Istiklal Street (Turkish İstiklâl Caddesi) is one of the most popular pedestrian streets in Istanbul, located in the Beyoglu district. The street starts at Taksim Square and goes towards the Golden Horn Bay for about 1.4 kilometers. Istiklal Street has the shape of a boomerang, at the bending point of which Galatasaray Square with the Galatasaray Lyceum is located.
Street history
The history of the street begins at the end of the 15th century, when the first Muslim settlements began to appear around the territory of modern Istiklal Street. At that time, the Galata Tower already existed, and at the southern end of the modern street there was a gate from the city. Until this time, forests grew in this hilltop area. At the beginning of the next century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman I, the territory of Istiklal began to be built up with Muslim buildings. This place also attracted Europeans, who also began to build their own houses, open workshops and shops. Gradually, the street, which at that time was called Cadde-i Kebir (Main Avenue), turned into a center of trade and crafts. In 1628, French Catholics received land to build a church. The Church of Saint Louis of France, also known as the first Latin church in Beyoğlu, now stands on this site. In the 17th century, the street connected the area near the Galata Tower and the living quarters of the Galata Palace. At the same time, embassies of various European countries began to appear on the street. In the 18th century, the street began to extend to the north, along the way being built up with new churches (in 1724 the Church of St. Anthony of Padua was built, in 1769 - the Church of St. Mary), embassies and residential buildings. From the second half of the 19th century, the street began to change its format, more adapting to European standards, while maintaining Asian features. In 1875, the world's second metro line, the Tunel, was opened with just two stations, which is still in operation. At the beginning of the 20th century, with the proclamation of the republic, the street was renamed to its current name, which translated from Turkish means “Independence Street”. The name was intended to perpetuate the triumph of the Turkish War of Independence. At this time, Istiklal was a center of trade and recreation with many shops, cafes, restaurants, and hotels. In the 50s of the 20th century, there was a massive outflow of population from Istanbul associated with reforms. In 1955, during the Istanbul pogroms, Istiklal was one of the main sites of protests. After these events, the street fell into disrepair for a long time. Only in the 90s of the 20th century did the renewal of Istiklal begin - many new shops and restaurants were opened, and historical buildings were restored.
Istiklal today
In the 21st century, Istiklal is one of the most popular places in Istanbul among tourists. On the street there are shops of many international brands of clothing, jewelry, accessories, many cafes and restaurants serving mainly Turkish and European cuisines. A historic tram runs along the street. Many buildings...
Istiklal is the most famous street in Istanbul, which we simply could not miss, and to our great joy, we spent almost the entire day on Istiklal Street. Our walk began at the walls of the Galata Tower and ended at Taksim Square. We will share our impressions with you, and also tell you what to do and how not to spend a boring day on the liveliest and never sleeping Istiklal Street.
We were accompanied on our walk along Istiklal Street by our good friend Katya (Vitalik’s classmate), who has been living and working in Istanbul for about 5 years. The meeting was scheduled at the Galata Tower, which we really wanted to climb, but then, apparently from the overwhelming emotions of the long-awaited meeting, we changed our minds, leaving this idea for next time.
, so here we only 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 is visible from different areas of Istanbul.
Perhaps because of her 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 taking the T1 tram to the Karakoy stop, and then you will have to walk a little downhill.
Climbing up to the Galata Tower through the steep narrow streets of the Beyoğlu district, you do not notice fatigue, perhaps due to the fact that the tower itself is almost always visible on the horizon, and when you see the goal of your route, it is accordingly easier to walk.
Coming out of the narrow street to the square where 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.
Having sat down to rest on one of the many benches, we began to wait for Ekaterina. The Galata Tower is very popular among tourists visiting Istanbul, so the square near it has a lot of different souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. We have already written about that.
Finally, the meeting took place and without thinking for a long time, we set off towards Istiklal along one of the narrow streets, making our way between 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 quickly going somewhere or leisurely shopping. Istiklal is a pedestrian street, only a tram runs along it, which we will talk about later.
Let's touch a little on the history of this famous street.
Istiklal is a symbol of European Turkey, its independence, because in translation from Turkish Istiklal Street means Independence Street. The street has the shape of a boomerang; at the bend, Galatasaray Square is located. 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.
The bend of Istiklal Street - Galatasaray Square
Time passed and the street became more and more European, while having its own certain Asian features. It is noteworthy that under Istiklal Street there is an ancient metro, which during construction, more than 100 years ago, was the second metro in the world, and it is still in operation, 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. Even now, it is not uncommon to see various actions of citizens defending their rights.
