If you are a fan of football or soccer as americans call it, you would know that it is a game that was started mainly by the englishmen and gone worldwide to other continents but did you know that this game has its effects in other countries more than it has in england? one of these countries is turkey.
published: 20 September 2022 / updated: 21 November 2024Share
Football in Turkey is something that is really beloved by everyone regardless of their age or sex, you can say that is in blood and it is strange and weird when you hear someone who is not interested in football in Turkey. In fact, football in Turkey goes back to the 19th century when some Englishmen who were staying in Istanbul during the Ottoman empire period started to play it, at the beginning and it was forbidden for Turks to play it because people started to waste a lot of time playing it so only Englishmen, Greeks, and Armanian were allowed to play it. As the love of this game grew fast in Turk’s hearts it has outweighed the love for sultan and since then, the football has become officially allowed to be played and became more organized.
Now, you can see how Turkey go crazy when it comes to football when attending one of the matches in Istanbul or any other city, and if you are really thinking of attending one, here are some of the stadiums to visit:
Besiktas Stadium (Inonu Stadium)
Besiktas club was founded in 1903 and it is the oldest club in Turkey. The club plays its home matches in Inonu Stadium which is located in Besiktas District right in front of Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus. The stadium was first established in 1947 and it can hold up to 32 thousands seats for fans and visitors. The atmosphere at the stadium is absolutely wonderful. In fact, the Times Magazine ranked this stadium among the best 10 stadiums in 2009 in terms of atmosphere, not to mention the comfortable structure of the stadium and various facilities of cafes, restaurants, gift shops, and a museum.
Galatasaray (Turktelekom Stadium):
Galatasaray club was founded in 1905 by Ali Sami Yen who was a student of Galatasaray high school which has and still plays an important role in education in Turkey.
Galatasaray club plays its home games in TurkTelekom stadium which is located in Sariyer District and it is considered one of the 5 most modern stadiums in Europe and usually it is used to host Champions league and European League matches. The stadium’s capacity after reconstruction is 53 thousands seats that are organized in a very modern and professional way to give more comfort and a cooler experience for fans.
Talking about Galatasaray club, the club is considered the most successful club in Turkey as it has won the Turkish championship league more than 20 times and was able to win the UEFA cup in 2000, attending one of Galatasaray club’s games is really fun.
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Fenerbahce Stadium:
Fenerbahce club was founded in 1907 and it is the club of Asian Istanbul. This is why it is almost impossible to find someone who is a fan of a different club on the Asian side. Fenerbahce club was named after the lighthouse which you can find once you enter the kadikoy district thus, the fenerbahce stadium is located in Kadikoy district.
Usually and bofer any play at Fenerbahce stadium, the fans gather in kadikoy for eating and drinking and then walk toward the stadium to support their team. probably one of the best things about fenerbahce stadium is that you can walk for a maximum of 15 minutes from the heart of Kadikoy to it. The stadium was renovated in 2003 to be able to hold around 52 thousand fans and visitors in a very organized way.
Fenerbahce club is the richest club in Turkey thus, the club’s stadium is very cheque and organized all the time.
The wildest game:
Here is a thing, when there is a match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce clubs, Istanbul city goes literally crazy. We are talking about fans who are ready to die for their teams thus, the atmosphere during this game is absolutely amazing. Everyone is cheering,dancing, and yelling to support their teams, fire plays everywhere and drums sounds are on all the time. So if you want to attend a football game in Istanbul, make sure to attend this one.
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Istanbul, turkey's most remarkable and the most splendid city, has long been a popular tourist and even local tourist destination. have you ever thought about why istanbul is so marvelous and popular? since the entertainment never ends in istanbul, you always have so many chances to catch an exciting event to enjoy yourself and make your day unique. as a matter of fact, people are flocking to istanbul to experience some events, concerts, festivals, and more!
People who are bored with the ordinariness of daily life sometimes prefer bars to relax and listen to music with pleasure. These people immerse themselves in the flow of the atmosphere with the cocktails they choose at the venue that best suits their style. How about going out alone or with your friends in Istanbul evenings to have some fun and have a drink? Let's talk about the best pubs and bars in Istanbul for you.
Where is selamicesme? the selamicesme neighborhood of the kadikoy district is home to the selamicesme mosque. being one of the most well-known and adored neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side, getting there is not a problem. the marmaray and stepping out at the feneryolu stop are the most direct ways to travel to kadikoy from the european side of istanbul. selamicesme mosque is about a 5-minute walk from there.you can board one of the ferries that depart from eminonu for kadikoy if you prefer a more time-consuming yet enjoyable mode of transportation. by doing this, you can spend about 15 minutes admiring the stunning bosphorus strait while grabbing a cup of tea and some goodies from the store inside the ships. when you arrive at the kadikoy pier, seek the big yellow iett bus pick-up location, which is very close to the kadikoy pier. take the bus with the number 4 or the one with the 16d. to get to the selamicesme mosque, get out at the onsekiz mart stop and walk for 5 to 10 minutes. other things to do in and near kadikoy visit the moda neighborhood: the moda neighborhood is one of kadikoy's attractions that stands out from the rest. there is enough to do here to keep you busy for a full day. take a stroll along istanbul's moda coast to observe the bosphorus strait from one of the city's most picturesque and tranquil coastlines. you will unavoidably pass by a few tea gardens on the way there. choose one with a view of the bosphorus, and as you take in the scenery, order a cup of tea or turkish coffee. visit dondurmaci ali usta to sample any of the more than 50 types of delicious, all-natural ice cream for some of the best ice cream in turkey. next, board a tram and begin exploring kadikoy. you will observe the district's prevailing bohemian aesthetic during your trip. you can take a culinary walks kadikoy tour to enjoy turkish cuisine while touring one of the most well-liked neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side because kadikoy is home to a lot of fantastic restaurants where you can sample numerous dishes from the well-known turkish kitchen. visit moda stage theatre to see some of the finest works of turkish theater and cinema. the location for art lovers in kadikoy, there are various plays and movies being produced here, from well-known shows to more independent, arthouse films. after all of this, it might become a little bit late, but don't worry—kadikoy is recognized for having fantastic nightlife with a variety of top-notch bars and pubs. arkaoda is undoubtedly one of istanbul's top bars and a favorite among both locals and tourists. this establishment, which can be found on bar street, features fantastic live music, a wonderful ambiance, and a wide selection of top-notch drinks. viktor levi wine house provides more than 12 different varieties of wines prepared in their cellar if you prefer outstanding house wine over a few beers. the interior of the building is decorated with a variety of plants, adding to its elegant appearance. do you like rock music? so zincir bar is the spot for you. this inviting and welcoming tavern offers a wide selection of drinks and snacks at more reasonable prices than other bars around. are you prepared for another adventure? the following day, depart from the kadikoy dock and board a ferry to eminonu. once there, enter the historic neighborhood of fatih because there is much to learn about this area.
For sure, you have heard a lot about the rich cuisine in turkey and rich food culture, and of course you heard about the turkish coffee and the turkish tea because beside palaces, the bosphorus, and beautiful natural sight, turkish coffee and turkish tea are very famous things in turkey. in fact, a lot of people connect istanbul city with turkish tea and coffee.