As part of our series, we continue to provide helpful information about Istanbul's provinces. Today we will focus on Şişli, one of the city's most famous commercial and residential centers. Whether you are simply visiting or planning to buy Istanbul property, you will most certainly end up here, sooner or later. This is one of Istanbul's iconic provinces divided into 25 neighborhoods, including its namesake, where the famous Şişli Mosque is also located. Istanbul Cevahir Mall, the largest and most famous mall in the city is also located here, just further down the road from Şişli Mosque. The area features some of the most valuable luxury homes and apartments in Istanbul, as well as a large concentration of businesses and commercial centers, residences and office buildings, entertainment venues, art and cultural centers, schools, hospitals, restaurants and cafes. Büyükdere Avenue, starting in Şişli and stretching towards Maslak, forms the city's main financial artery with skyscrapers left and right, housing the headquarters of the biggest banks and corporations in Turkey,
It may be a landlocked province, but this hasn't stopped Şişli from becoming a major attraction center for tourists and locals alike. It includes upscale neighborhoods like Nişantaşı and Teşvikiye, where some of the best shopping streets, world-class restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues can be found. If you are planning to buy real estate to invest in Istanbul, then these neighborhoods should be on your radar. The province also includes neighborhoods like Kurtuluş and Feriköy, where a great number of Istanbul's non-Muslim residents used to live. Osmanbey, just adjacent to Nişantaşı, is a busy area, where the fashion and textile business still looms on. Mecidiyeköy, a major intersection just a stone's throw from Istanbul Cevahir Mall, used to house the stadium of the famous Turkish football team, Galatasaray FC. Now that the stadium has been demolished, it is being replaced by new residential and commercial projects. Always expect heavy traffic in Mecidiyeköy, as it also directly connects to D-100 highway that crosses the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia. Then there is also Gayrettepe, a quiet, residential neighborhood and Esentepe, home to many corporate buildings and crowded during work hours by men and women in business attire.
Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall and Cemiz Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre are also located here and remain as the city's most important venues for arts and culture. Istanbul Hilton and the Ritz-Carlton hotels can also be found here. Teşvikiye Mosque and Ihlamur Palace are famous historical buildings in Şişli, along with Taşkışla; the former Ottoman army barracks currently being used to house the Architecture Department of Istanbul Technical University.
Şişli is a great place to be if you are looking for something to eat. From expensive Nişantaşı restaurants to humble fast-food joints, there is always something for everyone's taste. Kurtuluş is home to some of the best meze houses in Istanbul, selling gourmet food made from traditional Armenian and Greek recipes. Then, there are also the trendy cafes of Nişantaşı and Teşvikiye, where the rich and famous hang out most of the time. Borsa Restaurant, housed inside Lütfü Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Center, is one of the best in the city, when it comes to classic Ottoman cuisine. There is also a great military museum in Harbiye, which houses Ottoman-era military artifacts.
Maçka Park, the largest green space close to Şişli, is located just a short walk away from Nişantaşı. For those looking for opportunities to invest in Istanbul, we recommend a trip to the Bomonti neighborhood. Here rise the Anthill Residences, the city's second tallest buildings as well as several other residential projects that offer great opportunities to those looking for properties for sale in Istanbul.