Taksim Square

Where is The ‘Centre’ of Istanbul? Taksim Square

Many people wonder where the city centre of Istanbul actually is. This is such a sprawling metropolis, and each district seems to be as busy as the next. It’s hard to pinpoint an actual area, but most people consider Taksim to be the city centre of this huge city, and to narrow it down even further, Taksim Square in particular.

If you’ve never been there, you’re in for a treat. Overall, the area is a total entertainment hotspot, with shopping, bars, clubs, shops, markets, restaurants, cafes, tea gardens, bookshops, chocolatiers, music stores – you name it, you’ll find it in Taksim, and most commonly along Istiklal Avenue. At the top of the famed Istiklal Avenue you will find a very large square which is known for historical reasons and cultural reasons – this is Taksim Square.

The square is home to the main bus station in Taksim, but also the Metro station, so it is a common place for many visitors in Istanbul to head to at some point. At New Year, you will find this part of Istanbul so busy you can barely move!

Taksim Square And Gezi Park

In 2013 a series of riots and protests began in the square and beyond. Taksim Square is much more famous than this particular point in history, but it became such a flashpoint place, that it is impossible not to mention it.

Protests began at plans to build upon an area of greenery and trees just above Taksim Square, known as Gezi Park. This was a much loved area, and there were plans to turn it into another shopping mall. Locals and those all across Turkey were outraged and these protests quickly turned into riots. News spread across the world as violence erupted, and flashpoint were mostly seen in Taksim Square itself.

Whether Taksim Square meant to make international news in such a way, we will never know, but it is forever known in history of this unfortunate event. Building work did not commence on Gezi Park to the extent it was planned, however Taksim overall is always seeing some kind of construction, as the area tries to cope with demand in terms of visitors.

The Independence Monument in Taksim Square

The square is home to a very important monument, the Independence Monument. You will hear it called ‘Istiklal Aniti’ in Turkish. This stands within the square, and can be seen from the top of Istiklal Street itself. This is also the point where the famous red historical tram turns around and heads back down the pedestrianised street.

Independence Monument was built by a sculptor from Italy, called Pietro Canonica, and has been standing in its current spot since 1928. The sculpture shows Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the new Turkish Republic, standing as a military chief, and as a man of the Government. You will never be able to get a photograph of this monument without several other people in your shot, all trying to do the same thing, but you can give it a go!

Why is it Called ‘Taksim’?

A fun fact to know is the reason why Taksim itself is indeed called ‘Taksim’. This dates back to the Ottoman Era, and the fact that the Turkish word ‘Taksim’ actually translates to ‘distribution’. Why this name? Because Sultan Mahmut I decided that the main water lines which ran throughout Istanbul would all collect in the centre of Taksim and from there branch or distribute off to where they needed to go. There was a large reservoir on the side of what is now the square, and that is how it got its name!

Exploring Taksim Square And Beyond

You cannot explore Taksim in one day. It’s impossible. Taksim Square? Yes, you could do that easily in an hour or so, but Taksim is so much more than just Taksim Square! This is the calmest part of Taksim however, and just behind the Independence Monument you will see wide open space with benches. It’s a good idea to head over and grab a coffee from Starbucks and sit there for an hour to have a rest from the noise!

Of course, from there you should head down Istiklal Street. Now, you might think this is just a pedestrianised shopping street, but it’s far more than that. You will find churches, museums, galleries, live music performances, and a large amount of historic architecture down this street. Yes, there are countless shops and bars, and yes, you’ll find the usual international chain coffee shops and fast food restaurants, but old Istanbul sits side by side with modern Istanbul on this very street. You could also jump on the historic red tram, which travels up and down the street several times per day. Do be warned however, it gets very busy and when it puts its brakes on, you really do need to hang on very tightly!

If you continue down to the very bottom of Istiklal Street you will come to the Galata neighbourhood, which heads down a very steep hill, and from there you will see Galata Tower on your right. If you head in the other direction at the bottom of Istiklal Street, branching off to your right before you travel down the Galata ‘hill’, you’ll find the Pera neighbourhood and many upmarket hotels and galleries.

This part of Istanbul was where foreign visitors with a large amount of money used to visit, including intellectuals from the Ottoman Empire itself. Pera Museum is in this area, and that is certainly a great way to spend a couple of hours too.