Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı), situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels.
Taksim Square, it is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network, on a normal day, Taksim Square is a mess of buses and crowds, a tangle of plazas, streets, shops and taxi horns.Istanbul Taksim Square is also the location of the Monument of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Anıtı) which was crafted by Pietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the 5th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, following the Turkish War of Independence.
History
The word Taksim means “division” or “distribution“. The Taksim square was originally the point where the main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other parts of the city. This use for the area was established by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from the Ottoman era stone reservoir which is located in this area. Additionally, the word “Taksim” can refer to a special improvisational musical form in Turkish classical music that is guided by the Makam system. Another significant building that once stood on the square was the 19th century Taksim Artillery Barracks (Taksim Topçu Kışlası, which later became the Taksim Stadium), but it was demolished in 1940 during the construction works of the Taksim Gezi Parkı.
Today
Taksim is a main transportation hub and a popular destination for both tourists and the native population of Istanbul. Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, ends at this square, and a nostalgic tram runs from the square along the avenue, ending near the Tunnel (1875) which is the world’s second-oldest subway line after London’s Underground (1863). Surrounding Taksim Square are numerous travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and international fast food chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King. It is also home to some of Istanbul’s grandest hotels including the InterContinental, the Ritz-Carlton, Hilton and The Marmara Hotel.
Taksim is also a favourite location for public events such as parades, New Year celebrations, or other social gatherings.
Taksim Square, Istanbul
A great attraction and cultural place for enjoyment, you hear music, you see tourists, the peadgons are great, I go there daily
Well its not tonhard to get there, but once you are there you can see just a monument and lot of shopping streets going down the hill from the Taksim square. The square alone is not a greatbattraction, but if you like to start a shopping tour in this part of Istanbul, its the best way to begin from there….
we arrived and looked around and thought that there must be more to this place somewhere, but no, a monument and a lot of busses – not so interesting
We took a tram up to kabatas and then to taksim. The place is huge with lots of locals and tourists. We walked along the shopping area and enjoyed the mixture of old and new buildings. Fun place to shop as they have many outlet stores. Go behind the alley and you can find bazaar and little shops selling tshirts…
Taksim square and its down street to the tunnel service isn't something to be missed if in Istanbul. The street is so lively with street vendor, ice cream joints, if get bored can grab a cold beer in street side restaurant. tram service running down the street is a sight, it take you to the Taksim tunnel..
Taksim sq is nothing soecial itself but it is the area and what is around there mainly, it is very lively place during day and night times, but be aware in the night time special going to the clubs or people inviting you to theire own bars they will rip you off and over charge you.
i can say it is the city center,in the europian side of istanbul, from where you can access different streets especially istiklal street and it is nice to go for a walk there and enjoy the colorful water foutain at night, and you can find different transportation means, just follow the map.
I came out of the Funicular station and thought why? It's a road junction and construction site. Buildings around there aren't architecturally or historically interesting. I photographed the monument in the centre and left. But the getting and leaving was worth it. I took the funicular there and left on the old tram.
Excellent and very close to the hotel. Amazing open market and street walk. It is the centre of the city activities for walking and shopping.
A friend and I visited Istanbul recently. After a day of sightseeing, we fancied seeing a bit of the night life in Turkey. After enquiring from the locals about the best place to go we headed off to this square which is located at the very end of Istiklal Cadessi, one of the shopping streets of Istanbul.