Things to Do in Büyükçekmece: 5 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Büyükçekmece

• 1 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 1 Cultural
• 1 Other

i Photo: Maderibeyza (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

1 🌳 Nature

Büyükçekmece Lake

A popular spot for water sports, with recreation areas around the lake.

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

2 🎭 Cultural

Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Bridge

A historic bridge in Büyükçekmece.

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i Photo: buzkozan (CC BY 3.0) · Source

3 🌳 Nature

Büyükçekmece Waterfront

The shore along the Sea of Marmara, with promenades, parks and beaches, is one of the most popular coastal areas on Istanbul's western side.

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4 🏛️ Historic

Mimarsinan Bridge

A historic bridge in the district that has survived to the present day without damage.

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5 📍 Other

TÜYAP exhibition centre

TÜYAP in the district, often cited as Türkiye's largest exhibition centre.

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While you are in Büyükçekmece, 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 Büyükçekmece

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Summer months (June-September)

Places to visit

5 places

• 🐟

  Göl Balığı (lake fish)

  Fish caught in Büyükçekmece Lake and the Sea of Marmara are served fresh in the waterfront restaurants.

• 🍖

  Trakya Usulü Köfte (Thrace-style meatballs)

  Influenced by Thracian cuisine, Büyükçekmece's köfte are served grilled, with piyaz and roasted peppers.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Büyükçekmece

• 🎭

  Büyükçekmece Culture and Arts Festival

  This international culture and arts festival, held every year, draws artists and visitors from around the world to Büyükçekmece.

Local Products

• Göl Balığı (lake fish) — Freshwater fish caught in Büyükçekmece Lake are eaten fresh locally.

Economy

Büyükçekmece's economy rests on tourism, trade and industry. Lake and coastal tourism, festival events and housing projects are its main economic activities.

How to Get to Büyükçekmece

Büyükçekmece lies on the E-5 and TEM motorways. It is connected to Istanbul by metrobus and bus lines.

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Büyükçekmece: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

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

Other Districts of Istanbul

• Adalar 7 places Büyükada, Burgazada and Sedef Island
• Arnavutköy 6 places Karaburun Coast, Terkos (Durusu) Gölü and İstanbul Havalimanı Çevresi
• Ataşehir 7 places İstanbul Finans Merkezi, Ülker Sports Arena and İstanbul Finans Merkezi (İFM)
• Avcılar 6 places Küçükçekmece Lake, Avcılar Coast and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Avcılar Campus
• Bağcılar 8 places Güneşli Neighbourhood Chapel, Bağcılar Botanical Park and Bağcılar Square
• Bahçelievler 5 places Havuzlu Köşk, Çobançeşme Bridge and Soğanlı Fountain
• Bakırköy 10 places Florya Beach, Atatürk Sea Pavilion and Bakırköy Botanical Park
• Başakşehir 6 places Başakşehir Millet Garden, Atatürk Olympic Stadium and Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium
• Bayrampaşa 5 places Forum İstanbul Mall, SEA LIFE İstanbul Aquarium and Bayrampaşa Aqueducts
• Beşiktaş 8 places Dolmabahçe Palace, Yıldız Palace and Ortaköy Square and Büyük Mecidiye Mosque
• Beykoz 7 places Anadolu Hisarı (Anatolian Fortress), Beykoz Meadow and Abraham Pasha Waterside Mansion and Polonezköy Nature Park
• Beylikdüzü 3 places Beylikdüzü Yaşam Valley, TÜYAP Fuar Merkezi and Ambarlı Harbour
• Beyoğlu 8 places İstiklal Caddesi, Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) and Taksim Square and Republic Monument
• Çatalca 5 places İnceğiz Caves and Rock Churches, Çatalca Walls (Anastasios Walls) and Çatalca Forests and Natural Areas
• Çekmeköy 3 places Çekmeköy Forests, Taşdelen Picnic Area and Çekmeköy Fundalık (heathland)
• Esenler 7 places Atışalanı Water Aqueduct, Davutpaşa Barracks and Istanbul Bus Terminal (Büyük İstanbul Otogarı)
• Esenyurt 4 places Cumhuriyet Square, Esenyurt Historic Centre Mosque and Haramidere Bridge
• Eyüpsultan 4 places Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Tomb, Pierre Loti Hill and Eyüp Sultan Mezarlığı
• Fatih 11 places Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) and Süleymaniye Complex
• Gaziosmanpaşa 3 places Gaziosmanpaşa Parks, Urban Transformation Projects and Taşlıtarla
• Güngören 4 places Güngören Parkları, Güngören Tekstil Bazaar and Haznedar Çiftliği
• Kadıköy 6 places Kadıköy Bazaar, Moda Cape and Kadıköy Çarşısı ve Tarihi Çarşı
• Kağıthane 5 places Kağıthane Stream and Sadabad Ruins, Cendere Valley and Kâğıthane Stream
• Kartal 4 places Aydos Hill, Dragos Hill and Kartal Seafront
• Küçükçekmece 5 places Küçükçekmece Lake, Küçükçekmece Shore and Bathonea Ancient City
• Maltepe 6 places Başıbüyük Forest, Maltepe Coastal Park and Bryas Palace
• Pendik 5 places Pendik Shore, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Aydos Forest
• Sancaktepe 3 places Sancaktepe Forests, Sancaktepe Millet Garden and Damatris Summer Palace
• Sarıyer 7 places Rumeli Hisarı, Belgrad Forest and Sakıp Sabancı Museum
• Silivri 5 places Silivri Castle, Silivri Coast and Piri Mehmed Paşa Mosque
• Sultanbeyli 3 places Sultanbeyli Pond Park, Aydos Forest South Entrance and Aydos Ancient City and Castle
• Sultangazi 5 places Alibey Dam, Cebeci Nature Park and Sultangazi Gölet Park
• Şile 7 places Şile Lighthouse, Şile Beaches and Şile Castle
• Şişli 6 places Harbiye Military Museum, Teşvikiye Mosque and Nişantaşı Shopping District
• Tuzla 4 places Tuzla Shipyards Area, Tuzla İçmeler and Tuzla Waterfront
• Ümraniye 3 places Çamlıca, Şile Road Nature Areas and Meydan Shopping Mall and Surroundings
• Üsküdar 7 places Çamlıca Hill, Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) and Çamlıca Hill and Çamlıca Mosque
• Zeytinburnu 7 places Kazlıçeşme, Kazlıçeşme Waterfront and Panorama 1453 History Museum