Walk along the main tourist street of Istanbul - Istiklal. Istiklal Street is the busiest street in Istanbul Where it is and how to get there

Today, Istanbul's Beyoğlu district can be called an autonomous settlement consisting of 45 separate parts. Currently, about 225,000 residents permanently live on its territory. But since Beyoğlu is a center of business, leisure and culture, life in it does not stop for a minute. Every day there are up to several million visitors, including both Turks themselves and tourists.

Beyoglu district in Istanbul

During the Byzantine times, this area was called the Vineyards of Pern. For a long time, foreigners called Beyoglu simply Pera, while locals called it more broadly – ​​Pera Beyoglu. The last part of this name nevertheless began to dominate over time, and the name Pera was completely forgotten after it was removed from official circulation in 1925.

The history of Beyoğlu is very rich and varied. The settlement of these territories began about 8 thousand years ago. A variety of peoples lived here, successively, from the Thracians to the Greeks and the ancient Romans, but before the Ottomans came to power, the area was minimally developed and was considered just a suburb of Constantinople, although important from the point of view of trade.

Active development began in 1492, when water supply was established in Beyoglu and foreign embassies began to concentrate here. The area between Galatasaray and Tunel began to develop not only as a shopping area, but also as a residential area.

Due to the fact that foreigners lived in Beyoglu almost from its very foundation, the area turned out to be much more Europeanized than other similar areas of Istanbul.

Massive development “like Europe” began in the 20s of the 20th century, during the reign of Kemal Ataturk, who was famous for his progressive views and sentiments. But at the same time, monuments of ancient architecture, such as the Galata Tower, were preserved.

Until 1927, the area's most famous street, Istiklal, was called Cadde-i Kebir, Büyük Cadde or Grande Rue de Péra in French.

It’s worth saying a little more about the sights of Beyoğlu.

Sights of Beyoğlu

Among the attractions of Beyoglu is the Galata Tower

Beyoğlu is a storehouse of everything unusual and interesting. It is very difficult to single out one thing in a series of historical and modern cultural monuments, but there are several places that should definitely be visited.

Arab mosque: this Istanbul shrine dates back to 1337. The initiators of its construction were the Genoese. Initially it played the role of a Latin church, but with the arrival of the Muslim conquerors it was converted into a mosque with extremely interesting architecture (a mixture of stone and wood).

: The building dates back to 1348. The height of the tower allows you to see the beauty of Istanbul at a glance. Therefore, travelers are happy to pay for the entrance ticket in order to fully enjoy the breathtaking city panorama.

Church of Christ: interesting not only from a historical, but also from an architectural point of view. The interior decoration amazes with its splendor. Many people talk about the unusual acoustics of the church, so it is worth visiting Christ Church during the service.

Jewish Museum of Turkey: Not far from the Galata Bridge is the beautiful Jewish Zilfaris Synagogue. It was within its walls that a compact museum complex was founded at the beginning of the 21st century. A small but harmonious collection tells about the historical and cultural relations between Jews and Muslims.

Artist on Istiklal Street

Church of St. Mary Draperis (Santa Maria Draperis Kilisesi). In the central part of Istanbul's Beyoglu district stands the famous Catholic shrine - the Latin Church of St. Mary Draperi. The landmark, dating back to the 17th century, suffered greatly from fires several times in its history, but was restored each time. The church acquired its modern appearance thanks to the famous architect from Italy, to whom ruler Abdulahmet II gave permission to reconstruct the Catholic monastery in 1904.

Salt Galata Cultural Center: This is one of the main attractions of Beyoglu. On an impressive territory there is a large number of exhibition spaces of different directions. Scientific conferences and seminars are regularly held here. Extensive research activities have been launched at the cultural center. The building itself is also an architectural monument, erected at the end of the 19th century under the leadership of the architect Alexander Vallaury and modernized with the help of the Mimarlar Tasarym architectural bureau.

You can also look at the Fish Market (Balık pazarı) - the name of the market is conditional, since in fact everything is sold here, fruits, vegetables, seafood, spices, sweets, leather goods and much more. In front of its entrance there is an arch with a sign erected in honor of its 150th anniversary.

These are not all the attractions of Beyoğlu that city guests should pay close attention to. Of great interest are the Mevlevi Museum in Galata, the Depo Cultural Center, Casa Galeri and much, much more.

