The “New City” in Istanbul is primarily composed of Elmadag, Nisantasi, Sisli and Kurtulus. These are relatively new, since it was only when the Ottoman Empire was nearing its end (when the Turkish Republic was about to be born) that these areas (north of Taksim Square) saw settlements. The areas used to be a favorite hunting ground or archery training ground, as it is an open countryside. It also served as agricultural land and in some cases as burial grounds (in fact, you will still see a lot of cemeteries in this area). Nowadays, the new city is a great place to shop or get to know the nightlife of Istanbul. From that time, the New City slowly transformed into areas with art noveau-inspired stone buildings, as well shopping arcades built under residential and commercial apartments.
Elmadag is the area where you can find posh hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton, as well as big business establishments – banks, malls and offices, most invariably housed in the area’s skyscrapers. You will also find that most of the major airlines have an office here. So it’s pretty easy to move from shopping to getting your ticket booked for your flight home. Kurtulus, on the other hand, is Istanbul’s answer to Hollywood, as this is the home of many local stars – actors, singers and artists.
Nisantasi will remind New Yorkers of their charming SoHo district, sprinkled with a bit of Madison Avenue vibe. Nisantasi is actually in Sisli and this is usually where you can find the enclave of those who can afford the high life.
A walk along the streets of the New City would invariably involve tasting the goodies served fresh and hot by cafes and patisseries such as Konak, or going over to Diamond, where you will realize why diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend. This jeweler is the first of many jewelry shops that can be found in the New City. Sisli, especially, boasts of establishments such as highly-prestigious French Schools like Notre Dame de Sion and St. Michel, plus the Civahir Istanbul, which is among the largest malls in Europe and even the world. It’s fun to sit at its cafes and go people watching. What you will see: corporate types rushing from one meeting to another, chic ladies doing lunch and shoppers laden with bags from designer stores.
The area is a charming combination of late 19th and early 20th century structures, the most prominent of which is the Macka Palas. This is home to Armani and Gucci. Other buildings in the area sport the names of the city’s most expensive shops – boutiques, art galleries and perfumeries abound.
Other attractions include:
- The Tesvikiye Mosque (an example of neo-Baroque architecture, it stands out with its graceful white columns).
- The American Hospital: It’s not an attraction, really, but if you ever get sick, you’d want to be treated here, as this is among the best hospitals in the city.
- Milli Reasurans: This building is an excellent example of modernism.
- Military Museum: Attractions include the very cannon used by the Ottoman Turks (led by
- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk: His former residence now features a museum about his life. Ataturk is acknowledged as the father or founder of Modern Turkey.
- Sultan Mehmet II) in conquering Constantinople (Istanbul)
- Sisli Mosque: A noted landmark, this mosque features the classic Ottoman design.
- Sultana’s Dinner and 1001 Nights Show (Elmandag): Spend an evening listening to live Turkish music as it provides an excellent backdrop to belly dancing and Turkish folklore shows. You can watch all these while you are savoring the flavors of their kebabs and mezes.
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