Things to Do in Beykoz: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Beykoz

• 4 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Museum
• 1 Nature

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1 🏺 Ancient City

Anadolu Hisarı (Anatolian Fortress)

A historic castle commissioned by Yıldırım Bayezid.

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2 🏛️ Historic

Beykoz Meadow and Abraham Pasha Waterside Mansion

A historic meadow on the Bosphorus shore, where Ottoman sultans held picnics and hunting parties. The historic waterside mansions around it are fine examples of Ottoman civil architecture.

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i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

3 🌳 Nature

Polonezköy Nature Park

Founded in 1842 by Polish migrants, the village today is one of Istanbul's most important natural areas with a 692-hectare nature park. It offers walking trails through beech and oak forests, as well as horse riding.

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4 🏛️ Historic

Riva Castle and Riva Stream

Riva Castle, on the Black Sea shore, dates from the Genoese period and was also used in the Ottoman period. The natural beach where the Riva Stream flows into the sea is a popular resting place in the summer months.

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5 🏛️ Historic

Khedive Pavilion

A pavilion built on the Çubuklu ridges by Abbas Hilmi Pasha, Khedive of Egypt.

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6 🖼️ Museum

Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum

A museum displaying the stages of development of Turkish glass art and works produced for Ottoman palaces.

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7 🏛️ Historic

Yuşa Hill

The hill at Anadolu Kavağı, known for its buildings and a mosque on the summit.

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While you are in Beykoz, you can also see the highlights of Istanbul province. These places are in other districts.

• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque) — Built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 532 and 537, this was the largest cathedral in the world for about a thousand years; it was converted into a mosque in 1453 and a museum in 1934, and reopened for worship as a mosque in 2020. With its dome 55 metres high and its Byzantine mosaics, it is one of the turning points in the history of architecture.
• Topkapı Palace — Built by Mehmed the Conqueror at Sarayburnu in the 1460s, the palace was the seat of government and residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years; with its Harem, Treasury, Holy Relics and courtyards, it is now a museum.
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) — A six-minaret mosque built for Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa; it is also known as the Blue Mosque because of the more than 20,000 İznik tiles decorating its interior.
• Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) — A vast underground cistern built in the 6th century under Justinian and carried on 336 columns; the Medusa heads under two of the columns are its most famous corner.
• Süleymaniye Mosque — Built by Mimar Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent between 1550 and 1557, the mosque stands at the centre of a large complex with madrasas, a hospital, a soup kitchen and tombs; its silhouette on the hill overlooking the Golden Horn is one of the symbols of the city.
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) — One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, made up of more than 60 streets and thousands of shops that grew up around the bedestens built under Mehmed the Conqueror; carpets, jewellery, copperware and leather goods are sold.

Practical Information for Visiting Beykoz

Suggested time

1–2 days

Best time to visit

Spring and summer (April-September)

Places to visit

7 places

• 🐟

  Beykoz Balığı (Beykoz fish)

  Fresh fish caught in the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, served grilled or steamed in Beykoz's seaside restaurants.

• 🍳

  Polonezköy Kahvaltısı (Polonezköy breakfast)

  A spread served in the boutique hotels and farmhouses of Polonezköy, famous for homemade jams, fresh cheeses and village eggs.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Beykoz

• 🏠

  Bosphorus Waterside Mansion Culture

  With its historic waterside mansions on the Bosphorus shore, Beykoz reflects the elegant way of life of the Ottoman period.

• 🇵

  Polonezköy Cultural Heritage

  Founded in 1842, Polonezköy keeps alive the cultural heritage of Polish migrants. The church, cemetery and traditional houses in the village give this heritage a tangible form.

Local Products

• Beykoz Glass and Crystal — The Beykoz Glass Factory, founded in 1845, was the most important glass production centre of the Ottoman period. Beykoz glassware is sought after by collectors.

Economy

The economy of Beykoz is based on tourism, fishing and the service sector. Polonezköy and Riva are important centres for nature tourism.

How to Get to Beykoz

Beykoz is connected to other districts of Istanbul by bus and minibus. It can also be reached by Bosphorus ferries.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Istanbul

Beykoz: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Beykoz Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Istanbul The province's 22 best places and all its districts →

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