Uskudar Today

Uskudar is Istanbul's oldest-established residential suburb and still fills that role today.

 It has a more relaxed atmosphere and therefore better quality of life than the overcrowded European Side of the city yet is directly opposite the old city of Eminonu and transport across the Bosphorus is easy by boat or bridge. So there are well-established communities here, many retired people, and many residents commute to the European side for work or school (being cheap and central Uskudar has a large student population). During rush-hour the waterfront is bustling with people running from ferryboats and motorboats onto buses and minibuses. And the smell of the sea, the sound of foghorns, motorboats and seagulls. And the best view of the city.

Central Uskudar on a snowy day, with Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in the background

Central Uskudar on a snowy day, with Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in the background

Now, in 2006, the central square is being dug up for a tunnel under the Bosphorus which will carry an underground railway. However this is predictably continuously running into artefacts of great archaeological value.

The area behind the ferry dock is a busy shopping district, with many restaurants (including the well-known Kanaat Lokantasi serving Ottoman cuisine and olive oil-based dishes, and great ice cream) and a number of important Ottoman mosques.There is however a need for more in the way of cafes, cinemas, billiard halls and places for young people to hang out.

The private Istanbul Commerce University, owned by the chamber of commerce, has a site here.