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TurkeyDescription of the area
If you want to be not very far from the sights and in the thick of tourist life, but could not book accommodation in Sultanahmet/Fatih, then Beyoglu district and Taksim Square area are perfect (Beioglu on the map).
Beyoglu, like other districts, is divided into many neighborhoods that differ from each other in terms of furnishings and amenities, but in general, the rule for choosing a hotel or accommodation is: choose accommodation within walking distance from Istiklal Street, Taksim Square, Metro stations or T1 tram stop along the Bosphorus embankment.
This is the most developed tourist area of Istanbul. It is even more touristy than Sultanahmet, only there are few attractions here. But it is the center of entertainment and nightlife of the city: through it passes the pedestrian street Istiklal (Istiklal Caddesi), filled with bars and nightclubs. It is walking along this street – the main evening entertainment in the city. It's always fun and crowded, and there's always something going on. Throughout the street is filled with shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, fast food stalls, souvenir shops, currency exchange offices, banks, Turkish sweets shops, there are international restaurants McDonalds and Burger King. You can see performances of street artists, exhibitions of local artists. And along this street there is a historical excursion tram T2. Well, in order to get to the main attractions of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet district, you can use the T1 tram, the M2 metro line, or even walk there via the Galata Bridge.
True, perhaps there is one big minus in the Beyoglu district and Istiklal Street: in the peak season (spring and autumn), tourists are so crowded that in the narrow streets you sometimes have to literally filter through the crowd during walks, and you can forget about the carefree promenade along Istiklal.
Beyoglu sights, what to see
There aren't many iconic landmarks in the area. Here is the main thing to pay attention to:
- Pedestrian street Istiklal
- Taksim Square
- Galata Bridge / Galata Köprüsü
- Historic tram on Istiklal Street
- Fish market / Karaköy Balık Pazarı
- Galata Tower
- Galata Mevlevi or Museum of Dervishes
- Museum of innocence
- Museum of Modern Art
In addition to the listed in Beyoglu and Istiklal street there are: Museum of illusions (3D paintings), Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Galatasaray University Museum (Galatasaray Universitesi), Bank Museum (Yapi Kredi Vedat Nedim Tor Museum), Pera Museum, Orthodox Church Church of the Holy Trinity (Aya Triada Rum), Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua (Sent Antuan Kilisesi).
How to get to Beyoglu district and Taksim Square
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From Istanbul New Airport.
A taxi from the new airport to Taksim Square and a hotel in Beyoglu district will cost from 150 lira (3.2 USD, see Turkish currency and exchange rate), 1 hour on the way.
But it is much cheaper to go on the branded Havaist bus routes iST-19 and iST-20 for 18 lire (0.38 USD). They run around the clock every 30-45 minutes, on the road an hour and a half or more, here you can check the schedule - https://hava.ist/en/Voyage/VoyageTime.
From the airport depart from the stop at the exit of the terminal across the road. Payment with a single transport card Istanbul card or contactless bank card at the entrance to the bus in the cabin. Transport cards Istanbul Kart are sold and replenished here in special machines. The card costs 7 lira, payment in the machine is only in cash, all change is credited to the card account.
In Beyoglu district, buses arrive/depart to two places:
- iST - 19 to stop near Taksim Square (stop on the map. If you leave here at the airport, do not confuse it with the Havabus bus stop to Sabiha Gokcen airport, they are nearby.
- iST - 20 to stop at Piyalepasa Street (stop on the map. But be careful, this is not the final stop of Havaist, so if you need to leave here, it is better to find it in advance.
The locations of all Havaist stops can be seen on this map - https://hava.ist/en/Voyage/Stations. They also go to the airport from these stops.
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From Sabiha Gokcen Airport (Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen)
Taxi will cost from 160 liras (3.42 USD), more than 1 hour on the way.
From Sabiha Gokcen to Taksim Square there is a direct Company Bus Havabus for 18 lire (0.38 USD). Departs from the airport with a stop at the exit of the arrivals hall from 04:00 to 01:00 every 30 minutes. Payment in the cabin at the entrance in cash. The bus arrives at a stop near Taksim Square (stop on map). From the same stop you can go to the airport, departure from 04:00 to 01:00 every 30 minutes. Just do not confuse the havabus and Havaist buses, their stops are nearby.
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From Sultanahmet and Fatih district
On the metro line M2, tram T1, there are many taxis and buses.
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From the Asian part of the city
The best is by ferry from any marina in the Asian part to kabatas Marina (kabatas Marina on the map).
Hotels in Beyoglu and Taksim Square
There are many accommodation options in the Beyoglu area, including budget options are well represented. You can find a hostel, a cozy hotel, or apartments (apartments) for a stay of several days.
As elsewhere in Istanbul, it is advisable to book accommodation in advance, at least a month in advance. And in the peak season (spring, autumn, New Year holidays), the best options are disassembled in two months. This does not mean that you will not be able to find anything immediately before the trip, but all the best options for the price/quality ratio will be disassembled.
When choosing a hotel in Beyoglu and Taksim Square, be sure to read reviews of hotels or apartments. The fact is that there is always a chance to be near a noisy bar or nightclub, which will not let you fall asleep until late at night. Or worse, in an unfavorable quarter with marginals and all sorts of suspicious personalities.
You can find and book accommodation in Beyoglu through the following websites or the search form:
- 🛌 search hotels in Beyoglu on Yandex.travel
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Booking.com
- 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Trip.com
- 🛌 Search hotels in Beyoglu on Ostrovok.ru
- 🛌 Search for affordable accommodation in Istanbul on Sutochno.ru