The pedestrian Istiklal Street, whose name can literally be translated as “Independence Street,” is the main avenue of the prestigious Beyoglu district, beginning at Taksim Square. It is a kind of “Istanbul Arbat,” a street of celebration. Restaurants, clubs, coffee shops, stores, art galleries, and other entertainment venues — life here is vibrant and bustling almost around the clock.
It is simply pointless to list all the sights located on Istiklal. On both sides of the street stand old buildings with beautiful facades. These include the Flower Passage, the Greek Church of the Holy Trinity, and the incredibly picturesque French Street. You can find out what is especially worth paying attention to during your walk by downloading the Ever.Travel mobile app and loading the audio guide to the Beyoglu district in it. It will become an excellent companion that will tell you in detail what is interesting to see on Istiklal Street in Istanbul.
Flickr, businda
Just a couple of minutes from this famous promenade is the famous Pera Palace hotel, where passengers of the “Orient Express” were accommodated, and where Agatha Christie wrote her immortal detective novel. The hotel now belongs to the Jumeirah Group chain, which makes this place even more refined and luxurious. Those wishing to stay there can book a room on the Booking.com website.
FLICKR, BALI HOTELS
You can continue sightseeing in Istanbul using the guides to the Galata district and to the famed Taksim Square. Or you can plan your walking route yourself with the help of the Ever.Travel interactive map. The plan created with it syncs easily with the free mobile app; you just need to log in there with the same account as on the website. Read more about how simple and convenient it is in our review.
