Istiklal Avenue is the longest and most famous pedestrian avenue in Turkey. This street offers many activities to its visitors. Istiklal Avenue might be a little overwhelming for first-time visitors, with hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafes, art galleries, cinemas, historic churches, mosques, and hammams. How do you make the most out of Istiklal Avenue? Here are our Top 10 Istiklal Avenue Tips:
#1 Visit the Historical Sites in Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue is home to many historical buildings and places, including St. Antuan Catholic Church, St. Mary Draperis Catholic Church, Aya Triada Greek Orthodox Church, 300+ years old embassies such as the Dutch, Russian, Swedish, British, and Italian embassies with beautiful courtyards, Galatasaray Highschool, Galatasaray Hamam, Rejans Restaurant, Cumhuriyet Restaurant, Mısır Apartment, Historical Fish Market, Hüseyin Ağa Mosque, Çiçek Passage, and many more places and buildings
#2 Discover the Passages of Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue is full of beautiful passages that connect the Istiklal Avenue to its backstreets. These passages are all historical and are full of souvenir shops, restaurants, boutique cafes, pubs and more. Some of the well-known passages are Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage), Avrupa Pasajı (European Passage), Suriye Pasajı (Syrian Passage), and Hazzopulo Pasajı (Hazzopulo Passage). These passages are an excellent way to escape the hustle and bustle of Istiklal Avenue. Moreover, you might run into some pleasant surprises like a boutique cafe or store.
#3 Try Islak Hamburger and Other Street Food
One of Istanbul’s most iconic street foods is the ıslak hamburger. Islak Hamburger, which means “wet/steamed burger,” is a very popular Istanbulian street snack. This burger was invented by a cafe called Kızılkayalar on Taksim Square. Islak Hamburger has become one of Istanbul’s most loved and consumed street foods. The fame of ıslak hamburger has already reached other cities in Turkey. Go to the original inventor of the famous ıslak hamburger in Taksim Square, the Kızılkayalar buffet. This is the right place to try this delicious street snack. Another must-try street food is deep-fried or stuffed mussels in the Fish Market (Balık Pazarı). You can also try kokoreç (lamb intestine sandwich) here. Another famous street snack is a tiny little street vendor selling içli köfte (stuffed bulgur meatball) and çiğ börek (deep fried mince meat pastry) just outside the Hazzopulo Passage on the Istiklal Avenue.
Related: 15 Must Try Street Foods in Istanbul
#4 Go to Fish Market, Çiçek Pasajı & Nevizade
Just before the Galatasaray Highschool, you will find the entrance to the Historical Fish Market (Balık Pazarı), and next to it, the entrance to Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage). Balık Pazarı, the historical fish market, was once one of the busiest fish markets in Istanbul. Nowadays, it is known for its fish restaurants instead. The fish market still has a few seafood shops, continuing the tradition that gave this street its name. A famous passage connects Istiklal Avenue to the fish market, “Çiçek Pasajı,” aka the “Flower Passage”. Historically named “Cité de Péra,” the passage was once home to the Naum Theater. Sultans Abdülaziz and Abdülhamid II frequently visited this theater. Naum Theater even showed Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Il Trovatore before the opera houses of Paris.
A few minutes into the fish market, a colorful bar street with a sign on top reveals itself on the right: Nevizade. Nevizade is two streets crossing each other, with dozens of adjacent pubs, bars, and restaurants. These bars mainly cater to locals but are also popular amongst tourists. Nevizade emerged after the 70s, so it doesn’t have a long history, but long enough to have a texture. This place is also the go-to location of Galatasaray football fans every time there is a match with Galatasaray. The whole bar street will be full with singing and chanting Galatasaray fans in red and yellow uniforms. The famous football team originated from the Galatasaray high school located on Istiklal Avenue.
#5 Visit Museums & Art Galleries in Istiklal Avenue
Madame Tussauds, Pera Museum, Museum of Illusions, Arter Art Gallery, Salt Beyoğlu, Yapı Kredi Kazım Taşkent Art Gallery, Odakule Art Gallery, Galatea Art Gallery are amongst some of the numerous museums and art galleries worth visiting on or around the Istiklal Avenue. There are many other art galleries and small museums on Istiklal Avenue. Most of these galleries are unknown among tourists and are waiting to be discovered. And the best part is, most of these art galleries and museums are either free or very cheap!
#6 Go to Meşrutiyet Avenue & Pera Palace
One of the parallel streets to Istiklal is Meşrutiyet Caddesi, which is also an interesting place to be. On this street, you will find the famous Pera Palace, Turkey’s first luxury hotel, built in 1892. Many historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth, Franz Ferdinand, Tito, and many famous writers and artists from the 20th century, such as Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemmingway, and Alfred Hitchcock, have stayed in Pera Palace. Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, also used to stay in Pera Palace. His room, room 101, has been turned into a museum. Atatürk’s room is free to visit and open every day.
