This Bosphorus coastline neighborhood is a fun and hip place in Istanbul. There are a lot of young people due to the universities close by and the large number of bars, restaurants, and cafes. Many of the world-recognized hotel chains are located in this area as well, making it popular for families. For this reason, there are plenty of things to do in Beşiktaş for all ages.
As a visitor, you’ll see that the location of this neighborhood is very convenient to get around the city. Just take a boat from the historical pier to get to Kadikoy or Uskudar on the Asian side, or take buses to Taksim or Bebek.
The area is fairly flat making it easily walkable; however, there can be traffic jams during rush hour and especially on the weekends. Be aware that finding a taxi will be difficult during this time.
So before giving out too much information, here are the best things to do in Beşiktaş.
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Historical Sights | Places to Visit in Beşiktaş
Dolmabahçe Palace
Address: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Dolmabahçe Palace is located right on the edge of the Bosphorus. Construction started in 1843 by Sultan Abdülmecid I. It is the largest palace in Turkey with an area of 45,000 square meters, 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths, and 68 toilets.
Not bad for the royal family.
The palace’s architecture is Neoclassical, Baroque, and Rococo with touches of Ottoman. The Sultan wanted to make this palace more European with large rooms and intricate designs.
The “wow” factor of the whole palace, in my opinion, is the crystal staircase and chandelier.
The crystal staircase is the main staircase of the palace. It was made from Baccarat crystal which is the finest crystal in the world. The chandelier is the world’s largest weighing 4.5 tonnes with 750 lamps. It’s located in the Ceremonial Hall which is the last hall on the tour.
Within the palace complex, there is also a glass factory, foundry, aviary, and stables.
Dolmabahçe Palace is closed every Monday. Hours are from 9 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday. Tickets are 300TL.
Yildiz Palace and Park
Address: Yıldız, Yıldız Sarayı Müzesi, 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Yildiz Palace was built in 1880. It was briefly used as the official office of the Ottoman Empire when Sultan Abdülhamid II left Dolmabahçe Palace due to fears of being easily attacked from the Bosphorus.
The grounds of the palace are quite complex and are designed using an Ottoman style. There are many pavilions throughout the layout, each having its own purpose. This style is the opposite of Dolmabahçe Palace where there is only one large building with many rooms.
Since the palace itself is currently closed due to restoration, I recommend taking a stroll around Yildiz Park. There are plenty of trails for walking and jogging. It’s also a nice quiet escape from the noisy city and calming to be surrounded by tall trees and plants.
The Porcelain Factory is also worth a visit. This factory started in 1890 under command of the Sultan to reestablish Turkish artworks. The products made range from vases, coffee sets, tableware and decorative pieces.
After a long history of different owners and management after the Sultan passed away, the factory is now owned by the State. It still produces traditional Turkish products with authentic designs. These are available for purchase in the gift shop.
The Porcelain Factory is closed on Monday and open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets are 40TL.
Istanbul Naval Museum
Address: Sinanpaşa, Beşiktaş Cd. No:6 D:1, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
The Istanbul Naval Museum was established in 1897 by Sultan Abdülhamid II under the name of “The Museum and Library Administration Office.” It was in a rather small building; however, in 1961, the museum moved to its current location in Beşiktaş.
The building was formerly a warehouse and airport shed. Since the building itself didn’t really work out for the museum, they decided to tear it down and build a new one in its place.
The Naval Museum today opened in 2013. It has a large collection of historical boats, maps, textiles, woodwork, and metalwork. You’ll be able to see how to Ottoman Navy operated and progressed into the Turkish Navy. There are exhibits of Naval battles between other countries such as Japan and Italy.
At the end of the museum exhibits, there is a donated hall of various diving equipment.
The museum is closed on Monday and open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 6 pm on the weekend. Tickets are 100TL.
Shopping | Things to Do in Beşiktaş
Overall, the center of Beşiktaş is not really a shopping destination. A majority of the shopping businesses are cheap clothing stores where you can buy knock-off designer brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel. Büyük Beşiktaş Çarşısı is the shopping mall for all these cheap items.
