How to get from Sultanahmet to istiklal. Istiklal Street - the busiest street in Istanbul
Perhaps today in Istanbul, the most famous and popular street is Istiklal, along which about three million people walk on just one weekend. By the way, Istiklal Street in Istanbul, which has a slightly unusual name for any European, is called Grande Rue De Pera by the French, and the English-speaking population of the planet is called Independence Avenue.
Located in the Beyoglu (Pera) district, this elegant street, about one and a half kilometers long, is unusually densely built up with various buildings and structures, which are characterized by a special and unusual architecture for Istanbul. On Istiklal in Istanbul you can see boutiques and large shops, art galleries, cinema and art theaters, libraries, music and book stores, popular restaurants and cafes, pubs and traditional lokants, famous nightclubs.
The Pera region (literally "outside") in Istanbul was outside the city and was planted with vineyards. Gradually, this area was mastered by wealthy foreigners, building mansions and offices here. Finally, Istiklal Street was built up between the 19th and 20th centuries and was named Cadde-i Kebir or Big Avenue. Turkish intellectuals, artists and writers lived here. Gradually, the houses on Istiklal were settled 
Europeans, as well as the assimilated French and Italians, who gave it the name Grande Rue de Pe "ra. After the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in May 1923, the street was finally renamed Istiklal (independence), exalting the triumph of victory in the war of independence of Turkey. For houses and buildings Istiklal in Istanbul is characterized by an amazing mixture of architectural styles: neoclassicism, neo-gothic, renaissance, renaissance, art nouveau and even art deco, characteristic of the early years of the Turkish republic.Istiklal Street begins in the neighborhoods adjacent to the Galata Tower and ultimately ends at Taksim Square.
Istiklal Street is known primarily for the concentration of many embassies and consulates, including France, Greece, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. On this street you can see immediately 
several religious buildings belonging to different denominations. This is the Turkish Aga Camii Mosque; Roman Catholic Santa Maria Draperis and S. Antonio di Padova; Greek Orthodox Haghia Triada; Armenian Uc Horan. Istiklal Street in Istanbul is well known to fans of the art of Agatha Christie, who worked on the novel "Murder on the Orient Express" at the Pera Palas Hotel. The so-called "Flower Passage", built in a 19th century building, is now known as some of the ever-crowded fish restaurants. In this charming place, you will pay a lot for your seafood addiction. A noisy fish market is now located on the site of the burnt-out theater. There are many catering establishments on the street where you can quickly grab a bite to eat with Turkish cuisine, 
but check prices are on average 20% higher than in adjoining lanes. Several large clothing stores are usually aimed at tourists.
Istiklal is a pedestrianized street constantly filled with a diverse crowd of tourists and locals. Here you can see "wandering" musicians of all kinds and stripes, local youth hang out here, and pickpockets often wield here. By evening, Istiklal is filled with drunken tourists, pimps and extortionists, for example, in the form of pretty girls who take you out for drinks in bars. Moreover, at night, Istiklal in Istanbul can become an arena for protests by Turkish youth. You can easily become an unwitting observer of the construction of barricades, loud banging of firecrackers, and getting a rubber bullet or being in the shower of a water cannon is just an ordinary thing. You shouldn't book a hotel in this noisy and not peaceful area.
Historical transport on Istiklal street
The tram route has again been laid along Istiklal Street, which has become a true symbol of Istanbul. can be found in photographs and videos about the Turkish metropolis. Another type of transport is no less interesting - the so-called. tunel or, more correctly, in Russian - a tunnel. Built back in 1875, this first version of the Turkish metro already connected Istiklal Street with the marina 
Karakei. An avid tourist should definitely try both types of archaic transport 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 along it every day. In Turkish, the name sounds like Istiklal Caddesi, which literally means "independence" from Persian. It is always crowded and noisy: during the day there are many tourists and shopaholics, in the evening - party-goers and regulars of nightclubs. 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 received rapid development during the time of Suleiman the First. Following the Muslims, Europeans began to settle on the streets 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. There are boutiques of the world's largest brands, cozy cafes, popular clubs and discos, fashionable restaurants and hotels. Consulates of many countries, including Russia, are located on the street. The symbol of the pedestrianized street is the authentic tram "Nostalgia", which first set out on a journey back 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 k.
How to get to Istiklal on your own
You can get to it in at least three ways.
