Taksim Square is the heart of modern Istanbul. It is located on the European side of Istanbul just like Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Spice Bazaar, and Galata Tower. It is an iconic place and an ideal location for dining and shopping.
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Taksim means ”partition” or ”distribution”. It was the main point of water collection and from here it was distributed to all other parts of the city.
This square is quite famous in Bollywood and has appeared in many movies like Ek Tha Tiger, Dil Dhadakne Do, Guru, & many more, and TV serials like Four More Shots, please.
In this blog, you will know the top 7 things to do in Taksim Square.
The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira (TL). 1€ ~ 7.5 TL (as of November 2019)
Blog Contents
How to reach Taksim Square
Metro
Metro line M2 runs between Yenikapı and Hacıosman. Get down in stop Taksim. Find the map below
Bus
Bus #32T, #DT1 stops at Taksim. A complete list of stops, and timings is available on these maps (#32T, #DT1). The list of other buses stopping at Taksim is available in istanbulmap360. Download them directly.
Things to do in Taksim Square
1. Turkish ice cream
This should be on top of your list when you visit Istanbul. It is called Dondurma which originated from the region of Maraş.
Dondurma is similar to the Syrian dessert Booza. The ice cream is made up of Salep which makes it stretchy and chewy. That’s why it doesn’t fall while pranking.
The price starts at 15 TL and depends on the number of scoops. The shopkeeper will ask if you are ok with the prank and then proceeds. The more you let him play around with you, it’s fun. I enjoyed it.
2. Have a meal
What is it like if you visit Istanbul and don’t enjoy the food? Istanbul is the hub of sweets and savories.
My favorite restaurant was a Lokantashi Restaurant (buffet one) located just at the beginning of the square.
Even though most of the dishes have meat, being a vegetarian I had no complaints.
I was completely blown away by the wide range of starters, main courses, and desserts. Our group enjoyed mutton lasagna, grilled fish, chicken kebabs, falafel and not to forget Kunafa and Baklava. I was happy with baked potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, broccoli, and some salads.
3. Ayran
It is a yogurt beverage and the best drink to date, nothing can beat the taste of fresh Ayran.
As per sources, Ayran was elevated to the rank of the national drink by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2013.
Every other shop sells packed Aryans which costs 5 TL. But it is better to try freshly made national drinks.
4. Take the train ride
There are 2 heritage trams in Istanbul; one on the European side and the other on the Asian side.
The European side tram starts from Taksim Square and till Tünel Square (Tram line T2).
The total length is 1.6 km and costs 1.75 TL (reduced price). It operates between 7.00 am – 10. oo pm and runs every 40 mins.
In order not to pay 1.75 TL, people just hop on and hang on the outside.
It is also a nice and different experience to run and catch a slow-moving tram just like in the movies.
5. Buy beautiful tiaras
The moment you enter the main square, you cannot ignore the beautiful floral tiaras in all colors and sizes.
These are not very expensive and cost between 10-20 TL. Try them and on and enjoy the Taksim neighborhood.
6. Shop souvenirs
Other than Grand Bazaar, Taksim Square is the hub for souvenir shopping.
All types of souvenirs, sweets, nuts, toys, fruits, vegetables, Turkish tea sets, savories, and hair accessories are available in Taksim Square.
Istiklal Street has high-end brands and is not an ideal place for shopping. The narrow lanes are for budget shopping.
If you walk into the narrow streets, it’s very delightful just to see them.
7. Enjoy the neighborhood
Istiklal Street is the main street in Taksim Square where you find all the restaurants, cafes, and ice-cream shops.
Taksim Square nightlife has a different vibe. Take your time to walk along this street and enjoy every single shop you pass by.
There are many people and full of life just like the streets in Venice. This place automatically recharges you and vibes differently at night.
Taksim restaurants are lined all over Istiklal streets.
My experience
Taksim Square is full of life and a happy place. Istanbul appears in many movies, and I was able to identify the locations.
I will surely come back here just to enjoy the fit for a king meal and appetizing baklavas.
Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐out of 5
Time of visit: November 2019
”To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is al”– Oscar Wilde