But we, as tourists who came to see Istanbul, are primarily interested in what we can do and how to enjoy our time on the famous street, which is visited by more than 3 million people just on a weekend.
Performances by street musicians are very popular in Istiklal, and these can be either just people who picked up a musical instrument for the first time or professionals. We met the second ones on Istiklal Street. We met, that’s a loud word, or rather, we heard and we liked their work. So these guys are professional musicians who released their CD and, as part of its promotion, decided to perform, wherever you might think, on Istiklal Street, because sometimes you can meet anyone here. Look, some famous producer will come by.
In general, now we listen to their work, and the video recording remains as a memory, which we invite 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 some kind of instrument.
Historical tram – Nostalgik
The first thing that a person who has visited Istanbul associates Istiklal Street with is, of course, the famous red historical tram - Nostalgik, which is fully operational and does an excellent job of transporting people, while simultaneously serving as an unspoken symbol of the European part of Istanbul.
Historical tram - Istiklal
There is only one tram track along Istiklal Street, but in the central part there is a branching point for the tram tracks so that the trams can pass each other.
Anyone can ride a historical 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 on the facade. Parishioners from all over the world gather under the arches 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.
Inside, the Church of St. Anthony is decorated with frescoes with scenes from Holy Scripture, and the huge stained glass windows are decorated with multi-colored mosaics.
Also eye-catching is the courtyard, which houses the Church of St. Anthony and two red brick buildings, connected to each other by a balcony that forms an arch, under which you must pass to get to the temple.
Next, we suggest going a little away from Istiklal and immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the most popular place in the Beyoglu area - Nevizade Street. We pass by the local Fish Market, as well as shops with souvenirs and gifts that are definitely worth purchasing as a souvenir from your trip to Istanbul.
The fish market in Istanbul stretches across almost the entire Sahne Sok street and is called Galatasaray, as it is located near 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 there are a variety of bars, fish restaurants, nightclubs and much more. There are tables right on the narrow street, and employees of the establishments very politely invite you to sit down at them.
To our surprise, when we walked along Nevizade, 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 older people come here to just have dinner or meet friends, in general, have a great time, you can do that 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 luxury brands, but there are plenty of mid-price shops here, both European and Turkish.
Usually, behind the seemingly inconspicuous entrance to the store, there is a five-six storey shopping center, or a store of one brand, and one floor will definitely be allocated to discounted goods. 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 setting aside a separate day for shopping in Istiklal.
Well, after walking around Istiklal for a long time, we go for a bite to eat at one of the many catering establishments on the street - the Fedora bistro. We try delicious cuisine, share our emotions and get to know the local young population, who did not refuse our request to take a group photo for us as a souvenir.
Inexpensive accommodation - hotels and apartments
The conversation in the cafe turned to pressing problems, but what is the most important problem of most people who come to live in another city - of course, housing. But we were more interested in renting an apartment for a short period. So, according to our companion Ekaterina, the Airbnb service is very popular in Istanbul, where apartment owners rent out their own homes without intermediaries.
- Apartments in Istanbul with owners from Airbnb
- Istanbul Hotel Finder
If you have not yet purchased air tickets to Istanbul, then using the search services Skyskanner and Aviasales, you can significantly save on purchasing air tickets.
Our meeting with Ekaterina has almost come to an end, but before taking her 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 primarily known for? Of course, if we are talking about any demonstrations, rallies, or military parades, then this will take place in Istanbul at Taksim. That's how it happened. However, Taksim Square, in addition, is the key transport center of the city; from this place you can get to almost anywhere in Istanbul. Expensive hotels and shops of world-famous brands are also concentrated here.
On Taksim Square there is the Independence Monument, in the form of an oriental-style arch, it was erected in honor of the founding of the Turkish Republic. The monument depicts people who made a huge contribution to the independence of modern Turkey, led by the first president, Ataturk.
Also in Taksim Square in Istanbul, perhaps the largest national flag in Turkey is installed.
After seeing off our companion, we went to Taksim-Gezi Park, which is located near Taksim Square. Once again we are convinced how nice it is when, almost in the very center, they preserve a corner of greenery, where locals and guests of Istanbul can take a break from walking along the busy Istiklal Street and simply have a wonderful time among nature.
This very small park announced itself to the whole world just a few years ago. The clash between city residents and the Turkish police was covered by all the world media, and the reason for the clashes was that city residents opposed the demolition of ancient trees in Taksim Gezi Park and the construction of a shopping center in their place. But to our great joy, the trees will not be demolished.
Istanbul at night - the end of our walk
Istiklal captivated us so much with its unrestrained pace that we did not notice how the sun set and the city lights came on, revealing Istanbul to us from the 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 people.