1. In the southern part of the street adjacent to can be reached by light rail 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. The northern part, which starts from Taksim Square, can be reached by 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 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 iconic Istanbul sights: the witness of the arrival of the first inhabitants Galata Tower, the abode 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 a lot of interesting excursions to Istiklal Street on the tourist portal. We recommend it to everyone, because they themselves have repeatedly used his services, and not only in Istanbul. In our selection, we will present the three most interesting and rich author's programs for Istiklal.
Top 3 excursions to Istiklal
- 1st 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 Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings and passages of the 19th century, the majestic Catholic cathedrals, the most famous cafes, the quarter of old-timers and antiques, the largest art galleries, shops of local designers, as well as 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 in one of the cafes "for the locals", where tart tea or traditional Turkish coffee on the sand will be prepared 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. Accompanied by a local patron guarantees safety and visits to the best authentic places, including the famous 360 Istanbul. You will learn about the peculiarities of a night's rest, you will understand what to watch out for, where you should not turn away from which offers it is better to refuse. Be sure to try signature cocktails, be able to come off at one of the noisy parties or listen to jazz in a popular club. Useful life hack from the guide - instruction "How to remove a hangover in Turkish". In addition to Istiklal, visit the bohemian district of Kadikoy, where you can try a cocktail "From Oblomov" or light up with Turkish rock and roll.
Excursion cost - 124 € for 1-4 party-goers.
- 3rd place —
The excursion will start from Istiklal Street, where luxurious restaurants and inexpensive eateries, cathedrals of all religions and night discos coexist perfectly. You will explore the Galata Tower and learn about Russian emigrants whose fates are connected with Shishkhan. During a further walk around the city, see the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkany Palace, stroll through Gulhane Park and admire the views of the Bosphorus, hearing the legend of the Maiden Tower. The end of the excursion will be a cup of excellent coffee / tea or a tasting of a 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 advice on where to buy original souvenirs, how to profitably buy a museum card for self-sightseeing, and where it is better to book a table for dinner.
Excursion cost - 150 € for 1-3 guests.
History of Istiklal Street
Foreigners have long settled in the territory of today's Beyoglu district. 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 broken. After the fortress walls in Galata were unnecessary, the population began to build up houses in Peru. Basically, wealthy Christians engaged in trade, as well as merchants, usurers and bankers, settled here.
In 1831, there was a strong fire in Pere. But Pera was rebuilt again. New 5-7-storey buildings were built in European style. Pera's plan also changed. The network of tangled streets and dead ends has become more logical. And the main artery of the district became Jadde-i-Kibir street (tur. “Cadde-i Kebir” present Istiklal), which means “Great Street”. As it is today, the street housed expensive hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, and embassies. The street had a completely European look and in 1923, after the proclamation of the Turkish Republic and the end of the war of independence, Jadde-i-Kibir was renamed Istiklal Caddesi, i.e. 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 the street is filled with all kinds of trucks with new goods for local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, sellers start their trade simits, 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 overcrowded, fun begins in bars and restaurants, street musicians creep out. The number of bars, cafes, restaurants, meykhana, nightclubs in the Istiklal area is huge, they are located on the main street and in the side streets, simple and chic, overlooking the Bosphorus or the bustling Istiklal, with a varied menu and entertainment programs.
For 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 the Holy Triad, the American Church, the Armenian Church, several mosques and synagogues.
You can start spending money even at Taksim Square, where the 3-storey shopping center Demireren is located. It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. On 19 thousand sq. M. hosted more than 40 stores, including the legendary American GAP and Guess, dressing women, men and children around the world. In Demirøren there are shops supplying men's clothing and accessories Brandroom, the German brand Tchibo, which, in addition to coffee, also produces collections of clothing 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 worth looking into local shops to buy Turkish sweets, leather, fur or textiles, gorgeous porcelain, natural cosmetics, and jewelry.
Istiklal is an exclusively pedestrianized street, with the only exception being the ancient tram that has been running down the street since 1871. The famous old tram barely seeps through the crowds of people strolling along the street. When cars filled the city, for some time the tram was removed 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 taste all kinds of Turkish delicacies! For example, a wonderful ichli köfte - a traditional Turkish dish - small minced meat cutlets 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, chewing gum-like, cold mass, the main components of which are orchis and goat's milk. The spectacle deserves special attention when the ice cream man pulls out and twists on a long stick huge clubs of ice cream, deftly flipping, stretching and throwing them.
