Istanbul is a city of art, history and architectural beauty. This city isn’t short of any beauty on its walls and one of the streets which attracts tourists for its vivid, eye-catchy art is the Umbrella street of Istanbul, the Hoca Tahsin street. This street in the city can cheer anyone up with its lively spray paintings, catchy wall graffiti, interesting art on the cafes’ seating area and the beautifully constructed ceiling of bright, colourful umbrellas, which gives the title of Umbrella Street in Istanbul to the Hoca Tahsin street.

There are many umbrella streets in the world as the idea of hanging, colourful umbrellas have become very common. However, the fact which sets Hoca Tahsin street apart from all other umbrella streets in the world is the vibrant street art featuring different cartoon characters with Garfield being one of them. Istanbul is a city which is famous for its wall art. The residential area of Balat in Istanbul is home to some more mind-blowing wall art in the city. This wall art combined with the decoration done by the cafes steps up the tourist attraction to this street.

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My favourite part about Umbrella Street in Istanbul is the mindfulness and dedication being put while designing the street. It is a small, not too wide street but attracts tonnes of people because of the fact that how well the art has been done. The cartoons painted on the walls tell you a story which takes you back to your childhood bedtime moments. This detail-oriented art reflects the talent and devotion of the artists who have contributed to the beauty of this city.

One end of the street has usual shops and the business runs there like anywhere else, the only difference is the shops are over showed by the beauty of the colourful umbrellas running parallel to them in the sky. The other end of the street is home to some little cafes which are perfect to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. These cafes have their seating in the street where the umbrellas add to their lively vibe and the adjacent walls are either painted with characters or decorated using stuffed toys and carefully crafted, humorous quotes.

Where is the Umbrella Street located in Istanbul?

Hoca Tahsin street is located in the neighbourhood of Karakoy in Istanbul. Ever since the city was formed, this area has always been one of the vibrant areas in the city. Funky cafés, traditional family-run bakeries and lively bars have always added to the charm of this neighbourhood. Karakoy in Istanbul was always home to fashion designers and street artists of the city and also features a contemporary art gallery scene. Perhaps, this is the reason the Umbrella Street in this part of the city is decorated with modern street city and decorations of various sorts.

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The fact that Karakoy had been the home of artists and designers is another reason which makes Hoca Tahsin different from all other umbrella streets in the world. The creative past of this street can now be witnessed everywhere around which echoes a tale of how valuable art was in this part of Istanbul. The paintings, décor and the aesthetic view all around the street date back to the Ottoman era when this neighbourhood in Istanbul has hosted all the creative souls in the city. Today, the beautifully crafted walls, eye-pleasing walls aren’t only for Instagram but they take one through the times long forgotten which Karakoy was the capital of art and fashion in Istanbul.

What to do at Umbrella Street located in Istanbul?

Hoca Tahsin street is a perfect place to cheer yourself up and enjoy a lazy, laid back weekend, reading a book, munching snacks or just gossiping around. besides shops, this street has a number of cafes lined up at one end which offers a variety of food and beverages. The ambience around the street adds to the delicacy of the meal. Large groups of people especially tourists can be seen heading towards Hoca Tahsin street especially during the sunset hours.

Umbrella street in Istanbul is one of the most photographed places in the city. With the growing trend of Instagram, Hoca Tahsin attracts hundreds of people every day only for photography. The beautifully painted walls and colourful umbrellas on the top make it a perfect Instagram spot for the photos. So while you are at the Hoca Tahsin street, why not add some cool photos to your Instagram feed and make you followers amaze.

What is the best time to visit Hoca Tahsin street in Istanbul?

Hoca Tahsin is a beautiful street full of lively vibes and can be visited at any time of the day. However, in order to witness the graffiti of this street, it is advisable to visit during the daytime when the natural light is enough and one can easily enjoy the street’s charm. Moreover, during the daytime, the coffee shops ruling the street are working and one can enjoy the food and beverages while admiring the street. However, if you are a photo fanatic and want to get some fancy Instagram shots, your best bet is to visit as early as possible in the morning so you can find this gem of Istanbul, all to yourself.

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How will you reach Umbrella Street in Istanbul?

Istanbul has a very well organized public transportation system and therefore reaching any destination in the city, isn’t a problem at all. The easiest way to visit the Hoca Tahsin street from the centres of Sultan Ahmet or Eminonu is to take a tram to the nearest stop of Tophane and then walk for 5 minutes to reach the Umbrella Street. There is a direct tram from these centres with 2-3 stops in between. Alternatively, you can drive or take an Uber from these points to the Umbrella Street that would cost you 5 minutes only.

Payment method on the Istanbul Tram or Metro

In order to ride the Istanbul tram or metro, all you need is an RFID card called Istanbul Kart. You can get it from any metro station or a kiosk located nearby the station for 10TL and then load it up with the credit. One card can be used by 5 people. Upon boarding the metro, you need to tap the card at the gate and the required fare is deducted from the available balance on the card. The card can be loaded with balance as many times as required. This card can be used on Istanbul buses and ferries too.

So next when you plan a trip to Istanbul, don’t miss this hidden gem of the city. I am sure you would love it with all the tonnes of photos you will click.

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