Uskudar

Both a residential and commercial area, Uskudar is home to an average of half a million people, and at the same time, it has a busy and lively market, proven to be a crowd winner with  the public. This area is considered to be the Asian Istanbul, but originally it was an area which was settled in by the Greeks. With such a high population, the area is low density, but its simplicity has made it cheap, and home to many restaurants, mosques, markets, antique shops, and cafés.

Ironically, Uskudar is found near the Bosphorus and the hills, which is well known for its vast and pricey apartments. Uskudar is an area which is quieter and more conservative. The main attraction among the residential area is the fact that very little English is spoken, and so any visitor can truly feel the sense of being a tourist, as they can come across a tea stand from one corner to the next.

The road in Uskudar leads to the seaside, which then leads to the Bosphorus. Here you can find a coastline-long stretch of benches that face the sea, in order for visitors to sit down and enjoy a wonderful view. For an even better experience, there are also some pillows which are fitted near the sea in order for people to lie on their back while enjoying the view of the sea or the sunset. Along the coastline, people are able to take walks and capture lasting memories. A regular activity here is seeing pigeons being fed by old ladies, and random people just passing by.

A popular dish in Uskudar is kofte. This is beef that has been packed into meatballs. Depending on the customer, these can be served with lots of chilli, or just plain. Chains of restaurants found in Uskudar fill the air with spices that range from sweet to hot. The local favourite kebab is found almost everywhere, alongside other local traditional dishes. As one moves from the residential area to the commercial area of Uskudar, there is easier entry into the central business district.

The central business district has reasonably priced clothing and shoes, but these can be bargained for if one is a pro at negotiating! There are also a number of antique shops along Buyuk Hamam Sokak, and it is through these antique shops that the history of the locals is clearly seen. Different head scarves for women are sold in shops, and these are bargained for, at times buying two for the price of one.

Souvenirs are also popular, ranging from blue ornaments that can be hung in the house, or on a lamp. These are meant to protect a place from any negative energy, and these ornaments are seen in almost every home. Other souvenirs include hats, t-shirts, bags, and caps, that have the Turkish flag on them. That’s not all!  Furniture bearing the cultural heritage of the local people is an important part of Turkish antiques. There are Turkish tea and Turkish coffee sets which can be found at cheap and reasonable prices, designed with traditional interior patterns.

Many tourists visit Uskudar for its mosques, which is not surprising as there are about 180 of them in total. A well known mosque to visit would be the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, which can’t be missed as it is right opposite the transport terminals. This mosque in particular was built by the Ottoman architect, Sinan. The oldest mosque in the area is the Rumi Mehmet Pasa, which was built in 1471. In the same area, there are also Greek and Armenian churches which can be found within a short distance on foot.

Relaxation is not out of reach in Uskudar, as there are a number of hamams available. These are bathhouses where people simply go to relax and freshen up. Another way to enjoy yourself in Uskudar is by visiting a small island which can be reached by a ferry. These ferries are located at the central ferry docks. The central shopping area has some good hangouts, whilst boasting a good range of quality cafes, tea gardens, and restaurants.

The nature of Uskudar is that it is more cultured and conservative, and because of this, there are very few bars which can be found in the area. There is however easy access to transport, with a central transport hub, home to ferries, taxies, combo taxies, buses, and trains. These have a regular and constant departure schedule.

You will certainly leave Uskudar with a sense of culture and historical enlightenment.