Bayrampaşa may be named after Bayram Paşa, a grand vizier to Sultan Murad IV who was killed in 1638 during the battle to capture Baghdad for the Ottomans, but you can forget any idea of exoticism in this neighbourhood. Instead Bayrmpaşa is the largely unattractive area wrapped around Esenler Otogar, İstanbul’s main bus station.
For most visitors the bus station will be the only reason for coming here. However, those with children may want to know about the lovely Turkuazoo/Sea Life İstanbul aquarium (open daily, admission TL690, less booked online) housed inside the large Forum Shopping Mall nearby. Come here to watch sharks and giant rays swim in a state-of-the-art facility where people in full diving suits descend into the tanks to feed the fish, much to the entertainment of their audiences.
As for the mall, it is one of the better ones in the city with some areas that are open to the sky, including a nice courtyard ringed with cafes.
Transport info
The main reason for coming here, Esenler Otogar is accessible by Metro to Otogar station on the Aksaray to Kirazlı line. The Otogar itself reopened after renovation in 2022.
The Metro station at Kocatepe-Kartaltepe is right beside the shopping centre with access straight into it without having to cross any roads.
