One of the world’s great cities, where East meets West, at the cross-roads of three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, sits Istanbul, a place that time itself can get lost in, walking its eternal streets, and find itself anew, over and over again. Truly one of my favorite destinations on the planet, as well as one my current home bases, the city formerly known as Constantinople continues to inspire, enchant, and enthrall millions of visitors each year, and among those many, are the lucky few who decide to make this place their home.
As an expat in Turkey myself, I can assure you that though moving to this amazing country is a reward in itself, it is certainly a journey to reach that final destination of successfully finding a new home here, especially when it comes to trying to figure out which are the best and worst neighborhoods in Istanbul!
Well take it from a guy whose been here, done that, and is a proud adopted Istanbulite – so without further ado, here are my top 5 best and worst neighborhoods in Istanbul to move to, that you should consider moving (or not!) to, if you are seriously considering living in this majestic, magical city, on the banks of the Bosphorous!
Best: Karaköy
We can start with my personal favorite neighborhood in the entire city, as well as the one where I have chosen as my personal part-time home! The district of Karaköy, as well as its smaller neighborhood of Beyoğlu and Cihangir, on the European side of the Bosphorous Strait, holds some of the best restaurants, shopping opportunities, and nightlife that the city has to offer – which have made it popular with expats and locals alike. Basically, if you can dream of it, chances are you can and will find it here!
From the always lively Istiklal Street, where locals and foreigners alike peruse great international and Turkish brands alike, to the famous Galata Tower, where one can take in the view of an Istanbul icon over a warm glass of cay, to even the great restaurants and entertainment to be had in the vicinity of Taksim Square, Karaköy manages to blend the bohemian with the modern in truly magical way, and always leaves a smile on my face walking out my door to find myself in the midst of this fantastic neighborhood of Istanbul.
Best: Sisli
For those looking to live with in more modern surroundings, but not too far away from the old majestic city that has made Istanbul known the world over, than I would definitely recommend the cool, clean district of Sisli, located just north of Karaköy, still on the European side of the city.
Sisli offers a suburban kind of lifestyle which many in the West might feel more accustomed to, while also offering amazing shopping offerings to be had, including but certainly not limited to the Istanbul Cevahir Mall, which has five stories filled with international brands, a massive food court with every kind of cusine imaginable, and even a huge, well stocked grocery store called Migros, which is a big chain here in Turkey!
Basically, if you are a family with small children, but want to still experience the excitement of Istanbul without living right at it’s heart, than a move to Sisli will definitely tick those boxes for you!
Best: Moda
Moving across the strait, to the Asian side of the city, lies my favorite neighborhood in East Istanbul – Moda, which is part of the larger district of Kadıköy. Perhaps the most bohemian, chic, and trendy quarter in the city, Moda is a safe, beautiful neighborhood, filled with interesting shops and cafes, located right on a lovely waterside park for get togethers with friends and family.
For the younger, hipster crowd looking for a slice of the Pacific Northwest with a uniquely Turkish flair, Moda will definitely fit your fancy with it’s plethora of new-wave fusion restaurants, bars, and local flair, that definitely makes this a more popular neighborhood with the city’s youth. Although other parts of Kadıköy are also pretty great, Moda definitely stands out as the brightest star on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Best: Besiktas
Returning back to Europe, we find ourselves trailing upwards from Karaköy, but westwards of Sisli, right back to the edge of the Bosphorus. Marked at its entrance by the gorgeous Dolmabahçe Mosque, as well as the Vodafone Stadium belonging to the neighborhood’s famous football team, Besiktas is perhaps one of the nicest, safest, and most interesting neighborhoods in Istanbul, and one you’re sure to fall in love with if you choose to move here.
Flanked by lovely European cafes and terraces, as well as a great walking trail surrounded by beautiful green foliage, this upscale part of the city manages to give people room to spread out and enjoy the trendy new restaurant/shopping scene, all while maintaining so much of the old-school classical Turkish flair that really gives Istanbul its sparkle. Essentially, if you are looking for a more European-feeling, urban environment, that is a combination of Sisli and Moda in lifestyle, but still manages to really preserve its more authentic, Turkish soul, than ‘come to Besiktas’ – it’s the perfect neighborhood for you!
Best: Nisantasi
Lastly, for those looking for the glitz and glamour, the highest upscale life one can afford in this truly international city, look no further than the district of Nisantasi, where for a pretty penny access can be granted to the most ritzy neighborhood in all of Istanbul.
Filled to the brim with global labels, this high-end business district is best suited for those with fat pockets, and those looking to spend them, as well as white-collar workers with jobs in the local finance sectors. Well connected to everywhere else in the city, this European neighborhood manages to give people the ambiance of New York City, right in the heart of Europe’s second largest city.
