Beyoglu

The Wonder of Beyoglu

Istanbul has many districts and small towns which make up the city’s whole. You’re going to pass through several of these neighbourhoods as you traverse around Istanbul, and one which is important, not only for history and culture, but also because of it’s close proximity to Taksim, is Beyoglu.

Pronounced ‘beyowlu’, this part of the city basically runs around Taksim, hugging it almost, and creates a backdrop of accommodation options, as well as bars, restaurants, and shops. Many people confuse Beyoglu and Taksim, but you could argue that Taksim is part of Beyoglu, or you could even argue it’s the other way around! Whichever option you prefer to believe, this is a great place to explore and a cheap place to stay too. You’ll find many hostels in Beyoglu, as well as self catering apartments and guest houses. The close proximity to Taksim and Istiklal Street is a major pull for many visitors.

As you walk around, be sure to look up, you’ll see fantastic architecture, and large town houses. This part of the city is old but new at the same time, thanks to Taksim’s nightlife and shopping scene. Istilklal might be considered super-new, but when you check the accommodation you’ll quickly see tat the buildings are old, and many of them would be considered listed in other countries around the world. In Istanbul, it’s just normal

Things to See And do In Beyoglu

There are plenty of things to do in Beyoglu, but you will need your walking shoes on. Istiklal Street is obviously going to be one of your major first ports of call, as well as the famous tram which runs up and down its length – hold on tight though, those breaks aren’t known for being smooth! Just off Istiklal, about half way down, you’ll see passages, which lead up to small markets, shops, bars, and cafes. Atlas Passage and Avrupa Passage are two of the main ones, with the latter showing some fantastic Italian building architecture. Of course, you can haggle at the small markets around here and grab some interesting souvenirs to take home.

If you want to try a traditional Turkish bath, head to Galatasaray Hamam and enjoy a truly relaxing experience, in traditional Ottoman architectural surroundings. There are also lots of restaurants with roof terraces near to the hamam, which are ideal for a meal with a view over the water.

As you can see, Beyoglu isn’t just about shopping and nightlife, it’s about culture and there is plenty of it. Head to the Atlas Cinema and catch a film, one of the oldest cinemas in the city, or head to Aslihan Passage and check out the old second hand book stores. Most of these have coffee and cay on offer too!

There are several art galleries in Beyoglu, including Galeri Nev and Akbank Sanat. Head to the bottom of Istkilal Street and jump on the Tunel, the second oldest underground transportation system in the world! It’s a rather steep ride down the hill to Karakoy, but it’s certainly an experience.

On a more sugar-laden note, Meshur Beyoglu has a selection of fancy chocolate treats to sample and take home with you.

Beyoglu is a district that is always busy, no matter what time of year, or the time of day. Taksim and Beyoglu are often referred to as Beyoglu/Taksim, because they are literally interchangeable, and they run down towards the funky Galata neighbourhood, and the Galata Tower, which the city is so famous for. The back streets just off Istiklal are also paced with second hand stores, thrift stores, and all manner of interesting bars and cafes, so it’s definitely worth putting on your walking shoes and having an exploration one day. The night time is also a vibrant experience, with live music bars plentiful, as well as rock bars, which serve beverages at a much cheaper price than you might think, because they are not on the main Istiklal stretch.

Food is also plentiful around here, with Italian restaurant selling pizza by the slice, borek stores open 24 hours per day, street food selections, and kebab shops that never seem to close. Put simply if you want a destination which is vibrant, busy, and also quite cheap, Beyoglu is a great option to go for, and somewhere you’re sure to meet people from all around the world.