Basaksehir

Introduction

Başakşehir is a district on the European side of Istanbul Province, Turkey, known as a residential area with a distinct sociocultural identity. It is home to İstanbul Başakşehir F.K., a football team competing in the Süper Lig, and includes Ibn Haldun University and Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital.

• Bahçeşehir – one of Turkey's early suburban residential development projects.
• Atatürk Olympic Stadium and Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium – notable sports venues in the district.

BBC News has described Başakşehir as a primary hub for the middle and upper-class conservative demographic in Turkey, a characterization based on the WASP model that emphasizes the district's representation of a particular sociocultural identity and lifestyle associated with conservative values in urban spaces.

Getting around

Başakşehir sits on the European side of Istanbul and is served by its own metro line, which makes it easier to reach than many of the city's outer suburbs. Metro line M3 is the one to remember, running between Başakşehir, Kirazlı and Olimpiyatköy and linking the district's neighbourhoods to the wider metro network. The district is spread out and suburban in character, so you will almost always combine rail with a bus, taxi or a fair amount of walking. Buses fill the gaps where the rail network does not reach and are often the practical option for shorter local trips; Istanbul's two main bus terminals, at Mecidiyeköy and Eminönü, are where you can pick up buses serving most areas of the city. Minibuses and dolmuş also operate for shorter hops, carrying around fifteen to twenty passengers and accepting cash only, so keep small notes or coins on you.

For longer cross-city journeys, Marmaray is the suburban rail line that crosses the Bosphorus underwater, connecting the European and Asian sides and linking up with several metro lines and the T1 tram. Note that Marmaray does not connect directly with M3, so you will need to change onto another line or take a bus to reach it. The Metrobus, a high-frequency bus rapid transit route running from Söğütlüçeşme to Beylikdüzü, is reachable from all metro lines except M3, and is a fast way to cover long distances along its corridor. The İstanbul Kart is the payment card you want: it works across the metro, Metrobus, ferries and buses, though separate tickets are required for the Princes' Islands and for travel to other cities, and minibuses and dolmuş do not take it at all. Taxis are straightforward, particularly for the last stretch between a metro station and your accommodation, or for reaching the district's hospitals, universities and sports venues. Walkability varies by neighbourhood: Bahçeşehir, one of Turkey's early planned suburban developments, was designed around green spaces and low-rise housing, and the district has public green space including Başakşehir Millet Bahçesi and the artificial Bahçeşehir Göleti pond. Elsewhere, the suburban layout and distances between amenities mean walking alone will not always get you where you need to go. From Atatürk Airport, take the M1A metro and change onto the line that reaches Başakşehir, or continue by taxi for the final leg; expect at least one change somewhere along the way, or take a taxi directly if you are arriving with heavy luggage or late at night.

Three days in Basaksehir

Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Başakşehir itself, a district on the European side of Istanbul Province. It is served by the Metro, with Kirazlı and Olimpiyatköy among the stops, and buses and minibuses also connect it to hubs such as Mecidiyeköy and Eminönü. For a first look at the area's green side, head to Başakşehir Millet Bahçesi, a large public garden. If sport is your interest, the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium is the local football ground, home to a Süper Lig club.

Day two: Turn to the wider neighbourhoods around the district. Bahçeşehir is a residential area with its own character, and Bahçeşehir Göleti offers a lake setting for a walk. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium also lies within reach. Ibn Haldun University and Sakura City Hospital are among the area's notable institutions. Walkability varies across these parts, so plan on mixing walking with taxis or the Metro where distances stretch.

Day three: Use Başakşehir as a base for the wider city. The Metrobus links Beylikdüzü with Söğütlüçeşme, crossing to the Asian side, and the Marmaray connects under the Bosphorus. From Atatürk Airport, transport into the city is straightforward. For a change of scene, ferries run to the Princes' Islands. Elsewhere in Istanbul, BBC News and WASP are among the outlets that have reported on the district, a reminder that this is a working part of the metropolis rather than a tourist quarter.