Worst: Üsküdar (near the ferry station)
Unfortunately, though the Asian side of Istanbul can be home to just as many great places as the European half, one area that I’d have to say steer clear of is part of the neighborhood of Üsküdar, which happens to be located closest to ferry station.
Mostly the drawbacks to this area is the constant chaos and noise, as well as being located in the poorer section of Üsküdar, which unfortunately has left the area somewhat a perfect target spot for scams and petty theft at times, especially on foreigners who are literally off the boat, as their wits are not yet about them as they enter Asian Istanbul.
Though there are good areas of Üsküdar, they are further away from the coast, so if you’re looking at this place for a new home in this neighborhood there is still hope – just steer clear of this section, and you’ll be good to go.
Worst: Fatih – Aksaray & Kumkapı
Suprisingly, another popular neighborhood that I have to honestly not recommend living in is the living, beating heart of Istanbul, right near the Sultenahmet Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia – the neighborhood of Fatih, in the southern part of the European district of Eminönü.
Although visiting this legendary area of Istanbul is certainly worth its merits, and I always love a great walk around neighboring Gulhane Park, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and Tokapi Palace as well, living in the tourist mecca of the city has its definite drawbacks, like being more expensive (due to things being priced more for tourists who don’t know any better), louder, a bit poorer, and definitely not as safe the further south and west you go in Fatih, as you work your way into the neighborhoods of Aksaray and Kumkapı.
Ultimately, Fatih has a lot of great things going for it, but if I were going to be moving to Istanbul to start my new life as an expat in Turkey, I really wouldn’t want to be treated like a tourist every single day, with all the potential price-gouging and pick-pocketing that goes along with it.
Worst: Başakşehir
The recent darling of real estate firms and housing developers, Başakşehir is a neighborhood that on the outset looks pretty great, and almost like another version of Sisli – clean, safe, and modern. However, the major issue and difference this European neighborhood has with Sisli is its location.
Başakşehir is located in the far west of Istanbul’s European half, but to put this into the proper context, considering the absolute mind-boggling size of this sprawling megalopolis, you could practically be in another city entirely, being that far outside the center of the city. To get to Istanbul proper takes around an hour in one direction, and a car is necessary for survival if you choose to live in this part of town.
Though for some, this kind of commute is of no difficulty, and there are some cheap real-estate deals to be had, I would recommend anyone seriously considering Istanbul to steer clear of neighborhoods that are this far from the center, as you’d be much better off living in another Turkish city entirely, for a much greater value for your time and money. And for what it’s worth, Başakşehir also have the most hated football team in Turkey as of present, in case that is important to you!
Worst: Esenyurt
Similarly to Başakşehir, Esenyurt is located in the far west of the city, albeit a tad closer to the city than the aforementioned neighborhood. However, unlike Başakşehir, Esenyurt has a pretty steadily increasing issue with crime, due to the influx of immigration, illegal and otherwise, from refugees fleeing war in neighboring countries like Syria and Iraq.
As such, though real estate agents continue to try and sell people on great deals on their property stock in this part of Istanbul, I truly believe that unfortunately any kind of investment in this area of the city will prove to be a depreciating asset, as the crime, overpopulation, and infrastructure of Esenyurt continue to unfortunately suffer, while the political instability continues in other parts of this geographic region.
Worst: Tarlabaşı
I hate to give a title to the worst neighborhood in Istanbul, but unfortunately it is true – Tarlabaşı’s reputation as a pretty unsafe part of the city to be in, especially so after nightfall, definitely has its merits. Located due west of Taksim Square, just north of Tarlabaşı Blvd, this neighborhood is surprisingly close to my favorite neighborhoods in the city, like Cihangir and Beyoglu, but don’t let the closeness fool you – it truly is a night or day difference on either side of that dividing road.
The unfortunate effects of poverty in this part of town have unfortunately led to a lack of infrastructure development, a higher rise in crime rates all around, and a relative roughness that the rest of the city often seems to lack, which is a good thing. Sadly, the people who live in this part of town have had to deal with quite a lot, but if you are planning on moving to Istanbul, be sure that you’re staying safe and staying smart by avoiding Tarlabaşı at all costs – you’ll thank me later.
DESTINATION: Istanbul – The Eternal City, Where Magic is Truly Real
There are truly few places on Earth where I can honestly say that myth and legend become real, and if you choose to move to Turkey’s biggest city, you will soon discover a world unlike any other, with a heart more beautiful than any city imaginable.
A place filled to the brim of fascinating beauty, culture, and adventure, Istanbul is truly one of the most inspiring places I have ever been to or lived, and is easily one of my favorite cities on Earth. And here’s hoping, that very soon, it will soon be one of yours as well.
So there you have it, the top 5 Best and Worst Neighborhoods in Istanbul to move to! Have you ever been to, or lived in Istanbul before? Tell me your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!