Night Istanbul - Istiklal Street
At night, crowds of people are still in a hurry to get somewhere just as during the day, but we stopped at a Turkish ice cream seller - 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 accompanied by a good mood, weather and excellent company, in the person of Ekaterina, to whom we send our huge greetings through our blog.
On the map
To make it easier for you to navigate the places discussed in the article, we have marked them on the map. You can easily find Istiklal Street and Nevizade Street, as well as the Galata Tower, Taksim Square in Istanbul and Gezi Park, and we also recommend checking out the fish market in Istanbul.
But not everywhere you can find a street where Catholic churches and nightclubs, museums and cinemas coexist, an ancient lyceum (with a competition of more than 1000 people per 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 still operates here and a unique metro line with only two stations has been built, a street along which about 3 million people pass every day!
Welcome to Istiklal - the heart of Beyoğlu and the place A must visit in Istanbul!
The history of the street begins during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (are there any fans of the series “The Magnificent Century” among my readers? Istiklal began to be built up precisely in those times).
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 Türkiye declared itself a Republic and the street was renamed to its current name, which means “Independence Street.”
In 1955 the street was seriously damaged during the Istanbul pogroms and was in decline until the 90s. Now the street is being renovated, historical buildings are being restored, and many shops, restaurants and cafes are open.
2. Where it is and how to get there
Istiklal Street starts at Taksim Square and goes towards. We walked from the Galata Tower, so 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 and where you are going.
2.1. Hiking route from Sultanahmet
Basically, 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 exactly this way, but we were very tired, because... It took quite a long time to walk. But if you don’t have heavy suitcases and/or small children, then this is a great method!
2.2. Public transport
You can also get to Istiklal from Sultanahmet by high-speed tram T1 to Kabatas station, then change to the funicular and get to 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. Tours of Istiklal
You can also walk along Istiklal Street as part of a tour group. Plus - they will tell you historical aspects and unusual facts, minus - the excursion time is limited and there will be other tourists on the excursion besides you.
3. Photowalk
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 Tunel metro station:
Some buildings are under reconstruction:
Even sellers of simits (sesame bagels) styled their carts to resemble a historical tram:
Beginning of Istiklal Street (from the side of the Galata Tower):
We immediately 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 ship. We will never know whether this is true or not, but the fact that the building was recognized as a monument of palace architecture is a fact!
Unfortunately, the street is not maintained, which is why 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:
Name plate in different languages. It’s interesting how the same name is pronounced in different languages - Giovanni, Jean, John:
Interior of the church:
Inside the church:
Monument 1923-1973:
Honestly, I haven’t found any information about this monument (1923 is the year of Turkey’s independence), if you know what it’s dedicated to, share it in the comments!
The street is decorated with flags:
Flower Passage, an architectural monument built back in 1876 on the site of the theater. Initially, shops here were located on the 1st floor, the remaining floors were occupied by residential apartments.
Nowadays, the ground 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, you can also watch street musicians perform here:
You can plot a route for your car by entering the name of the place from where you want to leave and where to get there. Enter the names of points in the nominative case and in full, with the name of the city or region separated by a comma. Otherwise, the online route map may show the wrong path.
The free Yandex map contains detailed information about the selected area, including the boundaries of regions, territories and regions of Russia. In the “layers” section, you can switch the map to “Satellite” mode, then you will see a satellite image of the selected city. The “People's Map” layer shows metro stations, airports, names of neighborhoods and streets with house numbers. This is an online interactive map - it cannot be downloaded.
Nearest hotels (hotels, hostels, apartments, guest houses)
View all hotels in the area on the map
Five nearby hotels are shown above. Among them there are both regular hotels and hotels with several stars, as well as cheap accommodation - hostels, apartments and guest houses. These are usually private economy class mini-hotels. The hostel is a modern hostel. An apartment is a private apartment for daily rent, and a guest house is a large private house, where the owners themselves usually live and rent out rooms for guests. You can rent a guest house with an all-inclusive service, a bathhouse and other attributes of a good holiday. Check with the owners for details here.
Usually hotels are located closer to the city center, including inexpensive ones, near the metro or train station. But if this is a resort area, then the best mini-hotels, on the contrary, are located further from the center - on the seashore or river bank.
