İstiklal Avenue

İstiklal Avenue is the most famous street in Istanbul and is considered the busiest street in Turkey. The 1.4 km street is lined with boutiques, fashion stores, art galleries, restaurants, cafe, pubs, cinemas and theatres on both the sides. The street derives its distinctive look from the buildings of late Ottoman era blending with neo classical, neo gothic and renaissance structures. The historical Galatasaray Square forms the centre of the avenue. The cosmopolitan street is a popular hangout place for locals as well as tourists. The street is buzzing during the day with shoppers and transforms into a nightlife hub after the sun goes down. The impressive facade of St. Anthony of Padua Church is a highlight on the otherwise shopping street. Besides this, there are several synagogues, churches and mosques around the İstiklal Avenue. Take a stroll on this lively avenue and spot street art in quiet corners. Get a window seat at one of the cafes and observe the Turkish way of life while sipping tea. The best way to explore the İstiklal Avenue is to walk one way and take a tram to return. It is quite fascinating to find the vintage tram meandering through the sea of crowd.