Avrupa Yakası City Guide

You are in a city that is unique in terms of crowd, excitement, movement and beauty. You are in Taksim, where the heart of this city beats. You can determine your route by reviewing the must-see places and taste stops on the European Side. In our opinion, an adventure that starts from Taksim should continue with a Bosphorus tour or exploration of the historical peninsula. Of course, there is no need to remind that adventure in Istanbul has no end. For a faster exploration, we asked the ones who know Istanbul: What are the must-see places on the European side? Where and what to eat in European Side of Istanbul? Here, we are sharing the responses with you.

Cihangir, the bohemian and young district of the European Side, is the right starting point for breakfast and the first coffee of the day. As one of the most beautiful and popular cities in the world, Istanbul is a unique location where you can find different breakfast alternatives together. You can restore energy to explore this beautiful city by having a pleasant breakfast in the places that offer great delicacies in addition to the delicious bakery products you can eat on the road while continuing to explore the city.

If you are going to divert your route to the Bosphorus, a pleasant journey colored by Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace and the Bosphorus Bridge awaits you. We are aware that you do not have much time to visit the palaces. However, as you pass through these magnificent structures, you may want to remember some information. Built between 1846-1856 upon the order of Abdulmecid I, architect of Dolmabahçe Palace, which was the residence of Atatürk and six sultans, including Abdülhamit, was Karabet Balyan. You can make tracing the steps Balyan family, which adds value to many corners of Istanbul, into another theme of your trip.

Çırağan Palace, built by Abdülaziz to Sarkis Balyan, is a special building that witnessed the transformation of the empire's history. The palace, which was rebuilt in the 90s, long after the fire that emerged in 1910, is today one of the most luxurious hotels in Istanbul. After passing Çırağan, you will arrive to Ortaköy, which is very crowded, difficult to reach but indispensable due to its location. On the shore of the bridge, the diamond of Ortaköy, famous for its magnificent view, is the Great Mecidiye Mosque signed by Nigoğos Balyan. If you wish, you can take a lunch break in Ortaköy or a quieter place to review what you have discovered and prepare for new discoveries.

Arnavutköy can be a good option for a lunch break.  You will surely come across places that offer different tastes in Arnavutköy, one of the old districts of Istanbul known for the beauty of its streets and houses. Even choosing among the options suitable for your taste can be difficult at this location, but Arnavutköy, where you can discover great tastes with a little research, is a good stop for lunch.

The Bosphorus always fascinates you, but it embraces you most in April with redbuds. If you are in Istanbul in the spring, you should know that you will catch great shots. Apart from that, it can be a great experience to discover the different mansions with different stories. You can continue your journey, which starts from Esma Sultan Mansion in Ortaköy, to the Ayşe Sultan Mansion, which you will encounter when you walk towards Rumeli Fortress. One of the rare wooden mosques in Istanbul, 17th century building Kayalar Masjid should also be noted. Right next to it, Yılanlı Mansion, an 18th century structure, will have your attention. When you see the elegant Şerifler Mansion of the 18th century in Emirgan, you will realize that you are at a new stop to rest. After seeing these mansions and visiting the Sabancı Museum's current exhibition, numerous beauties awaits you in Bebek throughout the Boshporus route including Aşiyan Museum, Rumeli Fortress and Rumeli Kavağı with magnificent location and atmosphere.

For the evening, you should choose the places where you will really feel yourself in Istanbul. You can discover wonderful delicacies in many places that attract attention with their kitchens furnished with fine tastes and home to different tastes. In addition, you can find many restaurants with influences from world cuisines in Istanbul, and you can experience an extraordinary culinary experience by choosing one of the places that possess the inspirations of Ottoman cuisine. You can crown your Istanbul trip with a great dinner by choosing one of the modern or traditional cuisines.