Travel Directory – If you don’t like crowds or don’t like situations with too many people, then Istklal Street is not the right place. Because on Istiklal Street, you will find around three million people.
Here’s what happens every day and throughout the weekend on this huge Istanbul shopping street. But with several shops, bookstores, art galleries, theaters, libraries, cafes, pubs, nightclubs, several monumental pastry shops, restaurants and coffee shops with 360 degree views of Istanbul, this street is one thing to visit when in Istanbul.
Istiklal Street or Istiklal Avenue – Istiklal Caddesi in Turkey stretches from Taksim Square almost to the popular Galata Tower. This 1 km road joins Taksim Square to Karakoy and connects the modern city to the monumental city.
Just down the street in the Tunel neighborhood you can find the 2nd oldest underground station in the world (Tünel, built in 1875).
Located in the Taksim neighborhood of the Beyoglu area, Istiklal Avenue, formerly known as Grande Rue de Pera , is Istanbul’s most popular street and without a doubt, one of the most popular face-to-face points, the center of tourist activity and beautiful streets of Istanbul.
This street is not just a shopping street, it is surrounded by several important buildings, such as prayer rooms, synagogues, churches (Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, …) and academic institutions from various European countries and embassies and consulates.
Sometimes compared to the Champs – Elysées but possibly more varied with some small galleries and shopping streets. Its name is “Istiklal” which means “Freedom” in Turkish and commemorates the victory in the Turkish War of Independence.
How Turkey’s Istiklal Street Becomes Popular?
Known as Cadde-i Kebir (Grand Avenue) throughout Ottoman times, when it attracted a crowd of scholars, it later became the place for excursions to the French Levantine, which recognized it as Grand Rue de Pera. It became Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Street) after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
Old Shop On Istiklal Street
Unfortunately, rising rents and creeping upgrades are forcing out some of the oldest living shops and have been a lot different when you compare them to some of the old Istiklal street photos.
He’s already lost several of the monumental stores of Emek Cinema, Inch Patisseriei, Rebul Pharmacy, and Robinson Crusoe – all of which have inevitably closed or moved in recent years.
Also read: Turkey’s Galata Bridge, Romantic Vacation in Istanbul
One of the very interesting old patisserie, Markiz, still has its glamourous art nouveau interior and two two wall panels made in France, but is now a (quite standard) fast food restaurant.
What’s Special About Taksim?
Crowning the street at the northern end is Taksim Square, a location that has been timed and returned as the site of many demonstrations and protests, particularly the Gezi Park protests of 2013. Inside is a statue of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and it is a symbolic place for many.
Things to do and see on IStiklal Street
Istiklal Street is the busiest street in Istanbul. And, every day and night, in summer and winter, at any time you can always see a flood of locals and tourists here.
Located in the Beyoglu area, originally called Pera , which is called the center of arts and culture. Istiklal Street walks away from Taksim Square , north end, and ends at Tunel Square , south end, which leads to Galipdede Street and to the popular Galata Mevlevihanesi (Dervish Lodge) with its monumental gate if you take it a step further, to the popular Galata Tower . In the middle of the road, there is a break in Galatarasay square.
Also read: Bodrum Castle, Museum of Underwater Archeology in Turkey
Istiklal Street is lined with remnants of 19th-century palaces, mansions and embassies that are today home to popular brands. Equally busy at night with several shops, bars, cafes, discotheques, clubs and restaurants. It is stated that up to one million people walk up or down the Istiklal Street every day.
* Holy Trinity Church (Hagia Triada)
The Hagia Triada Church is at the entrance to Istiklal Street, on the left, and is visible to all with its dome and twin bell towers. Founded in 1880, this is the newly restored Greek Church of the Holy Trinity.
* French Consulate
The French Consulate building is a beautiful building right at the start of Istiklal Street, on the left. It is a cultural center offering French lessons, events and festivals throughout the year. There is also the Armenian Catholic Surp Voskeperan Church which is behind the consulate.
* Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
The wax museum and interlude center is at a site of 2,000 mtr. square of the Grand Pera building on Istiklal Avenue. Madame Tussauds is a museum chain for life-sized wax replicas of popular celebrities and monumental icons and historical and cultural heroes from Turkish history, along with current celebrities from art, sport and politics. A happy location especially for families with children.