Taksim Square (Taksim Meydanı) in Beyoğlu

The local Taksim Square should be studied in particular detail. It can be called a kind of border line between the old and new cities. Around the square there are luxury hotels, expensive and budget catering establishments, etc. The transport network is very developed. Taksim Square is a traditional venue for large-scale public events and military parades.

A large number of attractions of the area are concentrated in this territory - a park with the same name Taksim, the Independence Monument, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Ataturk Cultural Center, the Taksim Mosque, the Taksim Art Gallery and much more.

Not far from the square, Istanbul's famous Istiklal Street begins, leading to the historical center of Beyoglu.

It is in Taksim Square that official demonstrations are often held. By the way, it is here that the Gezi Park is located nearby, due to the demolition of which strikes began in Taksim in 2013. As a result, after lengthy arguments, the demolition of the park was stopped.

Fans of Galatasaray and Beşiktaş also gather in the square after matches.

It is interesting that the square has already been reconstructed a significant number of times, the architectural appearance has been improved, but at the same time the general style, which appeared in the late 30s of the 20th century through the efforts of the Frenchman Henri Prost, has been preserved to this day.

The Marmara Taksim Hotel in Beyoglu

There are a lot of hotels in this area, and accordingly the price range is quite wide. The most popular hotels are as follows:

• Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah
• Gezi Hotel Bosphorus
• Tomtom Suites
• Rixos Pera Istanbul
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Pera
• Witt Istanbul Suites
• Corinne Hotel
• Georges Hotel Galata
• CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul

If you are going to spend most of your time on excursions and trips, then of course there is no point in taking an expensive hotel, given that you will only spend the night in it. I recommend spending more time walking, having breakfast outside the hotel in picturesque places - this is much more interesting, and will also give you the opportunity to get to know Turkish cuisine and flavor better.

Shopping in Beyoğlu: Istiklal Caddesi

Istiklal Street in Istanbul (Istiklal Caddesi)

The concentration of a large number of shops is Istiklal Street, which stretches from Taksim Square to the final stop of the famous red tram.

Here you can find everything: souvenirs, clothes, silver and gold, cosmetics, shoes, antiques, Turkish sweets and much more.

Therefore, when you are going for a walk along the boulevard, plan your time taking into account the fact that you will want to look at different shops and this will not be limited to one or two hours.

Basically, all stores are open as free-standing ones; there is only one and small shopping center - Demirören Avm. On the ground floor there is a large Sephora department, there are also departments Gizia, DeFacto, Vakko (branded clothing store), Brandroom (branded clothing store), Guess, Gap, Koton and others.

Throughout Istiklal Street you can find shops: Colins's, Mango, H&M, Adidas, Lacoste, Diesel, Flo, Waikiki, MAC, SNR Shop, Kemal Tanca, Hotiç, Tudors, Elle, Mavi, Collezione, New Balance, Yves Rocher, Faik Sonmez and much more (mass market and accessory stores).

Istikal Street on the map:

Restaurants and cafes on Istiklal Street in Beyoglu

Restaurant 360 Istanbul on Istiklal Street

For lovers of cafes, restaurants and party places in the Beyoğlu district on Istiklal Street, as well as on the alleys close to it, you can find a huge number of different establishments, sometimes completely different from each other.

These include fish restaurants, club-restaurants with an unusual view, traditional Turkish kebab restaurants, pide and much more.

I will give examples of those establishments that would be interesting for a tourist to visit.

Flower passage (Çiçek Pasajı)

Flower Arcade in Istanbul (Çiçek Pasajı)

First of all, be sure to check out the Flower Arcade (Çiçek Pasajı), which is a historical landmark in the Beyoğlu district. It has been partially restored and reconstructed and is approximately 140 years old. In the 19th century, on the territory that the building now occupies, there was a wooden theater of Mikhail Naum Dukhani.

Today, on the ground floor of the arcade, there are restaurants popular with both locals and tourists.

The Flower Passage is interesting not only for its restaurants, but also for its unconventional architecture, which may vaguely resemble the passages of France.

Flower passage on the map

Restaurant-bar Leb-i Derya

Located on the top floor of the Richmond Hotel. The restaurant offers a beautiful view of the strait. Here you can spend an evening either in a restaurant format or at a bar counter overlooking the sea.