Nearest airports
| Type | Name | Code | City | Code | Distance |
| Airport | IST | Istanbul (TR) | IST | 17 km. | |
| Airport | SAW | Istanbul (TR) | IST | 35 km. | |
| Airport | Cengiz Topel | KCO | Kocaeli (TR) | KCO | 88 km. |
| Airport | Yenisehir | YEI | Bursa (TR) | YEI | 105 km. |
| Airport | Bandirma | BDM | Bandirma (TR) | BDM | 125 km. |
| Airport | Corlu | TEQ | Tekirdag (TR) | TEQ | 143 km. |
| Airport | Balikesir | BZI | Balikesir (TR) | BZI | 187 km. |
| Airport | Anadolu University | AOE | Eskisehir (TR) | ESK | 202 km. |
| Airport | Eskisehir | ESK | Eskisehir (TR) | ESK | 208 km. |
| Airport | Bourgas | BOJ | Burgas (BG) | BOJ | 224 km. |
When is it more profitable to fly? Chip flights.
You can choose one of the nearest airports and buy a plane ticket without leaving your seat. The search for the cheapest air tickets takes place online and the best offers are displayed to you, including for direct flights. As a rule, these are electronic tickets for a promotion or discount from many airlines. Having selected the appropriate date and price, click on it and you will be taken to the company’s official website, where you can book and buy the required ticket.
Istiklal Street in Istanbul is considered the “heart of the city” and one of the most popular - at least 3 million people pass along 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 there are partygoers and nightclub regulars. The 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 developed rapidly during the time of Suleiman the First. Following the Muslims, Europeans began to settle on the street several centuries ago. 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. Boutiques of the world's largest brands, cozy cafes, popular clubs and discos, fashionable restaurants and hotels are located here. There are also consulates of many countries, including Russia, located on the street. The symbol of the pedestrian street is the authentic Nostalgia tram, which first set off back in 1871.
By the way, in addition to the street, there is the Istiklal Mosque of the same name, but it is not 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 Bay.
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 high-speed tram to the Karakoy stop, and from there walk up the hill to Galata. In order to enter the tram, you need to buy tokens, they are sold near each stop in vending machines, the cost of one is approximately 2 liras.
2. The northern part, which starts from Taksim Square, can be reached by metro to Taksim station.
3. Buy an excursion. Read about this method below.
Excursions to Istiklal Street - programs, prices, where to buy
Istiklal does not fall asleep for a minute, including thanks to excursions of various themes, which are held both at night and during the day. On the street there are iconic Istanbul attractions: the Galata Tower, witness to the arrival of the first inhabitants, the monastery of the Mevlevi dervishes, the oldest metro line, St. Anthony's Cathedral, the central Taksim Square. In addition to historical excursions, guests are offered shopping tours, romantic walks along the evening Istiklal, tastings of local specialties, master classes on folk crafts, and cooking lessons.
You will find a large number of interesting excursions to Istiklal Street on the tourism portal. We recommend it to everyone, because... They themselves have used his services many times, and not only in Istanbul. In our selection we present 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, 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, and also look into the courtyards and entrances to find the magnificent features of Constructivism and art deco. Be sure to visit Taksim and the Galata Tower, as well as one of the cafes “for locals”, where they will prepare tart tea or traditional Turkish coffee on the sand for you.
The cost of the excursion is 107€ for 1-3 participants.
- 2nd place —
To visit the best bars, clubs and discos in Istiklal, it is worth going on a night tour. Being accompanied by a local regular ensures safety and access to the best authentic sites, including the famous 360Istanbul. You will learn about the peculiarities of a night's rest, understand what you should beware of, where you should not turn, and what offers it is better to refuse. Be sure to try signature cocktails, have a blast at one of the noisy parties or listen to jazz in a popular club. A useful life hack from the guide - instructions “How to relieve a hangover the Turkish way.” In addition to Istiklal, visit the bohemian Kadikoy district, where you can try a cocktail “From Oblomov” or rock out to Turkish rock and roll.
The cost of the excursion is 124€ for 1-4 partygoers.
- 3rd place —
The tour will begin from Istiklal Street, where luxury restaurants and inexpensive eateries, cathedrals of all religions and night discos coexist perfectly. You will examine the Galata Tower and learn about Russian emigrants whose fates are connected with Shishkhane. During your further walk around the city, see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkani Palace, stroll through Gulhane Park and admire the views of the Bosphorus while hearing the legend of the Maiden Tower. The end of the excursion will be a cup of excellent coffee/tea or tasting of local hookah (optional), which you can enjoy while the guide tells you about the modern life of the Turks. Finally, the guide will give useful tips on where to buy original souvenirs, how to profitably buy a museum card for independent sightseeing, and where it is better to book a table for dinner.
The cost of the excursion is 150€ for 1-3 guests.