On this street, you will also find one of the best museums on Istiklal Avenue, the Pera Museum. Pera Museum, located next to the Italian consulate, doesn’t always exhibit the same articles. It is a dynamic museum with thematic exhibitions that last for a limited time. You can check the current exhibit at Pera Museum from here. (insert: https://www.peramuseum.org/)
There are also delicious restaurants and pubs on Meşrutiyet Avenue such as Mikla, Hazzo Pulo Wine House, Patisserie De Pera, or Baylo.
#7 Dine at a Rooftop or Seaview Restaurant
Taksim and Istiklal Avenue might give you the impression that you are far away from the sea view, but that’s not true. Istiklal Avenue is on a rocky hill above the sea, close to Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Many restaurants in this area have a sea view if you know where to go.
Some of the fine-dining options in Istiklal Avenue with a nice sea view are as follows: 360 Istanbul, Mikla, Midpoint, Eleos Restaurant, Leb-i Derya, and the list goes on.
Best Restaurants in Taksim / Istiklal Avenue
#8 Discover Nearby Neighborhoods: Galata, Cihangir, Nişantaşı
Istiklal Avenue connects Taksim Square to Tünel Square, from where you can walk down to the Galata neighborhood. Galata starts with Galip Dede Street as soon as Istiklal Avenue ends. Galata is one of the most colorful and exciting neighborhoods in Istanbul. Dozens of music shops, boutique cafes, and pubs decorate its narrow cobblestone streets. Here you can also visit Galata Mevlevihanesi (Galata Dervish Monastery Museum). And then, of course, one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul is in Galata, the Galata Tower.
On the other end of the Istiklal Avenue, there is the Taksim Square. From the Taksim Square, if you keep walking north from Cumhuriyet avenue, you will find yourself in Nişantaşı. Nişantaşı is a wealthy neighborhood known for its luxury textile stores such as Armani, Prada, Burbery, Hugo Boss, etc.
Back to Taksim, if you walk south from Sıraselviler Street, you will find yourself in Cihangir. Cihangir is another upper-middle-class residential neighborhood known for its boutique cafes and bars. A short walk from Cihangir will bring you to the Museum of Innocence and Galataport.
#9 Go Down to the Galata Tower
Istiklal Avenue connects Taksim Square to Tünel Square, from where you can walk down to the Galata neighborhood. Galata starts with Galip Dede Street as soon as Istiklal Avenue ends. Galata is one of the most colorful and exciting neighborhoods in Istanbul. Dozens of music shops, boutique cafes, and pubs decorate its narrow cobblestone streets. Here you can also visit Galata Mevlevihanesi (Galata Dervish Monastery Museum). And then, of course, one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul is in Galata, the Galata Tower.
On the other end of the Istiklal Avenue, there is the Taksim Square. From the Taksim Square, if you keep walking north from Cumhuriyet avenue, you will find yourself in Nişantaşı. Nişantaşı is a wealthy neighborhood known for its luxury textile stores such as Armani, Prada, Burbery, Hugo Boss, etc.
Back to Taksim, if you walk south from Sıraselviler Street, you will find yourself in Cihangir. Cihangir is another upper-middle-class residential neighborhood known for its boutique cafes and bars. A short walk from Cihangir will bring you to the Museum of Innocence and Galataport.
Galata Tower is undoubtedly one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul. This majestic tower was built by the Genoese settlers in 1348 as a watch tower. Throughout the centuries, it was used for countless different reasons. After conquering the city in 1453, the Ottomans transformed Galata Tower into an observatory. Throughout the centuries, Galata Tower transformed from a fire watch tower to an amber, a restaurant, and a museum. The city view from the top floor of Galata Tower is of unmatched beauty, and it is a must-see.
Related:
How do I go to the Galata Tower?
Book a walking tour in Taksim & Istiklal Avenue with skip-the-line ticket to Galata Tower.
#10 Check Out the Night Scene
Istiklal & Taksim and Galata areas are also widely known for their night scenes, with bar streets such as Nevizade, Asmalı Mescit, Balo Sokak, and famous bars and clubs such as Peyote, Indigo, Jolley Joker, Hayal Kahvesi, Ağaç Ev Blues, Dorock, Nardis Jazz Club and countless other bars, pubs, and clubs.
Check out our list of the Best Pubs, Bars & Clubs in Istiklal Avenue
Related:
Best Restaurants in Taksim / Istiklal Avenue
Book a walking tour in Taksim / Istiklal Avenue with Galata Tower fast track ticket entrance
