Üsküdar is a historic district on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, with old mosques, waterfront tea gardens, ferries to the European side and the Marmaray rail tunnel. Homes range from older apartments near the shore to newer buildings on the hills inland. It suits buyers who want a traditional, central neighbourhood with easy crossings.
Istanbul’s Asian side is generally calmer than the European side. It brings together historic districts such as Üsküdar and Kadıköy, a modern financial centre in Ataşehir, a long residential coastline from Maltepe to Kartal, Pendik and Tuzla, and new inland districts such as Sancaktepe. It is linked to the European side by the Marmaray line under the Bosphorus, ferries and bridges, and it is home to Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Choose your district by how close it is to a rail or metro line.
Başakşehir is a planned district on the European side of Istanbul, in the north-west of the city, known for its family residential complexes with facilities, its large city hospital, its parks and shopping centres, and a metro line linking it to Istanbul’s network. It attracts Arab families with its modernity and organisation. Before buying for residency purposes, check that the neighbourhood is not closed to registering foreigners’ addresses.
Esenyurt is a district in the west of Istanbul’s European side, one of the most populous in Turkey, with thousands of flats in complexes built over the last two decades at prices below most of Istanbul. The low price comes with a large supply that slows resale and limits price growth, high population density, and many neighbourhoods closed to new foreign residence registrations. It suits those buying to live in on a limited budget or for local rentals, after a careful choice of complex and location.
