Northwest of Taksim Square, in the busy corner formed by Cumhuiyet Caddesi and Tarlabaşı Bulvarı, Talimhane was, not so very long ago, a nondescript sort of area where a handful of hotels did reasonable business catering for those who couldn’t afford the likes of the Hyatt. Now, however, pedestrianised and smartened up, it has become a popular part of the city especially with visiting Arabs. Hotels seem to open on an almost daily basis and there are plenty of restaurants and shops catering for their clientele, most of them majoring on wheelie suitcases.
Talimhane stands on what was the parade ground associated with the barracks that stood on the site of Gezi Park until the mid-20th century, a fact which is most obvious on its easterly side where big hotels occupy largely flat ground. Further west as it edges up against Tarlabaşı the streets narrow and start to tumble down the hill towards Dolapdere – which is where most of the smaller, cheaper hotels are. The area has a handful of fine 19th-century buildings but, generally speaking, the architecture is not as splendid as that of Cihangir or even adjoining Elmadağ.
Sleeping
Central Palace Hotel. Tel: 0212-313 4040
Green Park Hotel. Tel: 0212-238 0505
Midtown Hotel. Tel: 0212-361 6767
Nippon Hotel. Tel: 0212-313 3300
Point Hotel. Tel: 0212-313 5000
Transport info
The easiest way to get to Talimhane from Sultanahmet is to take the tram and funicular combination to Kabataş, then Taksim Square. To find Talimhane look for the landmark branch of Simit Sarayı on the corner of Şehit Muhtar Bey Caddesi and cut down beside it.
Nearby areas
