Arnavutkoy, Istanbul’s Best Kept Secret

After all my recent trips to Istanbul in the last couple of years, I finally made the effort to return to the beautiful area of Arnavutköy, in the district of Beşiktaş (pronounced baeshiktásh).

Arnavutköy, which means “Albanian village” in Turkish, is a charming neighbourhood on the European side, away from the touristic hustle and bustle of Sultanahmet and Taksim.

In my opinion – and that of many other Istanbulphiles – is that the area is the city’s best kept secret. Located on the shores of the Bosphorus, it’s also one of the best places to live in Turkey.

So, to help you explore the neighbourhood, I´ll share with you the things to do in Arnavutköy.

See also: Places To Stay in Istanbul

There aren’t many museums or so-called world-class landmarks. But Arnavutköy wasn’t born to be flashy.

The charm of this residential area is the fact it retains its quiet fishermen’s village feel to some extent, even though it’s located in one of the world’s busiest metropolis.

Read Also: Istanbul street food: what to eat and where to find it

On top of that, there are a number of old Ottoman wooden mansions to add to its beauty.

See also: How To Go From Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet

Arnavutköy is also one of Istanbul’s most progressive areas, probably because of its multi-cultural population. Yes, the area is home to a large Greek, Jewish and Armenian community – in addition, of course, to Muslim Turks – who live in harmony.

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Although they prefer to keep their distance from the horde of tourists that come into Istanbul every day, the area is slowly being discovered – and loved – by visitors, attracted by the area’s beauty, tranquillity and fantastic views over the Bosphorus.

What To Do In Arnavutköy, Istanbul

In terms of what to do in Arnavutköy, there isn’t a lot to do. My recommendation is to visit the area early morning, when the fishermen are still capturing the day’s catch – you’ll definitely get great images.

Apart from that, you can cross the street from the pier, walk across the small square and walk up two streets.

See also: How To Go From Sabiha Airport To Taksim

It’ll be hard to believe that you’re only a few metres away from the Bosphorus, as the backstreets still keep that nostalgic village feel. Stop for some traditional tea at one of the small restaurants, stop by the flower stalls – buy some? – and take in the whole atmosphere.

I hadn’t been to the area for at least three years and I was amazed by how it seems unchanged – apart from a few trendy restaurants by the marina. Still, Arnavutköy is far from becoming flashy like neighbour Bebek our Nisantasi.

Other things to do in Arnavutköy include a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church, having lunch at one of the trendy restaurants close to the pier and visiting the (few) local shops.

How To Get To Arnavutköy

Arnavutköy is located by the Bosphorus, in the district of Beşiktaş, on the European side, far from Sultanahmet and Taksim.

The easiest – if not the most obvious – way to get there is by taxi. But if you’re anything like me, you’d prefer to use public transport.

Since there’s no metro in the area, the best way is to take a bus or a ferry.

Getting to Arnavutköy by Bus

From Kabataş station (that’s the last stop of the tram), take buses 22, 22RE or 25E. The journey takes roughly 30 minutes and you’ll go past Dolmabahçe and Ciragan Palaces, and also cross the neighbourhood of Ortaköy.

Getting to Arnavutköyby Ferry

The best way to get to Arnavutköy is by ferry. It’s not only a way to commute around the city, but also a tourist attraction in its own right, since you’ll sail past several famous attractions.

If you’re staying in Sultanahmet, walk down to the Bosphorus, in the area called Eminonu. There, you’ll find several ferry terminals. Go to the one closest to Galata Bridge.

Several ferries depart from this terminal, so make sure to take the one that goes to Rumeli Kavagi.

The ferry to Arnavutköy departs from Eminonu every 20 to 30 minutes from 9:35am to 8:05pm. The journey from Eminonu to Arnavutköy takes 35 minutes and is a very scenic way to get to the area.

If you’re staying in the Taksim area, you can hop onto the ferry at the Besiktas pier or the  Ortakoy pier. These are two stops between Eminonu and Arnavutkoy.

After Arnavutkoy, the ferry continues to Rumeli Kavagi and has several stops, including the neighbourhood of Bebek.