16 Roof Istanbul

[Gaby Zenz]

WheneverI search for pictures of Istanbul the first photos that usually appears is of an amazingly beautiful rooftop view, at sunset, overlooking Istanbul. Sometimes there were seagulls or doves flying above and it looked so surreal. There was no way I would miss this opportunity on my trip to Istanbul. I wanted this Rooftop Sunset View of Istanbul.

After lots of searching, I found the perfect spot. Nova Santiye Cafe. So after a long busy day of sightseeing, (Check out this post for more amazing things to do in Istanbul: 2 DAYS IN ISTANBUL? HERE ARE THE TOP 7 THINGS TO SEE AND DO! ) we rushed to this cafe.

However, what we were NOT so happy about was that we were asked to pay a fee to enter the little area that they have set aside. In the past this activity used to be free, but the Turkish people realized how popular it was becoming with tourists and decided to make a bit of a profit. The fee was 50 Tl (about $6-$7USD) per person, but it does include the tea and as much time as you want at the sunset spot! We decided to look at it just as very expensive tea, but it was so worth it for the experience.

They brought us fresh Turkish tea, took a million pictures for us, and brought us each a dove to let loose into the pink and purple sunset sky. We enjoyed our tea slowly and quietly as we watched the sun set over the Bosphorus Strait and the city. Sipping our tea we watched the sun completely disappear and the city become covered in sparkly lights. The perfect end to an amazing day.

I have not been to Turkey since my trip to visit Emphasis when touring the Turkish Coastline in 2008 on a trip to Greece. It is a beautiful country with very friendly people. You brought back a lot of good memories.

Thank you so much!! I was looking for a particular view too just like you stated. Not just an ordinary rooftop and I was surprised it was difficult to find outside of photography studios. I cannot wait to try this place out when I go soon!

Hi, wow thanks for lovely post and beautifull pics on this place. Going to Turkey in Sept/Oct and will surely add to my list when in Istanbul. I could not track the name of place where you stayed when I click on HERE, can you maybe share that info with me of the name of the place please

Regards

Charmane

The first thing to do is type Byk Valide Han into Google Maps. This will give you an indication of the general vicinity of the rooftop. I have put a screenshot below of what should come up on your maps.

After Mr. Mehdi lets you through the door you simply climb up the stairs and take in the view! I would recommend getting there as early as possible to get the place all to yourself. I was able to set up my tripod and have completely uninterrupted shots.

Make sure to keep your safety in mind when navigating around the rooftop as there are no railings and it is not a maintained area. Be especially careful when standing on the domes as some of them have holes in them.

Hey Monika! It is very safe ? I traveled solo for around 6 months last year so I totally get your concern and I will always try and add any safety worries I had while traveling to my articles for the fellow solo female travelers out there! Hope you have an amazing time in Istanbul, happy travels xx

The landscape architecture at the Zorlu Center was completed by planning office DS Mimarlık, under the direction of Dr. Deniz Aslan. The heart of the endeavor was the creation of valuable human living space as well as compensation of green space in what has become, especially in crowded cities like Istanbul, an important marketing argument. The Zorlu Green Roofs filter dust and pollutants from the air and improve the microclimate. The Zorlu Center exhibits a stately 120,000 m of green area. Almost 60 % of the total area (around 72,000 m) is located on roofs, most noticeably on the topography of the 45,000 m large ring-formed green space which rises from ground level up to 33 meters in height. In the middle, a large main square of 10,000 m opens to the city and the Bosphorus. This area is also a roof area: underneath are the basements filled with the diverse attractions of the shopping mall, as well as the five-story underground car park and an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the Zorlu Center to Metro and Metrobus public transit systems. During the construction of the entire complex around 4,000 people were involved. Only 33 architects, engineers and landscape designers and 350 employees were dedicated to the green areas. 15 people are now working for the care and maintenance of garden areas.

As previously mentioned, the Zorlu Center is also home to exclusive residences in panoramic locations, and their roof gardens in turn contain their own microcosm. The ZinCo system build-up with Floradrain FD 40-E allows residents free design of their private gardens. Depending on the planting, substrate is heaped to about 20 cm in bed height. The larger shrubs that serve as demarcation between these gardens found space in troughs.

