Unlike many of the flat metropoles of the world that are set around rivers, İstanbul’s landscape can best be described as medium height hills stretching along parallel coasts of the Bosporus, the strait connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean, which was formed 10.000 years ago during the end of the last Ice Age. During the last decade Neolithic settlements have been discovered along the slopes leading to the shores of the city, pushing its history back to nearly 10.000 BC.

The city was initially populated on one of these hills that extend into the sea forming a peninsula. With the Sea of Marmara on one side and the Golden Horn penetrating deep into the mainland on the other, this stretch of land is today named as the famous historic peninsula. This is where Romans established settlements, which eventually evolved into the Byzantine Empire. In time, Genovese traders settled on the other side of the Golden Horn creating the Pera district, today called Beyoğlu. When Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 they subsequently started building settlements on flat stretches of land and adjacent hill tops along both coasts of the Bosporus. These areas now constitute the most interesting and esteemed neighborhoods in the city.

Our building is located in Kabataş, considered as one of the most prominent of these historic neighborhoods, evidenced by the Dolmabahçe Palace right across the street, from where the Ottoman Empire was run in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The neighborhood stretches along the coastline towards the historic peninsula, just below Beyoğlu (Pera) neighborhood, which emerged as the cultural epicenter of the city during the last days of the Ottoman Empire and the early Republic era and still is one of the top touristic destinations.

As you exit the building, you find yourself facing the Bosporus and Asia on a small road (İnebolu Sokak) above and parallel to the main street (Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi) that runs along the coastline. If you take a right (southward) turn and walk straight along this road, in about 30 min. you will find yourself on the famous Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, about to set foot on the historic peninsula. Along the way you can enjoy kebab restaurants and local hip cafes scattered around historic monuments. Around Tophane neighborhood, located about half way, where Ottoman canons used to be cast back in the day, you can now witness the emergence of the grandiose new cruise ship terminal bustling with hotels and a wider selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, local and international. Finally, when you find yourself in Eminönü, you have now entered the historic peninsula and will be surrounded among the most prominent, glorifying historic landmarks of the city; the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Market), the Covered Bazaar, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern (main water reservoir of the city) the Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Çemberlitaş Hamamı (bathhouse) and countless more to explore.

Alternatively, if you take a left (northward) turn as you exit the building, another great 45 min. stroll along the coastline awaits you, this time leading to the also historic and multicultural neighborhood of Ortaköy, which used to be a hodgepodge of Muslims, Jews, Greeks and Armenians together. Along the way you will pass by the Dolmabahçe Palace, Beşiktaş district and its inland Bazaar famous for its variety of local delicacy street food offerings, the Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy Mosque and finally Ortaköy Square full of local flea market like shops and restaurants.

Taksim Square, accessible with a 15 min. light to moderate southwardly climb up the hill behind the building, is considered as one of the main touristic hubs of the city. İstiklal Street stretching from the Taksim Square all the way down to the Galata Tower emerged as the cultural epicenter of the early Republic era and still boasts many attractions both for tourists and locals such as the historic tram, Galatasaray Hamamı (bathhouse), St. Anthony of Padua Church, the famous Pera Palace Hotel where Agatha Cristie wrote “Murder on The Orient Express” and boasting the second oldest elevator in Europe along with great local and international restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, museums, art galleries and theaters.

Nişantaşı, considered by many as the most Europeanized neighborhood of İstanbul, is accessible with a 25 min. moderate northwardly climb up the same hill behind the building, this time along the Vodafone Park Stadium. Nişantaşı is the city’s shopping district boasting posh malls, streets lined with shops of global brands, mainstream and boutique hotels and probably the most abundant westernized culinary options.

Of course, all the above destinations are also accessible via other modes of transportation such as a 5-15 min. taxi ride depending on traffic. This might be a better option to reach Taksim Square or Nişantaşı in case light to moderate uphill walk is not of preference.