Places to Visit in Sirkeci

Sirkeci, located at the head of the Golden Horn, lies within the Historic Peninsula. It is an important transition point both for being situated between the Topkapı Palace and historical bazaars, and for formerly hosting the Sirkeci Train Station, Istanbul's gateway to the world.

In the Ottoman period, Sirkeci was considered the port of Babıali (the Sublime Porte), and it gained prominence as a distinct neighborhood with the introduction of the Orient Express in 1885. Today, it partially retains its function as the main stop for Istanbul's railways and is among the places to see in Istanbul due to its historical structures.

Places to Visit in Sirkeci

  Hocapaşa Street: A rare place where you can find local flavors together. Located in the Hoca Paşa neighborhood of Sirkeci, this street is famous for its lined-up restaurants and local eateries.

Sirkeci Train Station

One of Istanbul's main train stations, Sirkeci Train Station was built between 1888-1890 by Sultan Abdulhamid II but unfortunately no longer serves its original purpose. Inside the station is the Istanbul Railway Museum, established to convey the history and development of railway usage in our country to future generations. Opened in 2005, the museum exhibits documents, records, maps, plans, and materials related to the Ottoman period, as well as items related to the Orient Express. The museum, housing around 300 artifacts, is open for visits every day except Mondays from 09:00 to 17:00.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

 Located in Eminönü, the Spice Bazaar is a must-visit place. In the past, it was known for selling goods and spices from Egypt, especially Cairo. Today, it is a favorite destination for both local and foreign tourists, offering a variety of spices and souvenirs.

Doğubank Business Center

 One of the most visited places in Sirkeci, the Doğubank Business Center is located in the Hobyar neighborhood. The center, where many technological and optical products are sold as surplus, is visited by thousands of people every day.

Hocapaşa Hamam

 One of the most impressive venues in Istanbul, the Hocapaşa Hamam was built approximately 500 years ago. Since 2008, a part of it has been serving as a Cultural Center, while another part is used as a market.

Hodjapasha Dance Theater - Cultural Center: The venue, which serves as the Hodjapasha Dance Theater, was built as the Hocapaşa Hamam in 1470 and was used in this way until 1988. The building, made of cut stone, was successfully restored in March 2009 and converted into the Hodjapasha Dance Theater. The theater, with a capacity of 220 people, hosts special dance and theater shows, especially for foreign tourists. Hodjapasha Dance Theater won the "Best Authentic Local Event" award in the Authenticity category at the competition organized by TUREB (Turkey Tourist Guides Association).

Vilayet Mosque

 One of the remarkable structures of Sirkeci with its architecture, the Vilayet Mosque dates back to 1344 and was rebuilt by the Mamluks in 1432. Restored in 1868, the Vilayet Mosque reached its current state after a restoration in 2012.

Hobyar Mosque

One of the structures dating back to the Ottoman period, the Hobyar Mosque was built by Hoca Hobyar in 1473. The mosque is located behind the New Post Office, on Aşir Efendi Street.

Grand Post Office 

One of Istanbul's most remarkable structures with its magnificent architecture, the Grand Post Office was built by the famous architect Vedat Tek between 1904-1909, initially designed as the Ministry of Post and Telegraph. Later converted into a post office, the building became Turkey's largest post office building. Today, it serves as the Istanbul European Side PTT Regional Directorate and houses the PTT Museum, where works related to Turkey's communication and telecommunications history are exhibited.

Where to Stay in Sirkeci

Sirkeci, one of the neighborhoods on the European side of Istanbul that reflects the city's identity with its Istanbul Sirkeci hotels, hosts many tourists every year, both domestic and foreign. Located in the Fatih district on the European side of Istanbul, Sirkeci is one of the neighborhoods where you can witness Istanbul's history, natural beauties, and multicultural structure up close. Istanbul Sirkeci hotels generally serve as city hotels. They are centrally located, with different and aesthetic architectural structures, modern facilities, and beautifully decorated rooms offering various views. When staying at Sirkeci hotels, you can easily go anywhere with your own car or public transportation. Some Sirkeci hotels, located in the heart of the peninsula, are right by the sea and offer a magnificent sea view. You can taste many different dishes from Turkish and world cuisines in the restaurants of Sirkeci hotels. Sirkeci hotels also offer suitable facilities for your historical and touristic travels as well as your business trips. You can view Istanbul Sirkeci hotels on our website with affordable price options and reservation opportunities.

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Where to Eat in Sirkeci? 

When it comes to köfte (meatballs) in Sirkeci, the first place that comes to mind is Filibe Köftecisi, which has been serving for 100 years. The venue is located at the junction of Hoca Paşa Street, where Can Oba is also located. Our second flavor stop in Sirkeci is Kral Kokoreç. A 25-year-old kokoreç restaurant located near the Grand Post Office. As the next culinary destination in Sirkeci, Şehzade Cağ Kebabı is considered by many to be the best cağ kebab restaurant in Istanbul, also located on Hoca Paşa Street. Güveç Konyalı, which has been serving since 1988 in Sirkeci, is also a successful representative of Konya cuisine. Hamdi Restaurant, one of Istanbul's oldest kebab restaurants, where you can enjoy kebabs with a unique view stretching from the Galata Tower to the Bosphorus Bridge, is also one of the culinary stops in Eminönü and Sirkeci.