On weekends, Leb-i derya plays local DJs, music in the style of Lounge, Nu Jazz, Electro Bossa, Chillhouse, Nu Disco, Lounge, Jazz, Oldies and Chilout.

Menu prices for 2017: hot dishes from 36 to 55 Turkish lira, salads from 14 to 20 lira, appetizers from 14 to 36 lira, desserts from 8 to 20 lira.

Restaurant ELEOS

Eleos Restaurant in Beyoglu

Located in an alley next to Istiklal. If you pass the Russian Consulate (it will be on your left), you need to turn into the first lane on the left, after a couple of minutes of walking you will find it.

The top floor of the restaurant offers a magnificent view.

It is advisable to reserve a table before visiting, especially if you plan to visit in the evening.

The average bill for 2017 is 245 Turkish lira for two with alcohol.

360 Istanbul

This is a fairly well-known and popular place among tourists, which combines a bar, club and restaurant. What made it so famous? Of course, with its 360-degree view of Istanbul. This beauty is especially breathtaking at night. I definitely recommend visiting!

The concept of the establishment: delicious food, atmosphere and relaxation.

Menu prices for 2017: appetizers from 29 to 37 Turkish liras, main courses from 55 to 95 liras, alcohol (bottled) from 145 liras (local Turkish wines) to 2250 liras.

Restaurant Barba Rasimo

Quite an old restaurant, with Greek and Turkish cuisine. The restaurant is located on the terrace, overlooking the strait and Istanbul.

Hot and cold appetizers: from 10 to 30 Turkish liras, salads from 12 to 18 liras, main courses from 26 to 35 liras, desserts from 12 to 16 liras.

Finding the Beyoğlu area is quite easy. Beyoğlu district on the map.

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 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...

Perhaps today in Istanbul, the most famous and popular street is Istiklal, along which approximately three million people walk during just one weekend day. 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 Independence Avenue by the English-speaking population of the planet.

Located in the Beyoğlu (Pera) district, this elegant street, about one and a half kilometers long, is unusually densely lined 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 (literally "outside") district of Istanbul was outside the city limits and was planted with vineyards. Gradually, rich foreigners developed this area, building mansions and offices here. Istiklal Street was finally developed between the 19th and 20th centuries and was named Cadde-i Kebir or Grand Avenue. Turkish intellectuals, artists, and writers lived here. Gradually they settled in houses on Istiklal
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 Turkish War of Independence. For houses and buildings Istiklal in Istanbul is characterized by an amazing mixture of architectural styles: neoclassicism, neo-gothic, renaissance, revival, art nouveau and even art deco, characteristic of the first years of the Turkish republic. Istiklal Street begins in the blocks adjacent to the Galata Tower, and ultimately ends at Taksim Square.

Istiklal Street is best known for its concentration of many embassies and consulates, including France, Greece, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. On this street you can immediately see
several religious buildings belonging to different faiths. 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 work of Agatha Christie, who worked on the novel “Murder on the Orient Express” at the Pera Palas Hotel. The so-called "Flower Arcade", built in a 19th-century building, is now known as several fish restaurants that are always crowded with tourists. At this charming spot, you'll pay a premium for your seafood cravings. The site of the burnt theater is now a bustling fish market. There are many catering establishments on the street where you can quickly grab a bite to eat Turkish cuisine,
but check prices are on average 20% higher than in adjacent alleys. Several large clothing stores are usually aimed at tourists.

Istiklal is a pedestrian street, constantly filled with a diverse, diverse crowd of tourists and local residents. Here you can see “wandering” musicians of all kinds and stripes, local youth hang out here, and pickpockets often operate here. By evening, Istiklal is filled with drunk tourists, pimps and extortionists, for example, in the form of pretty girls who trick you into drinking 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 pops of firecrackers, and getting a rubber bullet or being showered with a water cannon is just an ordinary thing. You should not 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 definitely be found in photographs and videos telling about the Turkish metropolis. No less interesting is another type of transport - the so-called. tunel (tunel) or, more correctly, in Russian - tunnel. Built back in 1875, this first version of the Turkish metro already connected Istiklal Street to the pier

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; Galatasaray Square is located at the bend. 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 got to know each other, it’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 keepsake, 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.