 30s of the XX century:
Nameplate in different languages. It is interesting how the same name is pronounced in different languages - Giovanni, Jean, John:
The interior of the church:
Inside the church:
Monument 1923-1973:
To be honest, I did not find any information about this monument (1923 - the year of Turkish independence), if you know what it is dedicated to, share it in the comments!
The street is decorated with flags:
Flower passage, an architectural monument, built in 1876 on the site of the theater. Initially, the shops here were located on the 1st floor, the remaining floors were occupied by residential apartments.
Now the first floor is occupied by shops and restaurants, so you can dine in a historical place while admiring the French architecture in the center of Istanbul.
Istiklal is not only full of historical monuments, here you can also watch performances of street musicians:
Istiklal is the most famous street in Istanbul, which we simply could not help but visit, and to our great joy, we spent almost the whole day on Istiklal Street. Our walk began at the walls of the Galata Tower and ended at Taksim Square. We share our impressions with you, and also tell you what to do and how not to get bored during the day, on the liveliest and never sleeping Istiklal Street.
Our good friend Katya (Vitalik's classmate), who has been living and working in Istanbul for about 5 years, accompanied us on a walk along Istiklal Street. The meeting was scheduled at the Galata Tower, which we really wanted to climb, but then, apparently from the overflowing emotions of the long-awaited meeting, we changed our minds, leaving this idea for the next time.
, so here we just want to talk about the impression that this ancient building made on us. Walking in the evening along the embankment of the historical peninsula of the Sultanahmet district, the Galata Tower beckoned us with its rays. Due to its location on a certain hill, it can be seen from different parts of Istanbul.
Perhaps because of our alluring attractiveness, we made an appointment with Ekaterina at her place. You can get to the Galata Tower from the historical center of the Sultanahmet district by, namely, by tram T1 to the Karakoy stop, and then you have to walk a little downhill.
Climbing up to the Galata Tower along the steep narrow streets of the Beyoglu district, you don’t notice fatigue, perhaps due to the fact that the tower itself is almost constantly visible on the horizon, and when you see the goal of your route, it’s easier to walk accordingly.
Coming out of a narrow street to the square on which the Galata Tower stands, it is impossible not to be amazed at how big it is and how it is located in a small area, as if sandwiched between neighboring buildings.
Sitting down to rest on one of the many benches, we began to wait for Ekaterina. The Galata Tower is very popular with tourists visiting Istanbul, so there are a lot of different shops with souvenirs, cafes and restaurants on the square near it. We have already written about.
Finally, the meeting took place and without thinking for a long time, we went towards Istiklal along one of the narrow streets, making our way between the numerous shops with souvenirs and gifts that tourists bring from Istanbul.
Istiklal Street - our photo walk
The first impression of Istiklal Street is a crowd of people and many shops. Everyone is either going somewhere quickly, or slowly doing shopping. Istiklal is a pedestrian street, only a tram runs along it, which we will discuss later.
Let's touch on the history of this famous street quite a bit.
Istiklal is a symbol of European Turkey, its independence, because in Turkish, Istiklal Street means Independence Street. The street has the shape of a boomerang, at the place of the bend is Galatasaray Square. Since ancient times, this area has attracted Europeans who built housing here, opened shops and various workshops. This gave an appropriate aesthetic appearance to the modern look of the street.
Istiklal street bend - Galatasaray square
Time passed and the street became more and more European, while having its own specific Asian features. It is noteworthy that an old metro operates under Istiklal Street, which during construction, more than 100 years ago, was the second metro in the world, and it still operates, connecting only two stations. In the modern concept, this is no longer a metro, but a funicular.
Thanks to such a long history, Istiklal has become a symbol of Istanbul and the independence of the modern Turkish Republic. On it and now you can often meet various actions of citizens defending their rights.
But we, as tourists who came to see Istanbul, are primarily interested in what you can do and how to spend time with pleasure on the famous street, which is visited by more than 3 million people during the weekend.
The performance of street musicians is very popular on Istiklal, and it can be just people who took a musical instrument in their hands for the first time, as well as professionals. With the second, we met on Istiklal Street. We met it loudly, it’s more correct to say we heard it and we liked their work. So these guys are professional musicians who released their disc and as part of its promotion, decided to perform, wherever you think, on Istiklal Street, because sometimes you can meet anyone here. You look, some famous producer will pass.
In general, now we are listening to their work, and a video recording has remained as a keepsake, which we offer you to get acquainted with.