* Flower Passage (Cicek Pasaji)
Dating back to 1870, and while some white Russian refugees from the Bolshevik Revolution used to sell flowers here, the monumental Flower Passage (Cicek Pasaji), is a popular game venue where visitors can enjoy the lively atmosphere of its popular bustling restaurants. with dinner. meze, raki and gypsy musicians.
* Nevizade Street
Nevizade is a famous street and nighttime spot behind the Flower Passage, in the middle of Istiklal Street, where visitors can enjoy the bustling atmosphere of its narrow streets with eateries, cafes, fish restaurants, meyhanes, places to eat. takes up space and a lot.
* Fish market
Just off the side of the Flower Passage, the Fish Market (Balik Pazari) is a monumental market place and where you are likely to have an amazing culinary experience. There are a variety of booths selling delicious street food such as midye dolma (scallops stuffed with rice), midye tava (scallops cooked in sizzling oil), kokorec (skewered and grilled mutton or lamb scallops) and many more. If you take a step further into the market, you are likely to find a wide variety of shops selling vegetables, fruits, caviar, fish and more.
* Galatasaray Hamam Monumental (Turkish Bath)
Situated as far as an alley that runs past the Flower Passage, the Galatasaray Hammam (Turkish Bath) was created by the second Sultan Beyazit in 1481. Working for hundreds of years, it is the perfect location to experience the 500-year-old traditional bathing culture of the Ottoman Empire.
* French Street
Located on a back street around Galatasaray Square, in the middle of Istiklal Street, French Street is a beautiful street made in French style. Originally known as Algeria Street,.
Visitors can enjoy French flavors and French impact in the pretty narrow alleys, walkways, beautiful multi-storey buildings, boutiques and galleries, pastry shops, wine houses, cafes and restaurants specializing in French cuisine and wine.
* Church of St. Anthony from Padua
St Antony of the Church of Padua, also known as St Anthony’s Cathedral or St Antonine’s, is an Italian neo-Gothic style church built between 1906 and 1911, by the Italian architect Giulio Mongeri. is the largest church in Istanbul and has the largest Catholic commune. A must see church in Istanbul.
* Asmalimescit
Asmalimescit is a popular street and nighttime spot between Tepebasi and Istiklal Street. Visitors can enjoy the bustling atmosphere of its narrow streets with cafes, eateries, open-air art performances, and more.
This area is another major nightlife hub in Istanbul. This place can keep visitors entertained until the early hours of the morning.
* Pera Museum
The Pera Museum is an individual museum built by the Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation in 2005. The museum is in the Tepebasi neighborhood across the far right of Istiklal street, in a stunning monumental building originally thought to be the Bristol Hotel.
The permanent collections of Orientalist Paintings, Anatolian Weights and Measures, and Kutahya Changes and Ceramics are displayed at the Pera Museum and various other exhibitions, publicity, visual-audio events, teaching activities.
Nightlife On Istiklal Street
Beyoglu (the area around Istiklal) never sleeps, and is the busiest nightlife direction in the city. From dirty student caves to exclusive rooftop bars, and from underground techno to traditional Turkish live music – it’s all here.
Also read: Best Time for Recreation in Turkey with Your Beloved Family
Our favorite bars include Alex’s place, Propaganda and Münferit. However, you can always stay outside and enjoy the music being played by the various buskers.
The Best Way to Traverse Istiklal Street
You’ll see below if there are some places, places and panoramas along Istiklal Street and beyond the Beyoglu area that are worth exploring. You can visit and explore all these panoramas on foot.
Step To Istiklal Street
Either take the metro or bus to Taksim Square and walk down, or take the tram to Karakoy, from where you can take the 19th-century subway (or walk up the steep hill via Galata Tower) to Tunel Square and walk up.
One of the happiest steps is to watch the road by riding the attractive red Nostalgic Tramvay, which stretches up and down that far.
Istiklal Street Data
Istiklal Street is the most popular street in Istanbul and without a doubt, as one of the most popular meeting points, the center of tourist activity and the beautiful streets of Istanbul.
* Located in: Istanbul, Turkey
* Length: 1.4 km
* City: Istanbul
Those are the articles that we organize about Istiklal Street in the heart of the City and the Istanbul Recreation Center which is quite popular. Hopefully it can help you.[]
