Eyup is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Istanbul and one of the most beautiful historical areas in Turkey. The area is an ancient historical heritage because it contains many historical areas. The Eyüp neighborhood is a historically important area, especially for Turkey’s Muslims. Moreover, the area started to develop recently which made it the main area for developers and big construction companies.
Location of Eyup Sultan
Eyup is located in the European side of Istanbul, in the west side of the Golden Horn, reaching the Black Sea coast by the north. Its neighbours are Sarıyer in the east, Kâğıthane and Beyoğlu in the southeast, Gaziosmanpaşa, Fatih and Sultangazi in the south, Başakşehir in the southwest and Arnavutköy in the west.
We can say that the large area of Eyup Sultan and its distinctive location gives it a great importance as it has a privileged location near the Fatih district, the center of Istanbul, as well as being close to Taksim and Sisli districts, which allows the residents to move to all areas of Istanbul easily.
Transportation in Eyup Sultan
In addition to its location, it is characterized by having many options in terms of transportation, as it is located near and close to all means of transportation such as Metro, Metrobus, Tramway and Taxi, which facilitates easy access to and from all areas of Istanbul and saves time, effort and money which are the first things to consider if you are going to live in Istanbul.
Places to Visit in Eyup Sultan
Maglova Aqueduct
Mimar Sinan was the most favourite and celebrated architect of the Ottoman Empire. In the Eyup area, tourists and locals can admire his ingenuity through the Maglova Aqueduct. Standing at 36 meters high and stretching for 258 meters, the two-level stone structure is still in full working order and can claim its place on the list of impressive ancient aqueducts around the world.
Eyup Sultan Mosque and Tomb
The Abu Ayyub al-Ansari tomb sits within the famous Eyup Sultan Mosque. Its importance for Muslims should not be underestimated. Found after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the tomb was rebuilt by Sultan Fatih Mehmet in 1459. The tomb which is open to the public receives hundreds of pilgrims every month as they seek to pay homage to the man who was the Prophet Muhammad’s companion, and for whom many say, led the first spiritual conquest of Istanbul. The district is also named after him.
Muslims often make pilgrim visits while tourists seek out the mosque to get to know about Eyup, one of Istanbul’s most conservative areas. Friday is naturally a busy day given that it is the Islamic holy day, but tourists are welcome every day outside of prayer times.
Pierre Loti Hill
Pierre Loti Hill is the place to visit to find peace and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Overlooking the Golden Horn, non-Turkish name stems from the famous French writer Pierre Loti, who spent time in Istanbul during the latter half of the 19th century. He found solace from this hill that gave him stunning views as far as the eye can see and inspired him in much of his poetry and novels. There is a cafeteria at the top of the hill that serves coffee and tea so all you must do is to take a seat and enjoy one of Istanbul’s most wonderful landscape views.