Also, you can often meet children on Istiklal, apparently refugees from Syria, who not only extort money on the streets of Istanbul, but even play a little on some kind of instrument.
Historic tram - Nostalgik
The first thing Istiklal Street is associated with for a person who has been in Istanbul is, of course, the famous red historic tram - Nostalgik, which is fully functional and does an excellent job of transporting people, while at the same time acting as an unspoken symbol of the European part of Istanbul.
Historical tram - Istiklal
Only one tram track is laid along Istiklal Street, but in the central part there is a place for a branching of the tram tracks so that the trams can pass.
Anyone can ride a historic tram, all you need to do is buy a ticket and you will plunge into the atmosphere and touch the history of ancient Istanbul.
Taksim Tram - Tunnel
If you walk along Istiklal Street, towards Taksim Square, then on the right side, in a stunningly beautiful courtyard, you can see a Catholic basilica - this is the Church of St. Anthony of Padua.
St. Anthony's Church is the largest Catholic church in Istanbul, made of red brick and having three large windows with stained-glass windows on the facade. Parishioners from all over the world gather under the vaults of this temple, and perhaps that is why services are held in various languages of the world, in addition to Turkish, you can hear English, Italian and Polish speech.
Inside, the church of St. Anthony is decorated with frescoes with scenes from the Holy Scriptures, and huge stained-glass windows are decorated with multi-colored mosaics.
Also attracts attention is the courtyard in which the church of St. Anthony and two red brick buildings are located, connected to each other by a balcony, which forms an arch, under which you need to go to get to the temple.
Next, we propose to go a little away from Istiklal and plunge into the atmosphere of the most popular place in the Beyoglu district - Nevizade Street. We pass by the local Fish Market, as well as shops with souvenirs and gifts that you should definitely buy as a keepsake from a trip to Istanbul.
The fish market in Istanbul is spread over almost the entire Sahne Sok street and is called Galatasaray, as it is located not far from the square of the same name. Here you can buy not only the freshest fish and various seafood, but also cheeses and other products, both locally produced and imported.
Fish market - Galatasaray
Nevizade Street is a place where it is very difficult to leave hungry or in a bad mood, because it is on this street that a variety of bars, fish restaurants, nightclubs and much more are located. Right on the narrow street there are tables, which are very culturally invited to sit down by the employees of the establishments.
To our surprise, when we walked along Nevizada, there were practically no people in the restaurants, but as our companion Ekaterina told us, in the evening there is simply nowhere for an apple to fall. Both young people and people of age come here, just to have dinner or meet friends, in general, have a great time, you can do it here.
- Street food in Istanbul
Cafes and shops in Istiklal
After seeing several sights on Istiklal Street, it's time for shopping, because not doing it here is simply unforgivable. Istiklal cannot boast of having luxury brands, but there are plenty of mid-range stores here, both European and Turkish.
Usually, behind a discreet, at first glance, the entrance to the store, there is a five-six-story shopping center, or a store of any one brand, and one floor will be allocated for goods with discounts. The variety of things and prices can captivate you for a long time and you will forget about all the sights that you still wanted to see, so we recommend that you set aside a separate day for shopping in Istiklal.
Well, after walking around Istiklal for a long time, we go to have a bite to eat, in one of the many catering establishments on the street - in the Fedora bistro. We try delicious cuisine, share emotions and get acquainted with the local young people, who did not refuse our request to take a group photo for us as a keepsake.
Affordable accommodation - hotels and apartments
The conversation in the cafe turned to pressing problems, but what is the main problem of most people who came to live in another city - this is, of course, housing. But we were more interested in renting an apartment for a short time. So, according to our companion Ekaterina, the Airbnb service is very popular in Istanbul, where apartment owners rent their own housing without intermediaries.
- Apartments in Istanbul from the owners from Airbnb
- Istanbul Hotel Finder
If you have not bought tickets to Istanbul yet, then using the Skyskanner and Aviasales search services, you can save a lot on buying air tickets.
So our meeting with Ekaterina almost came to an end, but before taking it to the Taksim metro station, it was decided to take a walk along the famous Taksim Square and look into Gezi Park.
What is Taksim Square in Istanbul known for in the first place? Of course, if we are talking about any demonstrations, rallies, military parades, then this will take place in Istanbul on Taksim. So it happened. However, Taksim Square, in addition, is a key transport center of the city, from this place you can get to almost anywhere in Istanbul. There are also concentrated expensive hotels and shops of world famous brands.
