Sights · 33 of the best in Istanbul
İstiklal Avenue
The city’s great promenade
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Alexey Komarov · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout İstiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue, the Grande Rue de Péra of the 19th century, runs for about 1.4 km from Taksim Square to Tünel, lined with Belle Époque buildings, arcades such as the Çiçek Pasajı, churches including St Anthony of Padua, cinemas and shops. The red nostalgic tram trundles along it, and the side streets lead to meyhanes, bars, Galata and Cihangir.
Why it's on our list
- Heritage tram
- Arcades and churches
- Crowds day and night
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with İstiklal Avenue before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from İstiklal Avenue are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- Galatasaray LisesiT250 m1 min walk
- OdakuleT2250 m3 min walk
- Hüseyin Ağa CamiiT2300 m3 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank350 m4 min walk
- Taxi rank, Şimşirci Sokağı650 m8 min walk
Key sights
- Taksim Square700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Galata Tower950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Galata Bridge1.6 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Dolmabahçe Palace1.9 kmWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Spice Bazaar2.0 kmWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque2.3 kmWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Topkapı Palace2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Grand Bazaar2.5 kmWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Hagia Sophia2.8 kmWalk 35 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Basilica Cistern2.8 kmWalk 35 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)32 kmCar or taxi 98 min
- Istanbul Airport (IST)33 kmCar or taxi 102 min