Akaretler Row Houses
A restored 19th-century row of workers' houses built for Dolmabahçe Palace staff. Today, it's a quiet, upscale pedestrian street with high-end shops and cafes.
“To see a beautifully preserved piece of 19th-century Istanbul, now a tranquil and elegant pedestrian lane.”
See the exact spot on the map at right. The highlighted pin clearly marks this stop.
The Akaretler Row Houses were built in the 1870s to house the staff of the nearby Dolmabahçe Palace. The long, uniform stone buildings are a rare surviving example of late Ottoman residential architecture for civil servants. After a meticulous restoration, the street is now a peaceful, car-free zone lined with designer boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, offering a stark contrast to the bustle of Beşiktaş square just a block away. It's less about shopping and more about experiencing a perfectly preserved slice of 19th-century Istanbul that feels worlds apart from the modern city.
The street is at its quietest and most photogenic on weekday mornings before the shops open.
The main pedestrian street is completely flat and step-free. Access to individual shops and cafes may involve a single step at their entrances.
Keep going in Beşiktaş
A few places that pair well with this stop on the same day.
Yıldız Palace
A sprawling 19th-century palace complex built as an imperial residence, set within a large park in Beşiktaş. It's a quieter, more fragmented alternative to the grander Topkapı or Dolmabahçe palaces.
Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
A late-Ottoman clock tower built by Sultan Abdülhamid II and designed by architect Sarkis Balyan. It stands as a free, elegant landmark on the palace waterfront.