On Taksim Square there is a monument of Independence, in the form of an arch in oriental style, it was installed in honor of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The monument depicts people who have made a huge contribution to the independence of modern Turkey, led by the first president, Ataturk.
Also on Taksim Square in Istanbul is perhaps the largest national flag in Turkey.
After seeing off our companion, we went to Taksim-Gezi Park, which is located not far from Taksim Square. Once again, we are convinced how pleasant it is when, almost in the very center, they preserve a corner of greenery, where local residents and guests of Istanbul can take a break from walking along the busy Istiklal Street and just have a wonderful time among nature.
This very small park, just a few years ago, declared itself to the whole world. The clash between the city's residents and the Turkish police was covered by all the world's media, and the reason for the clashes was that the city's residents opposed the demolition of ancient trees in Taksim Gezi Park and the construction of a shopping center in their place. But to great joy, the trees will not be demolished.
Night Istanbul - the end of our walk
We were so captivated by Istiklal with its unrestrained pace that we did not notice how the sun went down and the city lights lit up, opening Istanbul for us from its other, night side. Surprisingly, there were no fewer people on Istiklal Street, and even it seemed to us that, on the contrary, there were more.
Night Istanbul - Istiklal Street
At night, crowds of people are still in a hurry, just like during the day, but we stopped at the seller of Turkish ice cream - dondurma, who was not averse to posing for us and treating us to delicious ice cream.
Dondurma - Turkish ice cream
Night Istanbul - life is in full swing
Well, in conclusion, I would like to say that we remembered this day on Istiklal Street for a long time, perhaps because we were in a good mood, the weather and a great company, in the person of Ekaterina, to whom we send a huge hello through our blog.
On the map
To make it easier for you to navigate in those places that were discussed in the article, we put them on the map. You can easily find Istiklal Street and Nevizade, as well as the Galata Tower, Taksim Square in Istanbul and Gezi Park, and we also recommend that you definitely look at the fish market in Istanbul.
Istiklal Street in Istanbul is considered the "heart of the city" and one of the most popular - at least 3 million people pass through it every day. In Turkish, the name sounds like Istiklal Caddesi, which literally means "independence" in Persian. It is always crowded and noisy here: during the day there are many tourists and shopaholics, in the evening - party-goers and frequenters of nightclubs. Boomerang Street begins at Taksim Square in the European part of the city, in the Beyoglu district, which is surrounded by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn Bay.
The first inhabitants of Istiklal appeared at the end of the 15th century, but the area received rapid development during the time of Suleiman the First. Following the Muslims, several centuries ago, Europeans began to settle on the street. They not only built houses for their families, but also opened shops. By the way, today the street is considered one of the best for shopping. There are boutiques of the world's largest brands, cozy cafes, popular clubs and discos, fashionable restaurants and hotels. The consulates of many countries, including Russia, are also located on the street. The symbol of the pedestrian street is the authentic Nostalgia tram, which first set off in 1871.
By the way, in addition to the street, there is the Istiklal mosque of the same name, but it is not located in Istanbul, but in Jakarta, on the island of Java and is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. 🙂
Istiklal street on the map of Istanbul
Istiklal Street is located in Istanbul in the Beyoglu district north of the Golden Horn. The street starts from Taksim Square and goes south towards the Golden Horn to.
How to get to Istiklal on your own
There are at least three ways to get there.
1. You can get to the southern part of the street, adjacent to the street, by high-speed tram to the Karakoy stop, and from there walk uphill to Galata. In order to enter the tram, you need to buy tokens, they are sold next to each stop in vending machines, the cost of one is about 2 lira.
2. In the northern part, which originates from Taksim Square, you can take the metro to Taksim station.
3. Buy a tour. Read about this method below.
Excursions to Istiklal Street - programs, prices, where to buy
Istiklal does not fall asleep even for a minute, including thanks to various excursions on the subject, which are held both at night and during the day. On the street there are cult Istanbul sights: the witness of the arrival of the first inhabitants of the Galata Tower, the monastery of the Mevlevi dervishes, the oldest metro line, St. Anthony's Cathedral, the central Taksim Square. In addition to historical excursions, shopping tours, romantic walks in the evening Istiklal, tastings of local specialties, master classes in folk crafts, and culinary lessons are organized for guests.