If you want to support the local Beşiktaş football team, there are a lot of stores selling jerseys and sportswear for fans. You will see a lot of these on game days.
The few stores that I have listed here are just the ones that are more boutique stores or gift shops.
Çamuradam
Address: Sinanpaşa, Hattat Tahsin Sk. 31/B, 34022 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
This store is very small but has a good selection of cheap earrings, rings, and leather bracelets. At the time that I stopped by, they had some holiday socks, leather wallets, weekly calendars, and keychains.
If you like shopping or looking for accessories, this could be a place to stop by.
StreetBox
Address: Sinanpaşa, Hasfırın Cd. NO:7/B, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
StreetBox is a small local chain boutique store in Istanbul. They specialize in women’s clothing. Prices are fair and a lot of locals like shopping here. All the items are sorted by color making it easy to find what you are looking for.
My Love Butik
Address: Sinanpaşa, NO:18, Ihlamurdere Cd. 18A, 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
I discovered this store as I was strolling around the neighborhood one day. It’s a small store, but they have a nice selection of clothing for women. Generally, the clothing style for women in Turkey is either crop tops or oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts, which aren’t really my thing.
Restaurants| Places to Eat in Beşiktaş
Beşiktaş is the place where many people go out to drink and eat. There are countless bars and restaurants on every street, it can be hard to choose one.
Keep in mind that Beşiktaş is a university neighborhood with BAU University and Galatasaray University.
So, prices range from cheap street food to high-end 5-star dining.
Of course, there are loud bars blasting house music until late in the evening, and rooftop clubs with a dress code. You’ll find a variety of things to do in Beşiktaş at all times of the day.
Breakfast Street
Breakfast Street in Beşiktaş is just like it sounds. A street with a bunch of Turkish breakfast restaurants trying to lure you in with great deals and good food.
You honestly can’t go wrong with whatever restaurant you choose. Sometimes the choice just comes down to if there is a table available.
Be prepared for a large amount of food. If you’ve never had Turkish breakfast before you’ll be getting a table full of eggs, olives, honey, jam, bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese, and tea.
Baruthane Pilavcısı Beşiktaş
Address: Cihannüma, Salihefendi Sk. No:1, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
This simple menu was made popular by none other than … the internet. With videos of rice and chickpeas being thrown together in the display window from men with intricate mustaches, it was bound to be a viral hit.
Baruthane Pilavcısı has a very well-branded image for its Turkish street food business. The menu is very simple, rice with meat or chickpeas paired with soup. The special thing about the rice is that it’s not like typical Asian rice, it’s made with butter which gives it this unique flavor.
Definitely stop by here for a quick lunch or late-night snacks.
Pepe Rosso Gastropub
Address: Sinanpaşa, Akaretler, Şair Nedim Cd. No 18/A, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Pepe Rosso Gastropub started in Izmir and now has a location in Istanbul. This particular location in Akaretler, or what I like to call “expensive street” because it’s a bit upscale from the center of Beşiktaş, is surrounded by historical buildings. Many of the buildings were built as housing for the workers and servants at Dolmabahçe Palace.
Nonetheless, this restaurant is a great meeting place for friends after work to get a drink. They have some really nice cocktails and a large outdoor garden downstairs. The atmosphere is ecletric with bright neon signs and trendy music. The menu is international and the price is a bit on the higher end but still affordable.
Akali
Address: Vişnezade, Dibekçi Sk. No:11, 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
This honestly might be the best place to get a burger in Istanbul. Hidden down a side street, it can be easily missed, but a Turkish friend showed me this gem and it’s now my go-to burger place whenever I’m in Beşiktaş.
You can design your own burger from their menu options. First choose your burger size from 80g, 160g or 240g. Then add your other toppings like cheese, mushrooms, bacon, egg, and sauce. Pair it with a side of crispy french fries or onion rings and you are good to go.
Sushi & Spice Akaretler
Address: Sinanpaşa, Şair Nedim Cd. No:10, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
As the name suggests, this is an Asian cuisine place. They serve various types of sushi rolls, udon, noodles, and dumplings. They have a wine list as well as a few beer options, but no cocktails.
