Top Things to Do on Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue is one of Istanbul’s most popular and lively streets, and walking here is one of the essential Beyoğlu experiences. Stretching from Taksim Square down to Tünel, the avenue brings together historic arcades, churches, music shops, cafes, meyhanes, street food, and nightlife in one long urban promenade.
If you want to experience the area like a local, start with a full walk through the avenue, stop often, and let the side streets pull you in. From traditional sweets to terrace bars, from the Fish Market to Tünel, there is always something happening.
Walk through Istiklal Avenue, from Taksim Square to Tünel.
Try fried and stuffed mussels and drink a beer in the Fish Market.
Rest by the window in a cafe facing Istiklal Avenue and watch the surrounding area.
Have a feast of Rakı and Meze in the meyhanes of Çiçek Arcade, Nevizade, Asmalımescit, or under the Galata Bridge.
Try the rich variety of street food around Istiklal Street: fried mussels, kokoreç, stuffed mussels, filled meatballs, and more.
Food, Meyhanes, and Street Flavors
Much of the pleasure of Beyoğlu comes from eating and drinking your way through its passages and side streets. Istiklal Avenue is not only about shopping and strolling; it is also one of the best areas to sample classic Istanbul flavors.
Enjoy Rakı, mezes, and a deep chat in Historical Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi, Yakup, or Refik.
Taste profiterole at Inci Patisserie.
Join a Fasıl while having a glass of Rakı. Fasıl is the name of pieces of Ottoman classical music, and today the word is also used for the musical meyhane atmosphere built around food, drink, and conversation.
Try the sweets in Markiz and Lebon Patisserie, especially their pastries.
Take a seat in one of the bars in Nevizade to drink beer and eat iced almonds.
Have lunch in Hacı Abdullah and taste traditional Turkish cuisine.
Buy creamy Turkish delight, rose Turkish delight, or double roasted Turkish delight from Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir.
Taste Burma Kadayıf with walnut in Beyoğlu Saray Muhallebicisi on Istiklal Avenue.
Eat Kokoreç or Zümküfül in the kokoreç houses inside the Fish Market.
Historic Arcades, Landmarks, and Atmosphere
One of the best ways to enjoy the avenue is to slow down and pay attention to its details. Beyoğlu’s arcades and side streets preserve much of the district’s character, mixing commerce, memory, and daily life.
Tour the arcades, the symbols of Beyoğlu, and buy souvenirs, alternative clothes, incense, posters, or tiles.
See the hundred-year-old street lamps of Cezayir Street.
Go to St. Antoine Church, light a candle, and become part of its quiet atmosphere. You can learn more about the church’s background on Wikipedia.
Buy very cheap jeans and clothes in the Beyoğlu Trade Center or Terkos Arcade.
Go shopping in the Atlas Arcade for incense, candles, and posters.
Buy one of the unique handmade oil lamps from a shop in Aznavur Passage.
Tour the narrow streets in Asmalımescit and see the restored historical buildings.
Turkish Coffee, Culture, and Nearby Experiences
Drink Turkish coffee in Manda Batmaz, on a small street on the right just before Odakule.
See one of the international collections exhibited in the art galleries on Istiklal Avenue.
Buy various kinds of spices in the Fish Market.
Watch the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony in the Galata Dervish Lodge. If you want more on this tradition, see our guide to Whirling Dervishes.
Go inside the music shops in Tünel to examine various Turkish instruments.
Take a break in the cafes and restaurants inside the Geçit Inn across Tünel Square.
Watch Istanbul from 360 degrees at Galata Tower.
Go shopping in the bazaars set on Sundays in Çukurcuma and in the neighborhood’s antique shops.
Visit Istanbul Modern Arts Museum. After the museum, go to the nargile cafes in Tophane, drink apple tea, and play backgammon.
Eat something in the restaurants that cook home-style meals in Asmalımescit.
Nightlife, Views, and Transportation
As day turns into evening, Istiklal Avenue changes mood but never slows down. Terrace bars, live music, late-night eating, and easy links to nearby districts make it a natural place to continue your night.
Go to a bar with a terrace and enjoy your drink while watching the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
Visit the famous nightclubs, “Indigo” and “Babylon”.
Sit up all night in one of the bars of Istiklal Avenue, Sıraselviler, or Tepebaşı.
Eat the famous sauced hamburgers of Kızılkayalar in the square buffets and drink churned Ayran.
Go fishing and take pictures on the Galata Bridge.
Watch and enjoy the “Mehter Show” performed daily at Harbiye Military Museum. Mehter is the Ottoman military band.
Get on the underground tram in Tünel to go to Karaköy.
Take a trip with the nostalgic tram from Taksim Square to Tünel. For current public transport details, check Metro İstanbul.
Taste the famous Baklava of Karaköy Güllüoğlu.
Take a tour of the underground shopping center in Karaköy.
Drink Rakı on the Galata Bridge facing the Bosphorus and the sunset.
By doing these things, you will maximize your Beyoğlu experience. Without these, you cannot enjoy Beyoğlu!