You will find interesting excursions to Istiklal Street in large numbers on the tourist portal. We recommend it to everyone, because themselves repeatedly used his services, and not only in Istanbul. In our selection, we present the top three of the most interesting and rich author's programs on Istiklal.
Top 3 excursions to Istiklal
- 1 place —
During a 3-hour walk along the main boulevard of the city, a Russian guide will tell you about the history of the area, about the architectural features of the buildings and the legends of the street. You will see buildings and passages of the 19th century in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, majestic Catholic cathedrals, the most famous cafe, the quarter of antique dealers, the largest art galleries, shops of local designers, as well as look into courtyards and porches to find magnificent features of constructivism and art deco. Be sure to visit Taksim and the Galata Tower, as well as one of the cafes "for the locals", where they will prepare tart tea or traditional Turkish coffee on the sand for you.
Excursion cost - 107€ for 1-3 participants.
- 2nd place —
To visit the best bars, clubs and discos in Istiklal, you should go on a night tour. Accompanying a local patron guarantees safety and visits to the best authentic places, including the famous 360Istanbul. You will learn about the features of a night's rest, understand what you should beware of, where you can not turn off what offers it is better to refuse. Be sure to try the author's cocktails, you can break away at one of the noisy parties or listen to jazz in a popular club. A useful life hack from the guide is the instruction “How to get rid of a Turkish hangover”. In addition to Istiklal, visit the bohemian district of Kadikoy, where you can try a cocktail "Ot Oblomov" or light it to Turkish rock and roll.
Excursion cost - 124€ for 1-4 party people.
- 3rd place —
The tour will start from Istiklal Street, where luxurious restaurants and inexpensive eateries, cathedrals of all religions and night discos coexist perfectly. You will see the Galata Tower and learn about Russian emigrants whose fates are connected with Shishkhane. During a further walk around the city, see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkana Palace, walk through Gulhane Park and admire the views of the Bosphorus, hearing the legend of the Maiden's Tower. The tour will end with a cup of excellent coffee/tea or a local hookah tasting (optional), which you can enjoy while the guide tells about the modern life of the Turks. Finally, the guide will give useful tips on where to buy original souvenirs, how to buy a museum card for self-guided sightseeing and where to book a table for dinner.
Excursion cost - 150€ for 1-3 guests.
History of Istiklal Street
Foreigners have long settled on the territory of today's Beyoglu region. This area was called Pera, which means “beyond”, “on the other side”. The fact is that the Genoese, who equipped the Galata region, left the nearby hill outside the walls. There were forests there. But over time, the forests were cut down. And in their place were broken vineyards. After the fortress walls in Galata turned out to be unnecessary, the population began to build up Peru with houses. Mostly rich Christians engaged in trade, as well as merchants, usurers and bankers settled here.
In 1831, a strong fire broke out in Pera. But Pera was rebuilt. New 5-7-storey European-style houses were built. Pera's plan has also changed. The network of intricate streets and dead ends took on a more logical form. And the main artery of the district was Jadde-i-Kibir Street (Turkish “Cadde-i Kebir” is the current Istiklal), which means “Great Street”. As today, expensive hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, embassies were located on the street. The street had a completely European appearance and in 1923, after the proclamation of the Turkish Republic and the end of the war for independence, Jadde-i-Kibir was renamed Istiklal Caddesi (Istiklal Caddesi), i.е. Independence street.
Istiklal street today
Today, Istiklal is the busiest street in the city, where life is in full swing day and night, without stopping for a minute - from the very early morning, all kinds of trucks with new goods for local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes fill the street, sellers begin their trade Simites, crowds of passers-by gradually fill the street - tourists, students, local residents.
In the evening, the already huge number of pedestrians doubles - restaurants and cafes are crowded, fun begins in bars and restaurants, street musicians crawl out. The number of bars, cafes, restaurants, meyhanes, nightclubs in the Istiklal area is huge, they are located on the main street and in the alleys, simple and chic, overlooking the Bosphorus or bustling Istiklal, with a varied menu and entertainment programs.
For almost 3 km of the street, you can meet two Catholic cathedrals - the Cathedral of St. Mary and the Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Triada, the American Church, the Armenian Church, several mosques and synagogues.
You can start spending money even on Taksim Square, where the 3-storey shopping center Demiryoren is located. It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. On 19 thousand sq.m. housed more than 40 stores, including the legendary American GAP and Guess, dressing women, men and children around the world. In Demirören there are shops that supply men's clothing and accessories Brandroom, the German brand Tchibo, which, in addition to coffee, also produces collections of clothes and household appliances, the French manufacturer of luxury cosmetics Sephora, the Danish Hummel, which produces sportswear, equipment and shoes. On the third floor of the mall there are cafes, restaurants and a cinema.
