Your Next Property Awaits in Besiktas

Live in Historic Beşiktaş – Heart of the Bosphorus

Beşiktaş is a municipality of Istanbul, containing many upscale neighborhoods and Dolmabahçe Palace. It is one of the most important and famous areas in Istanbul, located on the European side overlooking the Bosphorus. The center of Beşiktaş is situated between the Kabataş area and the famous Ortaköy area, and this area can be considered the second center of Istanbul after Taksim. Neighboring districts include Şişli and Beyoğlu. The city is also home to the Turkish Beşiktaş football club, which plays in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Despite being one of the smaller areas in Istanbul, both in terms of population and area, it contains many landmarks, most notably the July 15th Martyrs Bridge and the Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror Bridge, which connect the European and Asian continents on either side of Istanbul. The area is considered to have a constantly increasing population density, with the population increasing several times during the day compared to the census due to the administrations, colleges, and commercial centers on the Levent-Maslak line. The area became an independent sector in 1930 after separating from the Beyoğlu district, and its municipal council was founded in 1984. It consists of 23 residential neighborhoods.

History of the Beşiktaş Area:

Beşiktaş has been known by many names throughout history, mainly because the area could not be a permanent settlement until the arrival of the Ottoman era. Therefore, it was named according to different events, structures, or important landmarks.

According to a common thesis among various historians and residents of Beşiktaş, supported by existing written sources, the original name of Beşiktaş is Beştaş. It is believed that the leader Khairuddin Barbarossa derived its current name from the word "Five Stones" or "Five Stone Pillars" that he used to anchor his ships.

During the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century, three important buildings were located on the shores of Beşiktaş: the Church of Michael the Archangel located in "Oabolos" (the source), "Ayos Mamas," which was the summer residence of the Byzantine emperors, and the Phocas Monastery. The Church of Michael the Archangel was built by Emperor Constantine I (305-337).

Later, Beşiktaş took on its identity as a residential area during the Ottoman period. During the Byzantine period, the Bosphorus Strait was attacked by Georgian robbers, especially from the Black Sea, and the destruction and fear they caused prevented the development of settlements with outer walls. Beşiktaş's attainment of settlement status occurred during the Ottoman period, largely due to the Ottoman Empire's control over the Black Sea.

The leader of Beşiktaş, Khairuddin Barbarossa, gained great importance, especially concerning the navy. The area where Beşiktaş is located was a suitable bay for use as a port at that time. Khairuddin Barbarossa used that bay to anchor the Ottoman navy ships. In addition, he built a palace in the area and resided there when he was in Istanbul. He built a mosque and a school for children in his name in the same area. When he died in 1546, Barbarossa was buried in Beşiktaş.

Main Landmarks of the Beşiktaş Area:

• Yıldız Palace: In the 17th century, the bay of Beşiktaş began to be filled, and this area was transformed into an organized area for the sultans' rest and recreation. The group of palaces and sections built in this garden at different times was called "Beşiktaş Beach Palace" for a long time. Sultan Selim III was the first sultan to build Western-style buildings in this area, building many buildings on the coast from Dolmabahçe to Ortaköy and expanding existing buildings. The palace built by the French engineer Melling for Sultan Hatice Sultan's sister gained great fame among the residents of Istanbul and the Europeans living in the city. Selim often enjoyed visiting his sister's palace. Sultan Mahmud II, like Selim, was very interested in the beaches of the area. During his 31-year reign, although he officially resided in Topkapi Palace, he actually spent most of his time in the many palaces and pavilions on the coast of Beşiktaş. He then moved to the other side of the Golden Horn and settled in the area. Mahmud's son, Abdulmejid, built Dolmabahçe Palace and made residing in this palace official for all sultans after him. Besides Dolmabahçe Palace, Yıldız Palace and Çırağan Palace, where the sultans resided for a while, are located in the Beşiktaş area today. The Beşiktaş area hosted the Ottoman throne until the collapse of the empire. On January 13, 1910, the first sports club in Turkey, Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club, was founded and has remained one of the most famous sports institutions in the area.
• Dolmabahçe Palace: One of the most famous and largest palaces in Beşiktaş, Turkey, dating back to the era of the Ottoman Caliphate. The importance of Dolmabahçe lies in its long-term use as the headquarters for managing the internal and external affairs of the Caliphate. Visiting it will not only allow you to admire its stunning architecture and elegant interior designs and decorations inspired by the modern classical European style with an authentic Ottoman touch or see the golden or gilded inscriptions and crystal chandeliers that adorn its halls and wings, but may also extend to viewing some historical documents pertaining to the old Ottoman state. A few steps away, you can also visit the famous Dolmabahçe Clock Tower.
• Hamidiye Yıldız Mosque: The second most important historical landmark in Istanbul Beşiktaş, dating back to 1880 when the city was under the rule and administration of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The mosque is characterized by its elongation, its single minaret, and its wonderfully designed ceilings and walls, all decorated with Ottoman inscriptions dominated by the color blue, in addition to its many rooms decorated with golden inscriptions where the Sultan would perform his prayers and receive ambassadors from foreign countries.
• Sinan Pasha Mosque: One of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the Beşiktaş Istanbul area, and why not, as it bears the name of the most creative, innovative, and famous Ottoman architect in their field. The Sinan Pasha Mosque is characterized by its two central domes, its hexagonal columns and arches, and the elaborate blue and gold decorations that adorn it from the inside with stained glass windows, in addition to the glass ablution fountain in the courtyard shaded by marble umbrellas that maintain the purity and cleanliness of its water and protect it from pollution.
• Istanbul Naval Museum: One of the most important and oldest landmarks of Beşiktaş Istanbul, with a history spanning over a century. The importance of visiting it lies in viewing the most important historical documents and real or embodied models of ships, war cannons, and navigation tools that the Ottoman sultans used during their wars, while attending exhibitions of photographs and audio-visual materials that explain the most important naval battles in the history of the Ottoman Empire, making you feel as if you are actually attending them.

