Besiktas district and how to get there

Description of the area

Besiktas District (Besiktas) - one of the most expensive and fashionable areas of Istanbul. It is within walking distance of Taksim squares on the shore of the Strait near the port (Besiktas on the map).

There are few attractions, only a few museums, and almost nothing historical, but a lot of places for walking: parks, a good promenade, modern shopping centers and entertainment complexes. This place is suitable for you if you come to Istanbul on business, or want to live in a clean neat place without merchants and intrusive sellers of tourist services. Although they are everywhere, there are just fewer of them here.

We would not recommend staying in Besiktas on your first trip to Istanbul, as you will not feel the spirit of the city and the tourist atmosphere here, as in the old districts Sultanahmet and Beyoglu. But on the other hand, if the funds allow, here you can settle in an expensive comfortable hotel, and go to other areas by taxi or public transport.

Attractions, what to see

• Dolmabahce Palace
• Maritime Museum
• National Palace painting Museum / National Palaces Painting Museum
• Palace Collection museum / Saray Koleksiyonları Muzesi

How to get to Besiktas

• From Istanbul New Airport

  A taxi from the new airport to Besiktas will cost from 150 lira (3.27 USD, see Turkish currency and exchange rate), 1 hour on the way.

  But it is much cheaper to go on the Havaist branded bus route iST-5 for 18 lire (0.39 USD). They run from 05:00 to 03:30 every 30 minutes, the journey is 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 the Besiktas area, buses arrive/depart at a stop in the very center of the area near the port. The locations of all Havaist stops can be seen on this map - https://hava.ist/en/Voyage/Stations.

• From Sabiha Gokcen Airport (Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen)

  Taxi will cost from 160 lire (3.48 USD), more than 1 hour on the way.

  From Sabiha Gokcen to Taksim Square there is a direct Company Bus Havabus for 18 lira (0.39 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 this stop in Besiktas with light luggage you can walk (walk 1-2 kilometers depending on the location of the hotel), take a taxi from 15 lira.

• From Sultanahmet and Fatih district

  Public transport in the Besiktas area is poorly represented. Other areas can be reached either by taxi or by buses or routes.

  From Sultanahmet and Fatih, the easiest way is by Metro M2 to Taksim Square, or by tram T1 to kabatas Marina, and from there on foot or by taxi.

• From the Asian part of the city

  In the Asian part of the city there are ferries to the pier on the opposite side of the Bay.

Hotels in Besiktas

There are few hotels in the area, and they are mostly expensive. There are several four-and five-star hotels with almost European prices and with the same quality. A special feature when choosing a hotel in this area will be a room with a balcony and a view of the bay, but for such accommodation you will have to pay a little extra. Such rooms are marked in hotel reservation systems, and they are more expensive than regular rooms.

If a suitable budget hotel can not be found here, you can try private apartments. There are a lot of inexpensive options for apartments or rooms here. You can search for accommodation through hotel booking systems, or better through AirBnB.

You can find and book accommodation in Besiktas through the following websites or the search form:

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Besiktas on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Booking.com
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Istanbul on Trip.com
• 🛌 Search hotels in Besiktas on Ostrovok.ru
• 🛌 Search for affordable accommodation in Istanbul on Sutochno.ru

Besiktas map with hotels, attractions and transport