İstiklal Street

Son Güncelleme 8 Mart 2023

Istiklal Street is one of the most famous and historical streets of Istanbul. It is among the touristic places of Istanbul with its historical and cultural heritage, modern shops, restaurants and cafes.

Istiklal Street is located in Beyoğlu district. The street is approximately 1.4 kilometers long and starts from Taksim Square and extends to Tünel Square. The street was built in the late 19th century and has remained an important commercial center of Istanbul ever since. The name of the street was changed to the word “İstiklal” after the victories won during the wars of independence in the last period of the Ottoman Empire.

Istiklal Street is home to many important buildings in Istanbul. The most famous structure of the street is Galatasaray High School, which was built in 1908 and has been the symbol of Istanbul ever since. Other important structures of the street include Pera Museum, Çiçek Pasajı, Atlas Cinema, Alhambra Cinema and St. Anthony’s Church, there are historical buildings. It is the most crowded street of Istanbul, which is frequently visited by many local and foreign tourists.

The street’s architecture reflects features of many different architectural styles from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. While walking along the street, you can see Western-style apartments, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, elements of Ottoman architecture and many more architectural styles.

Istiklal Street hosts many events throughout the year in Istanbul. Street musicians, dancers and theater groups perform along the street. In addition, art exhibitions, film screenings and other cultural events are held at various points of the street. One of the biggest events of the street is the annual Istanbul Biennial.

Istiklal Street is also an important center for shopping enthusiasts. There are many world brand shops, boutiques and souvenir shops along the street. Among the most famous stores of the street are brands such as Markiz Patisserie, Beymen, Boyner, Zara and Mango.

How to Get to Istiklal Street?

You can reach Taksim Square and Istiklal Street with several different transportation options. Here I will list some options for you:

Public transportation: There are many bus, metro and tram lines that go to Taksim from different parts of Istanbul. You can choose the most suitable one according to your location. For example, you can reach Taksim from Yenikapı by metro using the M2 line.
Taxi: There are many taxi services available in Istanbul and it is quite common to take a taxi to Taksim Square. However, taxi drivers can charge passengers high prices during rush hour, so I recommend agreeing on the price before using a taxi if possible.
On foot: Walking to Taksim Square is very popular with tourists in Istanbul. Especially walking on Istiklal Street offers a pleasant experience where you can see many shops, cafes and restaurants.

You can easily reach Taksim Square and Istiklal Street by using any of these options.

Where to Visit on Istiklal Street?

Istiklal Street, one of the most popular touristic areas of Istanbul, attracts visitors with its historical buildings, cultural heritage and lively atmosphere. There are many places to visit and see along the street. Here are the places you must visit on Istiklal Street:

Galatasaray Square: Located at the beginning of Istiklal Street, this square is famous for its surrounding historical buildings and Galatasaray High School.
Çiçek Passage: One of the most famous places of Istiklal Street, Çiçek Pasajı was once a flower market, but today it is filled with many restaurants, cafes and bars.
st. Anthony’s Church: One of the oldest Catholic churches in Istanbul, St. Anthony’s Church is located right in the middle of Istiklal Street.
Pera Museum: Pera Museum, located in the building that was used as the Ottoman Bank until the end of the 19th century, exhibits modern and contemporary works of art in Istanbul.
SALT Galata: Located close to Istiklal Street, SALT Galata is a popular venue for contemporary art and cultural events.
Madame Tussauds Istanbul: Located on Istiklal Street, Madame Tussauds welcomes visitors with wax statues of famous people.
Hacı Dayı Street: Located a little outside of Istiklal Street, Hacı Dayı Street attracts visitors with its Ottoman period houses and historical texture.
Aznavur Passage: Located on Istiklal Street, Aznavur Passage was once used as the home of Armenian singer Aznavur. Today it is filled with many boutiques and shops.
Istanbul Taksim Cumhuriyet Art Gallery: Located on Istiklal Street, Istanbul Taksim Cumhuriyet Art Gallery exhibits the best examples of Turkish art.
Beyoğlu Tünel: Beyoğlu Tünel, located on Istiklal Street, was put into service in 1875 as Istanbul’s first underground train and is still in use today.