6 places to visit in the Maltepe district of Istanbul: Başıbüyük Forest, Maltepe Coastal Park and Bryas Palace. Plan your trip to Maltepe with local food, practical tips and transport information.
General Information
Maltepe is a district on the Asian side of Istanbul province, with a coastline on the Sea of Marmara. The district covers 53 km², stands 6 metres above sea level and has a population of 525,044. Bordering Kadıköy, Kartal, Sancaktepe and Ataşehir, Maltepe is Istanbul’s ninth most populous district and the fourth largest on the Asian side.
Name and History
The name Maltepe means a mound, like a höyük or tumulus, in which treasure or buried gold was piled. Maltepe’s history can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, and Saint Euxentius, one of the famous clergymen of the period, passed through Maltepe’s roads many times. The Monastery of Ioannes Prodromos, believed to have stood between Maltepe and Caddebostan, is known to have existed, together with many monasteries that stretched from Başıbüyük village to Caddebostan. Maltepe Municipality was established in 1928.
Ottoman and Republican Periods
During the Ottoman period Maltepe was an important place for military lodging and grew in the 18th century thanks to the efforts of Kazasker Feyzullah Efendi. After the War of Independence, 1,500 Turks who came to Türkiye under the population exchange from the Thessaloniki, Drama, Kavala and Serres regions settled in Maltepe.
History and Culture
Maltepe became a district by Law No. 3806, dated 3 June 1992. During the Ottoman period, Maltepe was an important place for military lodging.
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