The dining area is small so space is limited. They do have outdoor seating.
Hotels | Where to Stay in Beşiktaş
The hotels in Beşiktaş are more on the higher end and more luxurious due to the prime location next to the Bosphorus. You’ll see many 5-star hotel chains. The lower-end hotels, in my opinion, are not worth the higher price for accommodation. If you are on a budget you can find much better facilities and value in other neighborhoods like Karakoy or Kadikoy.
Valente Suites & Hotel
Address: Türkali, Ihlamurdere Cd. No:46, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Valente Suites and Hotel has 17 guest rooms all with city views with tasteful and modern decor. Inside the rooms, there is a living room with a sofa and a small kitchenette with utensils and an electric kettle, a fully stocked mini fridge and a mini bar with a desk.
The interior is decorated with neutral colors, wooden floors and a marble bathroom.
Four Seasons
Address: No:28, Çırağan Cd., 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
With its high reputation for luxury and comfort, the Four Seasons at the Bosphorus doesn’t disappoint. The hotel has spacious suites and guest rooms built and designed in a former palace. You can book rooms with a garden or Bosphorus view depending on availability.
The hotel grounds are private and blocked off with a large wall and gate which adds to the upscale atmosphere. The outdoor swimming pool overlooks the Bosphorus with outdoor dining options on the terrace.
The Four Seasons has five different dining options. The main restaurant is Aqua which features fish and seafood dishes. You do not need to be a guest to dine at Aqua, but I would suggest booking a table in advance.
Throughout the year, the Four Seasons also hosts events and things to do in Beşiktaş that are open to the public. One of the most popular is the Christmas Market. You can also book spa treatments at the Hamam.
Shangri-La
Address: Sinanpaşa, Hayrettin İskelesi Sk. D:No.1, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
The Shangri-La is also quite luxurious and located on the Bosphorus. The hotel is in a historical building from the 1930s. It’s located next to the Istanbul Naval Museum and the Beşiktaş ferry pier.
There are a variety of different rooms to choose from with different views of the city. The decor is clean, white, and modern.
Facilities within the hotel include an indoor swimming pool, gym, and spa called Chi, The Spa.
The Shangri-La has 4 dining options. The main two are IST TOO, which is international cuisine, and Shang Palace, which is Chinese cuisine.
Swissotel
Address: Vişnezade, Acısu Sokaği No:19, 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul
The Swissotel is located a bit uphill from the shores of the Bosphorus. This gives guests a higher perspective of the surrounding area. You’ll be able to see the Bosphorus, Golden Horn and Galata Tower.
There are 566 guest rooms ranging from city views, Bosphorus views, or pool views. The decor is clean, modern, and neat with spacious bathrooms and big windows.
Facilities at the Swissotel include a gym, spa, and outdoor pool.
On the property, there are five dining options. The main two are 16 Roof and Sabrosa. 16 Roof offers 360-degree views of Istanbul in a casual dining environment with an international menu. Sabrosa is a buffet dining experience with Turkish, Peruvian, and Nikkei cuisine.
Conrad
Address: Cihannuma Mah Saray Cd No5 Besiktas Istanbul, 34353
The Conrad is a Hilton hotel which means that if you are a Hilton Honors member you might be able to get discounts or use points for your stay.
Located just uphill from the main street of Beşiktaş, the Conrad is close to Yildiz Park and the Beşiktaş ferry pier.
Rooms at the Conrad are decorated with warm gold tones with a clean and neat aesthetic.
Facilities include an indoor and outdoor pool, gym, tennis court, and spa.
There are three dining options within the hotel. The first one is Manzara which features Mediterranean cuisine with chefs cooking in an open kitchen. The second is Summit Bar & Terrace which features international cuisine on the rooftop of the hotel. The last one is Monet Lobby Lounge/Patisserie which features many delicious Turkish sweets and pastries with coffee and tea from around the world.
More things to do in Istanbul
Go cafe hunting with my cute Instagram-worthy cafe guide.
Explore the Asia side of Istanbul.
Be sure to check off all these activities from my Istanbul bucket list.
Visit the top 4 palaces in Istanbul.