Also in the field of intensive greening, plant types characteristic of Istanbul and the Bosphorus can also be found on the Zorlu Center. These species are adapted to the Mediterranean climate and underline the same cultural references.

In total, there are over 200 different plant species, including 68 tree species. Over 500,000 perennials, 60,000 shrubs and 16,000 indoor plants were used. The height of the plants varies from about 30 to 90 cm, thus ensuring a rich structure. Tree species with shallow roots and a maximum height of 500 to 600 cm were chosen. The site location required specifically that the chosen plants be generally insensitive to wind. Due to wind suction, trees were fitted with special clamp and anchoring systems. Additionally there are large planters with a volume of up to 45 m anchored into the steel structure of the building roofs. At the Zorlu Center grow a total of 3,750 trees, including 2,500 evergreen and 1,250 deciduous trees. Finally, the facade itself is equipped with evergreen plants in troughs at many levels.

All roof gardens and green spaces on the ground floor have an automatic irrigation system. Rain water is stored in large greywater tanks and is made available to the plants via drip irrigation and sprinklers.

The green areas of the Zorlu Center represent an immense asset to all the facilities of the Zorlu Center. The huge shopping mall comprised of 180 shops and restaurants and 14 cinemas halls all benefit from their green surroundings.

Equally, all the companies located in the extraordinary offices gain significant value because their employees find a nice working environment in the integrated green space, which increases their fun and productivity.

In the heart of the city the Zorlu Center is a green oasis for all, which makes the location highly attractive. In Turkey, there is no comparable property in terms of scale and complexity. The Zorlu Center, which was incidentally also the venue of the 4th International Green Roof Congress in 2015, has won numerous architectural awards and represents a landmark of Istanbul in the 21st Century: timeless and exciting, unique and ecological, this is Zorlu Center at the crossroads of the European and Asian continents.

To help you find the top spots, this complete guide will lead you straight to the best rooftop bars in Istanbul, packed with all info you need about each venue: opening hours, dress code, pictures, maps, booking links and much more. From stylish rooftop restaurants to more charming and relaxed rooftop lounges.

Perched on top of The Bank Hotel in Karaky, Istanbul's most hip area, The Bank Roof Bar invites to an elevated and imperishable experience. This stylish and open air terrace comes surrounded with magnificent views over the Old City, and up here you can indulge in everything from classic & signature cocktails, a wide variety of whiskies and local & international wines, as well as a unique selection of finger foods. Open daily, The Bank Roof Bar is pretty much always a great choice to enjoy Istanbul from above, in an upscale yet casual atmosphere.

Perched on top of DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul - Moda, the stylish Hood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar almost seamlessly blends interior and outdoor seating, as well as elegant dining tables and comfy lounge spots. The beautiful setting is elevated by an amazing panoramic view over the Old Town Peninsula, Princes' Islands and the Bosphorus Strait. In a warm and sophisticated atmosphere, here you can indulge in distinguished flavors from world cuisine as well as authentic tastes, complemented with a carefully curated drink menu.

Covering the top floors of the luxury boutique hotel RUZ Hotels, Simone includes both a rooftop bar & terrace, and a rooftop restaurant. Blending panoramic interior seating with outdoor terraces, here you get some truly breathtaking views over Istanbul. Indulge in a Mediterranean-inspired menu, complemented with crafted signature cocktails, gorgeous beers and splendid wines. Open daily from breakfast to late night, Simone always invites to elevated hours in a laid back atmosphere.

Perched on the 6th floor of the Pierre Loti Hotel Old City, and connected with the Loti Bistro on the ground floor, the modern, trendy and sophisticated Loti Roof Lounge offers panoramic 360 views over the Bosphorus, Marmara Sea, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Golden Horn. Above the heart of Sultanahmet, here you can indulge in a wide range of Turkish and International cuisine, complemented with an extensive wine list, as well as a variety of cocktails and other local and international drinks.

This multi-level terrace bar and restaurant is a real 'happening' place, perched on top of of the Swissotel, located on the European banks of the Bosphorus. From the rooftop you get a magnificent view over Bosphoren and the Asian part of the city. Here you can enjoy great international food nightly, complemented with a really impresive wine menu along with a 'Sky Menu', ranging from well-crefted signature cocktails to a wide range of beers and cigars. The vibrant atmosphere really kicks off during weekends, with live acts and DJs.

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