Bebek is a very trendy location and is very popular because of its beautiful shops and restaurants and its pleasant beachy weather. Bebek neighborhood in Istanbul is on the European side of the country and is located along the Bosphorus coast. In spite of the neighborhood being trendy, Bebek is a rather quiet area outside of the city center and far from the downtown. Bebek is known for its beautiful waterfront views so you can make sure you visit at a time of day when you are able to enjoy the sunset or sunrise on the shore.
Culture and History of Istanbul Bebek
Bebek was discovered and soon became a very popular residential district since Ottoman times. In the 19th century Ottoman aristocrats and wealthy people decided to build their summer houses and palaces there, the main reason for the attraction was the nice weather and the beautiful views.
Unfortunately, most of these historical buildings have been destroyed through time and only a few of them are still remaining. Bebek is still one of Istanbul’s most upmarket and luxurious neighborhoods.
How to get to Istanbul Bebek
There is only one road that leads to Bebek so if you want to take a taxi or drive yourself, there is a good chance you will get stuck in traffic on weekends and holidays or at rush hour, so taking the main road is probably not the best way to get to Bebek. There is also no underground metro station near Bebek so the other remaining choices are taking a bus or a cruise ship.
Cruises might be more expensive but you can have a very exciting experience, having a meal on the cruise and seeing the beautiful views on your way. You can also stay at one of the hotels inside the neighborhood and enjoy your trip down there, if you don’t plan on leaving Bebek that much, this might be the best option for you.
What to do in Bebek
Bebek is not a very big neighborhood, you can see the whole area in one day and while you are there, there are a lot of activities you can enjoy doing in Bebek. Most people like to have breakfast at the waterfront cafes, walk around the neighborhood and along the Bosphorus, rent a bike and ride around, do some shopping and maybe even have some drinks at the bars that are open during the night. Here are some of the famous places you can visit while you enjoy your time in the neighborhood:
Asiyan museum
the Asiyan museum was the home of the famous poet Tevfik Fikret during the early 19th century and was later purchased and converted into a museum. This building is now one of the most famous literary museums in Turkey.
The Egyptian consulate
This palace was built in the early 19th century. the Egyptian consulate is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Bebek neighborhood. This building’s architectural style is a representation of the Art Nouveau architectural style in Turkey. If you take a cruise along the Bosphorus coast you can appreciate the beauty of this building.
Bebek bay
Bebek is where the most popular cafes with the most beautiful views are located. You can find some of Istanbul’s most famous cafes here.
Bebek park
Bebek park is a quiet and beautiful park located between Bebec mosque and the Egyptian consulate.
Bebek mosque
Bebek mosque is one of the historical buildings built in the 19th century during the late Ottoman period. The mosque’s architectural style is a combination of Ottoman and Seljuk architecture and was a very revolutionary design at the time.
Rumeli fortress
The Rumeli fortress was one of the first buildings built by Ottoman architects, it was built exactly one year after the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmet and was a very strategic building throughout the whole Ottoman period. The Rumeli fortress is now a very famous museum.
