Sisli

Settled amongst the fine districts of Beşiktaş, Eyüp, Sarıyer, Beyoğlu, and Kağıthane, on the European side of the city, Sisli is a district very popular with the locals of the middle and upper class. It is also one of the best places to shop in Istanbul.

Although not on the shore, it is easily reachable and positioned well, since it is connected to the Bosphorus Bridge, which links the European and Asian banks of the Bosphorus. The district is also one of the most recently populated parts of the city, since the area was merely a forest with occasional graveyards, hunting lodges of the noblemen of that time, as well as agricultural fields, up until the 18th century.

In the 1800’s, especially in the late half of the century, the population figures rose at a high rate, with many planned and unplanned factors having a role in the expansion. Sultan Abdülmecid I encouraged all Turks to settle in this area by establishing the Nisantasi quarter, by building two obelisks on each side of the planned area. In addition, a lot of families moved here after the 1870 fire in the district of Beyoglu. Most of these people were highly respected merchants and a great portion of this population consisted of foreigners, mostly Greeks, Jews and Armenians. This established the Sisli district as one of the most cosmopolitan districts in Istanbul. This is a quality that this area has kept through the centuries, and for which it is renowned even today.

This wide array of cultures brought a lot of influences, the most significant being the influx of modern European culture, particularly French. The area blossomed with architecture ahead of almost anything seen around Istanbul those days, but art wasn’t the only field Sisli had advanced in. Technology was also what distanced Sisli from other parts of the city, since it was one of the first districts to receive tramlines, electricity, and gas supply. Along with building institutions like orphanages, hospitals and senior homes, this made the area extremely attractive for wealthy and prosperous people to build their homes in, continuing the trend of population expansion, and defining Sisli as one of the most exclusive districts in the city.

With the founding of the Republic, the area prospered culturally, with a lot of renowned artists moving here and a number of cultural institutions, such as theatres, being introduced. The rising demand meant that a lot of buildings had to be replaced with larger ones, and this resulted in overcrowding in the central parts. This in turn lead to the financial and social elite to look for a quieter place of residence, leaving the space for a lot of working class families and students attracted by the great possibilities of education offered by the district. Today, even though Sisli provides a fun and full life, the infrastructure is still extremely challenged by the demographic boom, and finding parking spaces and coping with traffic jams, can be a little tiring.

For tourists, Sisli is most interesting for its shopping opportunities, both in the streets and in the shopping centres. When talking of shopping, it is important to mention the Nisantasi quarter, which is famous for being one of the most luxurious and exclusive neighborhoods in all of Istanbul. Not only is it an elite, cosmopolitan environment, populated and visited daily by many wealthy and sophisticated people, it has also established itself as the fashion centre of the city, with many worldwide brands recognising this and arriving in this area.

With the presence of a great deal of foreign residents, the western influence can be seen around every corner, to the point where you sometimes feel like you’re in one of the European cities, such as Paris, with European-style pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping malls offering you a different ambience than in the historic parts of Istanbul.

The centre of this area’s retail shopping is in Tesvikiye Street, where the City’s Nisantasi shopping mall is located. There are also many smaller shops on this Fifth Avenue of Istanbul.

The mall itself was built to match the highest western standards, and houses more than 150 stores, offering a perfect blend of national and international fashion brands. It is also a leisure centre, with cinemas, bars, restaurants, a fitness centre, and spa, if you need a rest after a busy day of shopping. Parking is no issue, with 1,600 parking spaces available 24/7, so you can enjoy your time, with no worries.

Also worth mentioning is the Cevahir Mall, one of the largest shopping centres in the world. This mall has over 300 stores, on 6 retail floors, along with more than 50 fast food and exclusive restaurants. It also offers cinemas, a bowling hall, and even a covered theme park with a roller-coaster, providing you with the ultimate shopping experience, and fun for the whole family.