The Eyup Sultan district in Istanbul is a distinctive location in which to buy a home. Eyup, also called Eyupsultan or Sultan Eyup because of its historical importance, first operated as an individual district of European Istanbul in 1936, and the population grew from 35,000 to 405,000. Covering 228 square kilometres, the district sits on the shores of the Golden Horn, going up to the Black Sea area. Altogether, 21 neighbourhoods and seven outskirt villages form the geographical location.
About the Eyup Sultan District in Istanbul
Eyup is named after Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Eyüp Sultan), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad whose tomb sits within the central mosque. The district's historical importance was as the first community established outside the main city walls when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453. The cemetery also contains the tombs of notable Ottoman artisans, scholars, and soldiers. Eyup was a stronghold for the Sufi sect of Islam, hence the whirling dervish lodges, some of which still stand today and are awaiting restoration. People refer to this time as the spiritual era.
However, during the 18th-century industrial boom, this bustling city centre neighbourhood, like other places, cashed in by building large factories. Unfortunately, like in other cities, no one thought about the consequences of mass factory sites, and surrounding polluted waters turned everyone off. Years later, the local council did something, and slow transformation took decades. They closed factories, eliminating the horrid stench, and slowly, wildlife returned to the area. By the 1970s, the future looked bright once again.
Life in Eyup Today
This is a distinguished location with cultural heritage; so don't expect lively nightlife scenes revolving around large nightclubs. Instead, locals meet in coffee and tea houses, parks, and gardens. There is everything people need for daily living, but the city centre, Taksim Square, and the beating heart where everything happens, is just 30-minutes ride away. Homebuyers love the transport system, because frequent local buses help citizens get around and to other areas quickly and easily.
For pleasure, the nearby Sevgililer forest is an excellent getaway for families and Vialand Entertainment City (now officially known as Isfanbul Theme Park) is one of Turkey’s most extensive entertainment, shopping, and leisure complexes. It combines a theme park, a shopping mall, and dining options.
As independent travel became more popular in recent years, the district also became a pilgrim site for Muslims and day-trippers eager to explore Islamic history away from the bustle of city life. Another main attraction is the cable car ride up to Pierre Lotti Hill. After touring, tourists often visit Miniaturk, home to mini statues of famous landmarks around Turkey, or the beautiful water park of Dolphinarium. This conservative neighbourhood has plenty of outdoor activities, making it a family-friendly destination.
Marvel at the Maglova Aqueduct
Without a doubt, Mimar Sinan was the Ottoman Empire's most favourite and celebrated architect. His works and monuments are seen in buildings and construction throughout Turkey. Tourists and locals can admire his ingenuity through the Maglova Aqueduct in the Alibey Creek region. Standing 36 meters high and stretching for 258 meters, the two-level stone structure is still in complete working order and can claim its place on the list of impressive ancient aqueducts worldwide.
The Gondola Lift to Pierre Loti Hill
Cable cars must be the most pleasant mood of transport. There is something surreal about seeing the landscape from a bird's eye view, and once you ascend in the gondola (called Telerik in Turkish), the shoreline neighbourhoods appear in sight. Running every day from 8 a.m., locals say the best time to ride is at sunset, and you can use Istanbul Karts to pay for the tickets.
The short ride only takes a few minutes, but we recommend making an afternoon out of it by spending time at Pierre Loti (tepesi) at the top. To find peace amid the fast-paced daily life, the Hill, reached by a short cable car trip, is a popular spot.
The unusual, non-Turkish name stems from the famous French writer Pierre Loti, who spent time here during the latter half of the 19th century. He found solace in this hill, which gave him stunning views as far as the eye could see and inspired him in much of his poetry and novels. The Pierre Loti Café at the top serves coffee and tea, so you must sit and enjoy stunning landscape views.
Eyup Sultan Mosque and the Historical Heritage
The Abu Ayyub al-Ansari tomb, within the famous Eyup Mosque, holds much importance. Found after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II rebuilt the tomb in 1459. The tomb, open to the public, receives hundreds of pilgrims every month as they seek to pay homage to the man who was the Prophet Muhammad’s companion and for whom many say he led the first spiritual conquest. The district is also named after him.
Muslims often make pilgrim visits while tourists seek out the mosque. Friday is naturally busy because it is an Islamic holy day, but tourists can visit outside prayer times every day. The community activity outside the mosque is as luring as the building itself. Vendors sell scarves, the Quran, prayer mats, oils, Islamic music, and more. When the weather is good, an Ottoman marching band sometimes plays military music to the masses. Since the mosque holds the tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari, it is naturally an essential Islamic landmark.
Initially built in 1458, it suffered much damage over the centuries that followed, so in 1800, the government restored and renovated it using a baroque architectural style. The domed interior, highlighted by a large chandelier and impeccably clean mosque, is stunning and worth seeing, whether you are religious or not.
Property and the Vibrant Community Life
The real estate industry also says that location is everything when buying a home, and this is spot on in the case of Eyup. It is just 30 minutes from the new airport and a 30-minute drive to Taksim Square, a shopping hub of the magnificent multitude. Conservative families highly rate the area and consider it to be a privileged location. Newly built apartments reflect this through communal facilities like landscaped gardens, restaurants, shops, basketball courts, gyms, children’s playparks, onsite security and much more.
Private balconies let residents make the most of summertime, while insulation keeps them warm in winter. Fitted kitchens and bathrooms mean all a buyer must do is move in! Additionally, the strategic location has everything to offer for life on your doorstep, including educational institutions, private hospitals, medical services, and the Sabahattin Zaim University.
Sitting on the Catalca peninsula, homebuyers choose from 28 official neighbourhoods, of which Alibeykoy is popular. In history, Alibeykoy featured cornfields. These days, none of those fields exist. Still, domestic, and international house buyers are seeing high interest in them, mainly because of the M7 metro line and T5 tram line connections, which are ideal for commuters. In addition to being in a central location with a wide range of shops, banks, transport links, schools, and more, prices per square meter of homes are incredibly affordable.
The Turkish Citizenship by Investment Scheme
For buyers and investors, the Turkish citizenship scheme perfectly fits their needs by offering them and their dependents a Turkish passport and full rights to live, work, and study in Turkey. With a range of government-approved properties across the European side, the comprehensive experience has approved thousands of applications. If you would like a comfortable life in Turkey and want to know more about how to get citizenship by buying property, learn more here.
Also, of Interest
Eyup is just one district out of 39 officially forming Istanbul, Turkey's most prominent and vital province. We have taken our local knowledge about neighbourhoods, tourist attractions, history, culture, and traditions to form our blog, which will be helpful to holidaymakers and house hunters. Exploring Istanbul fully would take years, but we list the most important aspects and need to know.
About Our Services
We are Turkey Homes, a real estate investment company with offices in many areas of Turkey. Our collective experience, service and knowledge have enabled thousands of Turkish and foreign buyers to find their dream homes that suit their lifestyles and budgets. Browse our portfolio of properties for sale in Istanbul here, or call us today if you want to know more about the Eyup Sultan district in Istanbul.
