The Istanbul area of Turkey is an incredible destination. The combined old quarter, with ancient history, contrasts sharply with new vibrant business districts. The excellent climate makes this a year-round destination, where visitors and residents enjoy historic sites, lively nightlife scenes and designer shopping in Turkey’s largest city. These days, the town and larger Istanbul province are Turkey's most essential and most significant places despite not being the capital.
Facing the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea and featuring the Bosphorus Strait and Golden Horn Waterway, delights are on every corner, from stunning views to historic districts. This guide gives a basic introduction since writing about everything would take months to read. However, to the right-hand side of the page are more in-depth guides to the European and Asian sides as well as prominent areas.
Guide to the Istanbul Area of Turkey
Brief History
Greek settlers first founded the city in the 7th century BC, and called it Byzantium. The Byzantine Empire would later change its name to Constantinople. However, in 1453, the Ottoman Empire, led by Mehmed II, invaded. They went from strength to strength to conquer several lands worldwide, using Constantinople as their base to peak in the 17th century. But by the 18th century, cracks started to appear. After World War I and Turkey’s War of Independence in the 20th century, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded the new Turkish Republic and renamed Constantinople, Istanbul.
How Many Districts Are There?
Thirty-nine official districts across the European and Asian sides divide into over 900 neighbourhoods. Around ten years ago, the population of just over 15 million people started expanding into outskirt districts. Istanbul has promoted itself in finance, business, education, tourism, and the economy, so this figure will continue to grow.
Getting There and Local Transport Around Areas
Istanbul Airport, the base of Turkish Airlines, serves the European side, while Sabiha Gokcen serves Asian regions. The old European Ataturk airport closed in 2019. Istanbul International Airport is just a short drive from most areas and connects to the M11 metro. If arriving by sea, do so at an official entry port. At the same time, for car drivers, massive infrastructure work by the Istanbul metropolitan municipality has improved road access, including highways to other places like Izmir and Bursa.
Initiatives to help ease congestion made a significant impact. This includes the Eurasia Tunnel and Marmaray Tunnel Link, part of a billion-dollar infrastructure programme. It opened in 2014 and links Asia to Europe under the Bosphorus waters. With a new railway, underground and metro linking the centre and Asia to new regeneration areas in eastern Istanbul, such as Bahçeşehir, Beylikduzu and Halkali, in less than 30 minutes, there is a lot of demand for property. Add to these Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and Bosphorus Bridge, linking both continents and getting around is easy.
Shopping Galore
From designer stores to bustling markets, central Istanbul is paradise. Must-visit markets include the Spice Bazaar, a bustling gastronomic utopia where you can pick up dried fruits, nuts, spices, olives, Turkish delights, and oils. With over 3,000 shops, the Grand Bazaar is Turkey’s largest covered market, where you can have fun while buying souvenirs. Each district holds traditional weekly markets, great places to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
Famous outlets include Zorlu Centre, Forum, and Istinye Park Centre, as well as shopping, dining, and entertainment centres under one roof. Otherwise, wander down Istiklal Caddesi, a vibrant pedestrian street that hosts Turkish and international brand names and jolly street performers. The back roads of Istiklal Avenue hold delights, including the Cukurcuma neighbourhood, with antique shops bursting with little surprises.
Eating Out and Nightlife
Istanbul city centre has everything you want regarding traditional and foreign cuisine. From sophisticated fusion restaurants to conventional food stalls serving street foods, there’s something for every taste and budget. Notable restaurants include Leb-i derya in Tunel or a more conventional option at Ciya in Kadikoy. Traditional coffee houses have existed since the 16th century. For parties, there’s no better way to enjoy night-time than in rooftop bars. The 5 Kat restaurant offers Bosphorus views, or take the elevator up to 360 for cocktails to marvel at the city’s skyline.
Exploring Sultanahmet Istanbul and other European districts
Out of both continents, the European area garners more fame and attraction. This is because it features the Sultanahmet and Beyoglu areas, named the new and old parts. The Golden Horn separates both, while the Bosphorus Straits separate them from Asian districts. Sultanahmet Square, Turkey’s top tourist destination, welcomes millions of visitors every year who are eager to see landmark buildings built by the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans until the 19th century.