Istiklal in the evening and at night - clubs and bars
As you walk along the street, you will surely come across numerous street musicians and dancers who showcase their talents. In this way, Istiklal is very similar to the Moscow Arbat. Well, with the onset of darkness, when the shops close, the doors are thrown open by trendy clubs. We suggest exploring the three most popular nightlife spots on 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 liras. The club is very fond of foreigners, including Russians. Lots of free tables. The specialty of the club is good cocktails and shots.
Nardis jass club
An intimate and very atmospheric jazz club near the Galata Tower is open every day except Sundays. Guests begin to let in from 8 pm, and see off - at one thirty in the morning. Jazz performances begin at half past ten, but it is better to come in advance to take 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 establishment 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 with the participation of talented vocalists, dancers and actors are held for the visitors of the restaurant. After midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, DJs are responsible for the mood of the guests, who invite 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 have 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 perpendicularly. The prices are more than reasonable. The menu is based on local cuisine. Many visitors praise the analogs of our stuffed cabbage rolls and Turkish pies with all kinds of fillings.
About 360 Istanbul, where, in addition to a disco club, there is also a luxurious restaurant, we have described above. 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, almost for nothing. 🙂 A two-course lunch with free snacks and bread will cost around € 20. Meat eaters will love the menu at one of the popular kebabs on Istiklal Street - Münhasir Döner Kebab. On the top floor, there is a winter garden, which is especially pleasant to eat. For dinner for 20 euros you can order, for example, a delicious kebab with pistachio, Turkish doner (something like a 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.
Crowded (İstiklal caddesi) Is another symbol of the city and the center of nightlife. Istiklal is not just a street full of trendy shops, nightclubs and restaurants. It is a symbol of European Turkey.
Istiklal street on the map of Istanbul
Istiklal Street is located in Istanbul in the Beyoglu district on the north side of the Golden Horn. Istiklal Street starts from and goes south towards the Golden Horn towards Galata. Istiklal Street is almost 2 km long.
Open in a larger size.
How to get to Istiklal street
To get to Istiklal Street in Istanbul, you first need to decide which part of it you want to get to. The closest transport points to get to Istiklal Street are Taksim Metro (to get to the northern part of Istiklal). And the metro Shishkhane, Tunel, and the Karakoy high-speed tram stop (to get to the southern part of Istiklal street). How to get to Istiklal Street from Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen airports, Bayrampasa and Harem bus stations, railway stations, Sultanahmet, Laleli, Aksaray districts, see. On Istiklal Street itself, there is only one type of public transport - an old tram. since Istiklal street is pedestrian. It can be used to get from Taksim Square to Tunel.
History of Istiklal Street
Foreigners have long settled in the area of today's Beyoglu district. And 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 broken. After the fortress walls in Galata were unnecessary, the population began to build up houses in Peru. Basically, rich Christians from trade and finance settled here - merchants, usurers. bankers. In 1831, there was a strong fire in Pere. But every cloud has a silver lining. Thanks to this, Pera was rebuilt. New 5-7-storey buildings were built in European style. Pera's plan also changed. The network of tangled streets and dead ends has become more logical. Jadde-i-Kibir street became the main artery of the district. As it is today, the street housed expensive hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, and embassies. The street had a completely European look. In 1923 Jadde-i-Kibir was renamed Istiklal Jaddesi, i.e. Independence street.
After the 17th year of the 20th century, Istiklal turns into almost a Russian street. At this time, Istanbul (Constantinople) was overwhelmed by a wave of emigrants from Russia who fled from revolutionary achievements. They preferred to live in the Istiklal area. There was not enough work for everyone. Yesterday's officers of the Russian army sold pies and newspapers here, and the aristocratic young ladies in flowers and postcards. And someone and themselves. Russian taverns opened all around and Russian speech was heard. By the 30s, the bulk of the emigrants left Istanbul and dispersed around the world.
Istiklal street today, photo
Like many years ago, Istiklal Street continues to be the “center of Europe” not only in Istanbul, but throughout Turkey, which is gradually moving away from the precepts of Ataturk, becoming more and more religious. But Istiklal is still “Europe”. On Istiklal, you can easily meet Turkish girls in dresses that are frank for Muslim women, informal youth, freaks, musicians of all stripes and artists. Sexual minorities are also found here, although they prefer the neighboring Tarlabashi more. Rallies and demonstrations are often held here. Recently, unfortunately, a large number of beggars and beggars - refugees from Syria - have appeared on Istiklal. In the morning, as a rule, Istiklal is not very crowded, the street just wakes up. But soon there will be crowds here.