Among the many shops on Istiklal Street, it is difficult to ignore the boutiques of world famous brands: Kiki Riki, Bershka, Golden Rose, Koton, New Balance, Bargello, Gratis, DeFacto, OXXO, Flormar, Mango. Due to the fact that many foreign manufacturers have Turkish factories, the cost of branded items is often pleasantly pleasing. It is also worth visiting the shops of local manufacturers to buy Turkish sweets, leather, fur or textile products, magnificent porcelain, natural cosmetics, and jewelry.
Istiklal is an exclusively pedestrian street, the only exception is the ancient tram that has been running along the street since 1871. The famous old tram barely seeps through the crowds of people walking along the street. When cars filled the city, the tram was removed for some time, as a relic of the past, but the townspeople defended the rarity and the tram was soon returned. And now he, like a hundred years ago, goes back and forth along narrow single-track tracks. Anyone can ride it.
Istiklal is also a paradise for true gourmets. Here you can try all kinds of Turkish delicacies! For example, the wonderful ichli kofte - a traditional Turkish dish - small minced meat patties with onions and walnuts, fried in bulgur flour; real Turkish ice cream at Mado cafe. This wonderful dessert has little in common with ice cream in our view - a viscous, chewing gum-like, cold mass, the main components of which are orchid and goat's milk. The spectacle deserves special attention when the ice cream man pulls out and twists huge clubs of ice cream on a long stick, deftly turning, stretching and throwing them.
Istiklal in the evening and at night - clubs and bars
While walking along the street, you will definitely meet numerous street musicians and dancers who show their talents. In this Istiklal is very similar to the Moscow Arbat. Well, with the onset of darkness, when the shops are closed, the doors are thrown open by fashionable clubs. We offer you to explore the top three most popular nightlife spots in Istiklal.
Pub Crawl Istanbul
The club is open all days except Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday-Thursday - from 10 pm to 5 am, on Fridays and Saturdays - from 9 pm to morning. Entrance ticket - 50 lire. The club is very fond of foreigners, including Russians. Lots of free tables. The hallmark of the club is good cocktails and shots.
Nardis Jass Club
A chamber and very atmospheric jazz club near the Galata Tower is open daily, except Sunday. Guests are allowed in from 8 pm, and see off - at one thirty in the morning. Jazz performances start at half past ten, but it's better to come early to get a table (there are not enough seats in the hall).
360 Istanbul
The newest club on the roof of the Istanbul skyscraper (building 8) will delight you with excellent cuisine, stylish interiors and a pleasant lounge. On Fridays and Saturdays the institution is open from noon to 4 am, on other days - from noon to 2 am. The penthouse with circular panoramic windows offers stunning views of the Bosphorus and Istanbul. Various show programs are held for restaurant visitors with the participation of talented vocalists, dancers, and actors. After midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, DJs are responsible for the mood of the guests, who offer everyone to dance at a non-stop party.
By the number of cafes and restaurants, Istiklal is probably ahead of all other Istanbul streets. Here you can drink a cup of good Turkish coffee for a few lira in one of the small cafes or have a delicious dinner in a fashionable restaurant. One of the most popular is the Ficcin restaurant, which, however, is not located on Istiklal itself, but on the street that runs perpendicular. The prices are more than reasonable. The basis of the menu is local cuisine. Many visitors praise the analogues of our dumplings and Turkish pies with various fillings.
About 360 Istanbul, where, in addition to the disco club, there is also a luxurious restaurant, we told above. You can also look into Guney Restaurant next to the Galata Tower - by local standards, the prices there are not the lowest, but compared to European ones, almost for nothing. 🙂 A two-course lunch with free snacks and bread will cost about 20 euros. Meat-eaters will love the menu at one of the popular kebab shops on Istiklal Street, Münhasir Döner Kebab. On the top floor there is a winter garden, where it is especially pleasant to eat. For dinner, for 20 euros, you can order, for example, a delicious pistachio kebab, Turkish doner (something like barbecue) and freshly squeezed juice.
Istiklal Street in the photo
You can find even more photos from Istiklal Street in Istanbul in a special photo album. Here you will find pictures of both day and night Istiklal.
