Istanbul Eminönü-Sirkeci Travel Guide in Photos

Photo album of Istanbul Eminönü - Seraglio Point - Sarayburnu

When in Istanbul, I always try to stay in the Eminönü-Sirkeci district. In particular the Ebusuut Caddesi has the advantage that it is very close to the major sights of the Sultanahmet district, as well as to the transportation hub at Eminonu. An additional advantage is that this is a rather quiet area, at least for Istanbul standards. Eminönü is the name of the district in İstanbul that is situated right on the waterfront on the south side of the Golden Horn where it runs into the Bosphorus at Sarayburnu or Seraglio Point. Throughout history, Eminönü was Istanbul's main entry point and customs area and was a major shopping area. The area is still buzzing with activity during the day, with street peddlars selling you things you never even knew you wanted. You can also buy the perfect snack, Balık Et a mackerel sandwich, here. The sandwiches are made of Turkish bread, lettuce, tomatoes, onion and grilled mackerel. The major landmark at Eminönü Square is certainly the Yeni Cami or New Mosque. Only in Istanbul, a more than 400-year old building would be called new. Construction of the Yeni Cami started in 1597 and was completed more than half a century later. From Eminönü İskele, ferries to the Asian side and up the Golden Horn leave. This is also the place to take a boat trip along the Bosphorus. The Galata bridge over the Golden Horn connects the districts of Eminönü and Karaköy. In 1992, the 19th century pontoon bridge was replaced by a a modern construction. As was the case for the old bridge, there are again restaurants and teahouses beneath the roadway. The Sirkeci Train Station, where all trains to and from Europe start and finish and historically the endpoint of the famous Orient Express is situated here.