Educational Services in Beşiktaş:

The area is characterized by the presence of a large number of Turkish and international government schools for all age groups and levels. However, what distinguishes the Beşiktaş area most is the presence of a large number of Turkish universities classified among the list of the best universities in Europe, where there are:

• Boğaziçi University
• Galatasaray University
• Yıldız Technical University
• Bahçeşehir University

As well as many international schools and institutes that speak non-Turkish languages, including the British International School in Beşiktaş.

Health Services in Beşiktaş: 

There are many government and private hospitals equipped with the best medical equipment and staffed by the most skilled medical personnel in the area. These hospitals are distributed among its upscale neighborhoods, in addition to the presence of a large number of medical centers. Among the most famous hospitals are:

• Sait Çiftçi Hospital
• Acıbadem Hospital
• Dünya Göz Hospital

Shopping in Beşiktaş:

• Beşiktaş Market: Beşiktaş Market Istanbul is one of the most famous tourist and shopping destinations known in Istanbul. Beşiktaş Market is characterized by its many shops and stores, which provide the finest and best types of products, whether they are clothes of all kinds or vegetables and meats, in addition to some leather and handmade products. The market also includes some stores specialized in selling the finest types of perfumes and incense, as well as some accessories and cosmetics.
• Sinan Pasha Market Istanbul: One of the most famous markets in Beşiktaş, and also one of the cheapest markets in Istanbul. Sinan Pasha Market includes more than 200 stores, containing a variety of clothes, accessories, and some jewelry that are sold at affordable prices compared to other markets, and therefore many visitors come to buy their needs at the cheapest prices and with the best materials.
• Zorlu Center Istanbul: Zorlu Center Istanbul is considered one of the most famous malls in Beşiktaş and Istanbul as a whole. It is distinguished by its wonderful geographical location, as it is located in the commercial area of the European section of Istanbul. The mall is also famous for its combination of shopping centers and entertaining recreational activities. The mall consists of 5 floors and contains approximately 200 shops to display a variety of international and Turkish goods. The mall has also allocated several places for fun and entertainment, such as electronic games and cinema halls, and other recreational activities.
• Metrocity Mall Beşiktaş Istanbul: Metrocity Mall Beşiktaş Istanbul is known as one of the most wonderful malls in Beşiktaş. Metrocity Mall is admired by many visitors, where you will find a diverse range of countless stores that specialize in selling the most famous international brands, whether it is clothing or leather products such as shoes and bags, as well as accessories and jewelry.

Transportation in the Beşiktaş Area:

• Metro: There is more than one metro line in the Beşiktaş area that connects it to the rest of the metro stations in Istanbul.
• Metrobus: One of the most famous and fastest means of transportation in Istanbul, connecting its Asian and European sides and operating around the clock.
• Tram: Operates in it from the Kabataş side to the Bağcılar area, passing through the Eminönü, Sultanahmet, and Hagia Sophia areas.
• Sea Ferries: Connect the Beşiktaş area with the rest of the European side and the Asian side and represent a wonderful experience for tourists and residents of the city as well.
• Government Transportation Buses: Which work to connect all parts of the Beşiktaş area with the rest of the surrounding areas.

Importance of Residence and Investment in the Beşiktaş Area:

• Known as the most beautiful spot in the Bosphorus Strait.
• Contains many tourist attractions.
• Forms a bridge between old Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait and its surroundings.
• It is one of the most prominent main areas of Istanbul.
• Easy to access due to the presence of subway lines, sea ferries, and public transport buses.
• Considered the second most important tourist destination in Istanbul after Taksim.
• The Beşiktaş area contains many public and private schools, universities, and hospitals.
• One of the distinctive areas of Istanbul, containing a large group of Ottoman palaces, museums, gardens, mosques, and markets.