History of Istiklal Street
Foreigners have long settled in the area of today's Beyoğlu region. This area was called Pera, which means “beyond,” “on the other side.” The fact is that the Genoese, who settled the Galata area, left a nearby hill outside the walls. The forests remained there. But over time, the forests were cut down. And in their places vineyards were planted. After the fortress walls in Galata turned out to be unnecessary, the population began to build houses in Peru. Mostly rich Christians engaged in trade, as well as merchants, moneylenders and bankers settled here.
In 1831 there was a strong fire in Pera. But Pera rebuilt herself. New 5-7 storey houses were built in the European style. Pera's plan also changed. The network of intricate streets and dead ends took on a more logical appearance. And the main artery of the area became Cadde-i-Kibir Street (Turkish “Cadde-i Kebir”, current Istiklal), which translated means “Great Street”. Just like today, the street was lined with expensive hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, and embassies. The street had a completely European appearance and in 1923, after the proclamation of the Turkish Republic and the end of the War of Independence, Cadde-i-Kibir was renamed Istiklal Caddesi, i.e. Independence street.
Istiklal Street today
Today Istiklal is the busiest street in the city, life on which is in full swing day and night, without stopping for a minute - from the very early morning the street is filled with all kinds of trucks with new goods for local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, sellers begin their trade simits, the street is gradually filled with crowds of passers-by - 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 come out. The number of bars, cafes, restaurants, meyhanes, nightclubs in the Istiklal area is huge, they are located on the main street and in alleys, simple and chic, overlooking the Bosphorus or the bustling Istiklal, with a varied menu and entertainment programs.
Along the almost 3 km of the street you can find two Catholic cathedrals - the Cathedral of St. Mary and the Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Triad, an American church, an Armenian church, several mosques and synagogues.
You can start spending money on Taksim Square, where the 3-story Demirören shopping center is located. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm. On 19 thousand sq.m. there are more than 40 stores, including the legendary American GAP and Guess, clothing women, men and children around the world. In Demirören there are stores that supply men's clothing and accessories Brandroom, the German brand Tchibo, which, in addition to coffee, also produces clothing collections 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 numerous shops on Istiklal Street, it is difficult to ignore the boutiques of famous world 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 producers to purchase Turkish sweets, leather, fur or textile products, magnificent porcelain, natural cosmetics, and jewelry.
Istiklal is an exclusively pedestrian street, the only exception being the ancient tram that has been running along the street since 1871. The famous old tram barely filters 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, like a hundred years ago, he walks 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, wonderful icli kofte - a traditional Turkish dish - small cutlets of minced meat 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 minds - a viscous, gum-like, cold mass, the main components of which are orchis and goat's milk. The spectacle of the ice cream maker pulling out and spinning huge clouds of ice cream on a long stick, deftly turning, stretching and throwing them over, deserves special attention.
Istiklal in the evening and at night - clubs and bars
While walking along the street, you will definitely meet numerous street musicians and dancers demonstrating their talents. In this way, Istiklal is very similar to Moscow Arbat. Well, after dark, when the shops close, the doors open to fashionable clubs. We invite you to explore the 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 am. Entrance ticket – 50 liras. The club is very fond of foreigners, including Russians. Lots of free tables. The club's specialty is good cocktails and shots.
Nardis Jass Club
An intimate and very atmospheric jazz club near the Galata Tower is open every day except Sunday. Guests begin to be admitted from 8 pm, and are seen off at one thirty at night. Jazz performances start at half past ten, but it is better to arrive early to grab a table (there are not enough seats in the hall).
360 Istanbul
The newest club on the roof of an Istanbul high-rise (building 8) will delight you with excellent cuisine, stylish interiors and a pleasant lounge. On Fridays and Saturdays the establishment is open from noon to 4 am, on other days from noon to two am. The penthouse with all-round panoramic glazing 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 in charge of the mood of the guests, inviting everyone to dance at a non-stop party.
In terms of 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 liras 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 located not on Istiklal itself, but on a street that runs perpendicularly. Prices are more than reasonable. The menu is based on local cuisine. Many visitors praise our analogues of stuffed cabbage dumplings and Turkish pies with all kinds of fillings.
We talked above about 360 Istanbul, where, in addition to the disco club, there is also a luxurious restaurant. You can also look into the Guney Restaurant next to the Galata Tower - by local standards the prices there are not the lowest, but compared to European ones, they are almost nothing. 🙂 A two-course lunch with free appetizers 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, in which it is especially pleasant to eat. For dinner for 20 euros you can order, for example, a delicious kebab with pistachio, Turkish doner (something like kebab) 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 daytime and nighttime Istiklal.