Heading across the Galata Bridge and walking further on Beyoglu, home to Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, offers several tourist attractions alongside vibrant shopping and nightlife. Galata Tower, in the Karakoy district, previously housing Jewish communities, is a marvellous landmark for panoramic views all over Istanbul's city centre. Do explore the backing, narrow streets to see old housing and delights like French Street, Pera Palace,
Other important districts in this significant city include Besiktas and Ortakoy, featuring the famous Dolmabahce palace. Meanwhile, up-and-coming places in western Istanbul for real estate include Bakirkoy, Beylikduzu, Bahçeşehir, Esenyurt, Kucukcekmece, Buyukcekmece, and Sariyer, an upmarket destination with millionaire homes.
Getting to Know the Asian Side
Both Turks and international tourists have ignored Asian Istanbul for decades, yet as the internet advanced and travellers became more curious, its profile rose. It’s a good place to live and commute to European Istanbul, thanks to excellent transport links. Also called the Anatolian area, some neighbourhoods like Kandilli, Beylerbi, Bostanci, Pendik, and Beykoz are rising in popularity, but Üsküdar and Kadikoy capture the most attention.
The Kadikoy ferry terminal links with the other side to make it the main travel hub, while Kadikoy is where leisure and nightlife shine through. The 14-kilometre Bagdat Avenue is the Asian area’s main street, often compared to Rodeo Drive in the USA. Thanks to millionaire homes and upmarket brand boutiques, this area encourages self-indulgence.
Things to Do and Places to Visit
Tourists have many things to do. In addition to exploring Sultanahmet and Beyoglu, going further afield offers opportunities for fun. Balat and Fener are two neighbourhoods used for local and cultural exploration. Steeped in Armenian, Jewish, and Greek history, they show visitors how locals live. The Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market are the favourite places to shop for souvenirs. After marvelling at Sultanahmet, visit the UNESCO Suleymaniye Mosque to see historical mosques.
The Eyup district, the first Ottoman settlement outside Constantinople’s old city walls, includes a stunning 15th-century mosque. While there, take the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill for magnificent views over the Golden Horn. Follow the seven hills for a themed visit in search of Ottoman mosques. The city was built on them to replicate Rome and prove its growing power. On each mountain, churches were built, but when the Ottomans invaded, they converted them into mosques.
Locals adore green parks during April, when the annual tulip festival brings a splash of colour to an urban lifestyle. Yildiz Park in Besiktas, Emirgan Park, Gulhane Park in Eminonu, and Demokrasi Park in Nisantasi are three popular summer green spaces, but there are hundreds, and you will find one near you, no matter where you stay.
Explore the Princes Islands, particularly Buyukada, to feel nostalgic for Ottoman times. Get there by ferry to travel like the locals do and visit several charming Bosphorus villages, including Arnavutkoy, Bebek, Kilyos, and Cengelkoy. Places like the first are renowned for their old Ottoman architecture.
Top family theme parks include Miniaturk, which features famous landmarks from around Turkey. Otherwise, head to Istanbul Aquarium to see marine life. Take time to enjoy a Turkish bath in an original hamam.
Bosphorus Cruising and Yali Mansions
A popular activity is cruising the Bosphorus for breathtaking views, and there are two ways to do this. The first is via a themed night with dinner and live entertainment. The second budget travellers’ favour is to book a ferry ticket. The bonus of doing it that way is spotting the magnificent Yali mansions and Ottoman palaces on the Bosphorus shorelines.
Yali mansions are Turkey’s most expensive real estate market, with some selling for as much as 90 million USD. Made from wood, and built by Ottoman royalty and elite members of society, they display distinct architectural styles no longer used, hence their protected status. Notable mansions include Zeki Pasha, Hekimbasi, and Erbilgin. Ottoman palaces to spot include Beylerbey, Kucuksu, and the Ciragan, which is now the five-star Kempinski Hotel.
Buying Property In Istanbul
For Turks and foreign buyers, Istanbul is Turkey’s top housing market, with thousands of properties for sale. Real estate investors keen to follow the progress of mega projects like the planned route canal also enjoy long-term capital appreciation. Whether you want an off-plan, key-ready, resale apartment, villa or business premises, the market delivers many areas for housing.
As a Turkey-wide estate agent, we’ve walked thousands of customers through the Turkish property buying process and housing prices and can answer any questions. In the meantime, see our portfolio of apartments and villas for sale.
Each listing includes photos, property description, area information, and an enquiry form to find out more or book a time and date for viewing. Our blog also continues with articles discussing what to see, where to go, and highlights. We also highlight prominent areas and local news that will interest anyone considering buying a home in the Istanbul area of Turkey.
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