Located across both Europe and Asia, you’ll certainly be able to find some amazing neighborhoods for remote workers in Istanbul. This iconic city is filled with history, culture and spirituality - it is a place that takes tradition seriously, but has seen a resurgence in recent times as one of the region’s most cosmopolitan cities. Indeed, Istanbul is vast, and you will certainly want to try out some of the many diverse neighborhoods here before fully committing to one.
Having said that, wherever you choose to live you can count on extensive transport networks connecting the city efficiently.
Below we highlight some of the most popular neighborhoods for remote workers in Istanbul.
Located on the city’s Asian side, Kadıköy is a one of the best residential neighborhoods for remote workers in Istanbul. This part of the city is filled with countless lively cafes, pubs and bars, as well as restaurants offering the best of local Mediterranean cuisine. Despite being mostly residential, Kadıköy still feels palpably historical and important mosques and monuments can be easily found here. The are is home to several important fresh produce and fish markets such as the Marmara Balik and Emirhan Balik Markets. The area’s mix of lively markets, beautiful mosques and bustling bars makes Kadıköy a colorful and laid-back area to live in Istanbul. By the Moda neighborhood you’ll get some of the best views of central Istanbul across the Marmara Sea, and just north of Moda Park you’ll find excellent connections to the rest of the city by public transport.
This is the perfect neighborhood for remote workers in Istanbul looking for an active nightlife and culture scene. This district is filled with the city’s main universities and, as such, has a young and lively vibe to it. Having said that, you’ll find lots of authentic local shops and important historical buildings in Beşiktaş, including the emblematic Dolmabahce Palace. Beşiktaş is also home to several shoreside parks which provide a welcome refuge from the fast-paced vibe of the city, and several parks and markets further inland are popular places where locals and visitors get together. The area has fantastic transport links, and you can be in central Eminönü with just a short ferry ride from Beşiktaş.
Fatih is the city’s main central district and, as such, a great neighborhood for remote workers in Istanbul looking to be at the heart of all the action in the city. Fatih is home to Istanbul’s main tourist area around Sultanahmet, containing the iconic Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque. Certainly, it is the place to be if you want to soak up local culture, witness astounding architecture and understand the ways in which religion shapes local society here. Indeed, Fatih is a vast district and you’re bound to find a wide variety of neighborhoods ranging from conservative to palpably hipster. Wherever you end up in Fatih, you’ll have great access to public transport as well as the city’s famous markets and bazaars which offer delicious local delicacies. Fatih offers valuable ferry connections at Eminönü and Marmaray Sirkeci Station connects the city and region efficiently by rail.
North of Fatih is the Beyoğlu area of Istanbul. This neighborhood is located on the European side of the city and boasts wonderful architecture and excellent public transport connections. The area is actually rapidly-changing and Istanbul’s growing popularity among visitors and remote workers in the area has made Beyoğlu a popular neighborhood with a younger and hipster crowd. Here you will find lots of welcoming cafés and bars, as well as the iconic Galata Tower which provides sweeping views of the entire city. Taksim Square is a major entertainment hub in the city, surrounded by Victorian buildings housing movie theaters, bars and restaurants. The area around Taksim Square is an extremely popular place to live, making Beyoğlu one of the most sought-after neighborhoods for remote workers in Istanbul.
For more information about living in Istanbul as a remote worker, check out our complete Istanbul guide.