Sisli district is one of the most prominent historical areas of Istanbul, which is located on the European side of Istanbul and has a famous mosque called the Sisli Mosque. This area is bordered by Besiktas to the east, Sariyer to the north, Ayup and Kaytehane to the west, and Beyoglu to the south.
The population of Şişli reached 318,000 people in 2017, spread over an area of 35 square kilometers in several old neighborhoods such as Tesvikiye, Nisantasi, Mecidiyekoy, Okmeydani with a population density of 9,100 people per square kilometer.
History of Sisli District in Istanbul
Şişli was an open rural area used for fishing, farming, and recreation until 1800. It was later designated as a middle-class residential area during the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the early years of the Republic of Turkey. (late 19th century and early 20th century).
French culture had a great influence on Şişli at that time. Large stone buildings with high roofs side by side on the wide roads of Sisli, with modern iron balconies. Old buildings had elevators that were built in the middle of the stairs.
The population consisted of middle social classes, mainly merchants of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds such as Greek, Balkan, Armenian, and some Turks who made their homes in Sisli after the great fire in Beyoglu in 1870.
Many Armenian families still live in this area.
Today, the Sisli region
After many residents moved out of the historical boundaries of Istanbul, the main buildings of the area were converted into companies, banks, and supermarkets. In the 1970s, most of the old buildings were modernized and some were replaced by modern multi-story buildings.
The back alleys are still residential and many working-class families and students have settled here. As in many parts of Istanbul, the number of people living and working in these blocks is a challenge for existing infrastructure projects.
For example, it is not easy to find a parking space for your car in the old part of Sisli! But for the residents of Sisli, the spirit of the place and the history, represented by the many shops, cafes, and other amenities, make life an absolute pleasure that no other option can replace.
Business and shopping in Sisli
Sisli is a center for business and shopping thanks to good public transport services and modern infrastructure. The main road in Sisli leads to skyscrapers located in Mecidiyekoy, Gayrettepe, Levent, and surrounding neighborhoods. In this area, there is the famous Cevahir Istanbul Mall, the largest shopping center in Europe and the second-largest shopping center in the world!
If you are planning to open a company in Istanbul, the Sisli region will be the right choice for you. To get more information about opening a company, you can read the comprehensive guide to company registration in Turkey.
Historical monuments of tourism in Sisli
Sisli has a wide range of attractions that cater to all tastes and social and touristic needs for visitors and residents, including:
Museums and historical places in Sisli:
- Istanbul Military Museum
- Ataturk Museum
- Statue of Liberty
- Gyms in Sisli
- Turk Telekom Stadium
Artistic buildings
- Sisli Jamal Recit Ray Concert Hall
- Jamil Topuzlu Open Air Theater
Places of worship in Sisli, Istanbul:
- Sisli Mosque
- Teşvikiye Mosque
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
- Shopping centers in the Sisli region:
- Jewelry shopping center
- Canyon shopping center
- Metro Shahr shopping center
- Profilo shopping center
- Astoria Mall
- Trump Tower
- Ozdlik shopping center
- Beaumont shopping center
Sisli district of Istanbul; Popular among tourists
Turkey is located in Iran’s neighborhood, and this has made it a suitable destination for Iranians to travel and trade. In the meantime, the city of Istanbul, which is the most beautiful and largest city in Turkey, is highly popular among tourists due to its geographical location between Europe and Asia and its ancient history.
As mentioned before, the Sisli area of Istanbul is one of the famous areas of Istanbul, and due to its proximity to Taksim Square and other tourist areas, many tourists usually visit this area.
Sisli Istanbul; From the Past to the Present
Sisli region dates back to the 19th century and according to the available documents, this region was the city’s cemetery in the past, and later after the destruction of the cemetery, its land was used as agricultural land and vineyard. Then, with the construction of beer factories, this area was used as an industrial area, and after the Turkish Revolution, it became one of the residential and expensive neighborhoods of Istanbul.
Tourist attractions in the Sisli district of Istanbul
Sisli region has a long history and a region with a turbulent past. For this reason, there are many historical and tourist attractions in this area, including the Army Museum, Atatürk Museum, Ihlamur Palace, Tsevikiye Mosque, Mecca Modern Art Gallery, Statue of Liberty, Harbiye Acik Hava Open Air Hall, Makkah Park, theaters famously pointed out.
Concert Hall, Galata Sarai Football Stadium, famous churches and places of worship such as Sisli Mosque, Holy Spirit Church, Peter and Paul Church, Istanbul Lutheran Church, Ayadmitri Church, Bomonti Brewery, St. Benno Church, and St. Peter Church.
Hotels in the Sisli district in Istanbul
Sisli district is one of the luxurious and prosperous districts of Istanbul, which receives many tourists every day due to its touristic nature.
For this reason, various luxury hotels have been considered in this area for tourists to stay, the most famous of which are Lasagrad, Divan, Holiday Inn, Grand Jawahir, Business Imperial Beaumont, St. Regis, Kraton, Sofa Sisli and Tango Hotel. did
House price in Sisli, Istanbul
Sisli district of Istanbul is one of the most luxurious and expensive neighborhoods of Istanbul, which has a traditional and modern texture. If you are planning to buy a house in the European part of Istanbul, the Sisli area is a good option for buying due to its good quality of life, high facilities, special geographical location, presence of business and entertainment centers, and good weather.
Bomonti, Nisantasi, and Buyuk Dere are among the best neighborhoods in Sisli Istanbul for buying a house. This area has luxury towers such as TRUMP, TORUN CENTER, Antill, and Beaumont towers.
Medical centers in the Sisli district of Istanbul
Due to its important geographical location and easy access to other areas, it has high medical facilities. Currently, there are 2 public hospitals, Ok Maidani Sisli, and Sisli Children’s Public Hospital, and 18 private hospitals, such as Memorial Hospital, Aji Badam Hospital, American Hospital, and Folia Surgery Center.
Apart from medical centers and hospitals, 201 pharmacies are located in different regions of Sisli for easy access to medical services.
Educational centers in the Sisli district of Istanbul
Due to its proximity to the most important areas of Istanbul, this area has many amenities and educational centers, including 14 preschools, 36 elementary schools, and 29 high schools.
Also, the famous Nisantashi High School and the French High School are located in this area, and in addition to various schools, the famous Marmara University, Istanbul Bilgi University, Bikent, Bahce Shahir, Nisantashi, and Helik are among the universities located in Sisli.
Access to the Şişli area of Istanbul
Istanbul has an advanced public transportation system and you can use the metro, bus, or taxi to reach the Şişli area. To travel to Sisli by metro, you can use the Sisli and Majidieh Koi metro lines.
You can also reach different areas of Şişli by Metrobus at Calan, Mecidiye Koy, Okmeydani, and Okmeydani Hastanesi stations located in Şişli.
To travel by taxi or private vehicle, you can access the famous Buyuk Dere, Şişli Cami, and Sariyer streets along the Şişli district from the two main highways E5 and E80.
Taksim Square is one of the most familiar areas for Iranians. If you are staying in this place, you should know that the distance between the Sisli area and Taksim Square is 3.6 km.
Finally, the important point you should know is that Sisli is a crowded and expensive area with modern and old textures. Although it has cheap but unsafe neighborhoods like GÜLBAĞ and KUŞTEPE, which should be careful.
Şişli has a high population density due to being a commercial center.