Which Part Of Istanbul Is In Europe?
In 2014, Istanbul was introduced as the first tourist destination in the world, and in recent years, it has been among the top 10 tourist destinations in the world. This city, which receives most of its income through attracting tourists, has become one of the options for accommodation and residence during recent years and with the progress in the urban and economic fields.
As you know, one of the characteristics of Istanbul is that it is divided into Asian and European parts. Previously, in the articles “Is Istanbul in Europe or Asia” and ” Which part of Istanbul is in Asia?”, we introduced the city of Istanbul and its Asian part. Still, in this article, we intend to examine the issue of “Which part of Istanbul is in Europe”. If you also want to know more about the European part of Istanbul, stay with us until the end of this article from Travelling Topic Tourism Magazine.
Which part of Istanbul is in Europe?
Table of Contents
In response to the question “Which part of Istanbul is in Europe?” we should say that the western part of Istanbul, which the Bosphorus Strait separates, is the European part of Istanbul.
During my trip to Istanbul, I visited most of the European neighborhoods of this city, and according to the conversations I had with Turkish people, I realized that the European part of Istanbul was built after the Asian part, and that is why it is more modern than the other side of the city.
This part of Istanbul has a larger population. Because most of the historical monuments and entertainment places are built in this city, tourists tend to stay in the European part of the hotel.
But most people who plan to live in this city decide to buy a house in the Asian part because it has a calmer environment than the Asian part.
In the following, I will introduce you to the most important European parts of Istanbul that I have visited.
Besiktas neighborhood
The first neighborhood I visited in the European part of Istanbul was Besiktas neighborhood. This neighborhood is also divided into 23 districts.
There are many tourist attractions such as Dolmabahçe Palace, Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Yıldız Park, and Ortakoy Mosque in this area, but unfortunately, I could not visit all of them.
Many tourists visit this area because many luxury hotels have been built there. Also, the embassies of some countries, such as Indonesia, Albania, Malaysia, and Azerbaijan, are located in this area.
The prices of the hotels in this area are high due to their luxury. I stayed at The Ritz-Carlton for one night and had a good rest.
Do not book a hotel in this area if you want an economical trip. Try to book a hotel in the cheaper areas of this city, such as Taksim Square, but if you want to experience a luxury trip, the hotels in this area are the best choice.
Also, house prices are high because the houses are built luxuriously. If you are looking for a cheap place to live or travel, Besiktas neighborhood will not be the right choice, but be sure to visit this area and its tourist spots.
Below, we have mentioned the best neighborhoods in Besiktas:
- Bebak
- Akatlar
- Arnavutköy
- Kuruçeşme
- Etiler
Galata
The next answer to the list of “Which part of Istanbul is in Europe?” is the Gatala neighborhood. The Galata neighborhood, which got its name from the famous Galata Tower of Istanbul, is in the Beyoglu district. One of this neighborhood’s most famous historical attractions, called Galata Tower, is located next to the Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul. Galata is one of the busiest neighborhoods in Istanbul. It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night. Whenever you go to this neighborhood, you can spend hours with the kind and native people of Galata.
Karakoy
Karakoy neighborhood Istanbul is one of the old neighborhoods of Istanbul, which was considered one of the most important ports of this city in the past. The structure of Karakoy has remained in its original form over the years, but in 2012, many buildings and structures in this neighborhood were renovated.
If you go to this area, go to the most famous Karakoy Cafe (Karabatak Cafe) and get rid of the tiredness of Istanbul with a drink.
Sarıyer
Sarıyer is a beautiful, clean district divided into 35 smaller sections. This district is very good in all respects because it is easy for the residents of this neighborhood to access the public transportation system, education system, tourist attractions, and natural recreation such as tourism in the forest and boating.
House prices in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul are very high. This district is one of the popular district in Istanbul, and big capitalists buy most of the properties and apartments built in Sarıyer. Many of the best hotels in Istanbul are also located in this district, including the Fuat Pasa Hotel and the Hilton Maslak Hotel. The price of accommodation and hotels in this district is high, like the price of a house.
Sisli
Who would have thought that this modern neighborhood was a place for farming and hunting in the past? Yes, you read it right. At the beginning of the last century, with the influence of France and the settlement of different cultures in this area, this neighborhood moved away from its previous form and turned into today’s Sisli.
It is also better to know that one of the most important factors that multiplied the fame of Sisli is the construction of the famous Cevahir shopping center. Among the tourist attractions in this neighborhood are the Atatürk Museum, Tesvikiye Mosque, Ihlamur Palace, Istanbul Army Museum, Parm Democracy, Holy Spirit Church, and Kanyon Mall.
Other neighborhoods of the European part of Istanbul
There are so many answers to the question “Which part of Istanbul is in Europe?” that if we want to introduce them all, this article will be very long and boring. Therefore, we have included the list of the best neighborhoods in the European part of Istanbul.
- Sultan Ahmed neighborhood
- Fatih
- Arnavutkoy
- Gazi Osman Pasa
- Buyuk Chekmeje
- Beyoglu
Final notes
In this article, we examined the answer to the question “Which part of Istanbul is in Europe?” and introduced the most important European parts of Istanbul. Living in all these neighborhoods has its advantages and disadvantages. But choosing which neighborhood is the best in Istanbul to live in depends on your circumstances and budget.
If you want to live in a quiet district, district like Sarıyer can be the best option. But if you plan to live in the city’s center and the hustle and bustle of Istanbul, the Sisli can satisfy you. To learn more about different parts of Turkey and Istanbul, refer to the article ” Is Turkey in Europe or Asia“.
In the end, please share your opinion about the European part of Istanbul with me and others in the comment section, and also tell me which European part of Istanbul you would like to live in
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the most luxurious European part of Istanbul?
Besiktas, Sarıyer, and Sisli are among Istanbul’s most luxurious and expensive parts.
Where is the quietest European part of Istanbul?
Besiktas and Sarıyer are among the quietest and best parts in Istanbul.