Despite the fact that there are many expensive hotels, shops, restaurants in the Istiklal area, the street is designed for everyone. It is not difficult to find an inexpensive hotel, shop or cafe. Street food on Istiklal is also present - vendors of chestnuts, simits, corn are at your service. And you can go for a walk, listen to local musicians, see paintings by street artists and in many galleries, dance with local residents, and you can do it for free.
The main buildings of today's Istiklal Street date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She doesn't look Turkish at all, but rather European. And she even had another completely non-Turkish name - Grande Rue de Pera.
As before, the consulates of various states - Greece, Germany - are located on Istiklal. Great Britain.The Russian consulate is also located at Istiklal.
There are also characteristic buildings on Istiklal in the style of European ones - passages. One of them is the Flower Passage, built in 1876.
Another symbol of Istanbul, and of course, of Istiklal Street itself is an old tram, aka a retro tram, or nostalgic. This is the only public transport available on this street as it is considered pedestrian. You can ride the old tram along the entire Istiklal Street from Tunel to Taksim Square. Tram traffic along Istiklal Street has been open since 1871. And although it was closed in the era of cars, over time it was returned again.
Numerous coffee houses and pastry shops beckon with their assortment, which is displayed in the windows.
I called to one of the many restaurants in Istiklal.
The fish market in the Istiklal district is located on the site of a burnt-out theater.
Walking around Istiklal is safe enough at any time of the day. But it is worth remembering such moments. You should not completely relax and lose your vigilance. It must be remembered that, as in any place of a mass gathering of people, pickpockets and burglars are operating here. Also, since rallies are held in the Istiklal area and sports fans gather, it happens that this does not always become peaceful. Sometimes the police use water cannons and gas. At such moments, it is better to leave with Istiklal.
It is worth remembering that Istiklal and the surrounding streets are the largest concentration of bars and nightclubs in Istanbul. This means that the closer to night, the more drunken citizens of different nationalities appear on the streets. The adequacy of the behavior of these citizens cannot always be guaranteed. And if you are in a bar or a nightclub, then remember that a pretty girl who is hooked up with you is likely to turn out to be a consumer who will gladly empty your wallet.
It is worth remembering about Istiklal as the center of nightlife when choosing a hotel, if you want to settle in Istiklal or in the nearby alleys. The close presence of nightlife will not always guarantee you silence - music from the room, visitors who walked around, talking loudly near the entrance - there is a high probability that you will have to deal with this.
Both on Istiklal Street itself, and in its immediate surroundings, there are various attractions. There are many religious buildings - churches, mosques, synagogues. Each attraction will be discussed separately.
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 per seat!) And the 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 operating 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 the Beyoglu district and the place must-see in Istanbul!
The history of the emergence of the street begins during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (are there fans of the “Magnificent Century” series among my readers? Istiklal began to be built up at that time).
In the 17th century the street connected the Galata Tower and the Galata Palace, then 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 have been opened.
2. Where is located 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 down the street Şahkapısı Sk, and then already 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 your journey and where you are going.
2.1. Walking 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 I had to go on foot for quite a long time. But if you don't have heavy suitcases and / or small children, then this is a great way!
2.2. Public transport
You can also get to Istiklal from Sultanahmet by high-speed tram T1 to Kabatash station, there 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 a 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 - they will tell you historical aspects and unusual facts, minus - the excursion time is limited and besides you there will be other tourists on the excursion.
3. Photo walk
The famous historic red tram, which has become the hallmark of Istanbul, is still possible to ride on it, the route is from Taksim Square to Tunel metro station:
Some buildings are under reconstruction:
Even the sellers of simits (bagels with sesame seeds) stylized their carts to look like 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, was erected on Russian soil, which was specially imported 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, which is why in some places it looks so unsightly:
Again we meet a tram, it turns out that you can ride not only inside, but also outside:
Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua:
The 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. I wonder how the same name is pronounced in different languages - Giovanni, Jean, John:
Interior decoration of the church:
Inside the church:
Monument 1923-1973:
To be honest, I never found any information about this monument (1923 is the year of Turkish independence), if you know what it is dedicated to, share 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 rest of the floors were occupied by residential apartments.
Now the first floor is occupied by shops and restaurants, so you can dine in a historical place, admiring the French architecture in the center of Istanbul.
Istiklal is full not only of historical monuments, but you can also watch the performances of street musicians here:
