Being one of the most crowded places in Istanbul, Taksim Square with its Istiklal Street attracts millions of tourists every year. Istiklal Street in Beyoglu District (also known as Independence Street) is almost 1.4 kilometers long and surrendered by many cafes, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, boutiques, cinema, museums and entertainment venues as well as historical passages and the majestic St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church and Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church. The vintage red tram has become a landmark of the place with its nostalgic appearance which renowned for carrying people up and down the street. You can even spend a whole day while exploring Istiklal Street.

Istiklal Street is really crowded till midnight and almost all the buildings on the street have historical backgrounds. It was named as Independence Street in 1923 after the Independence War. However, it was restored in the 1990s by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality then it gained its current status.

There are some activities you can do when you visit Taksim Square or Istiklal Street;

You can see the Independence Monument stands in Taksim Square in the center symbolized Turkish war of independence. It was built in the year of 1928. Especially at weekends, there are approximately 3 million people are said to pass the monument.

You can also visit St. Anthony of Padua Church which is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul and get impressed by its architectural style. You may even witness a ceremony inside if you are lucky.

There are many shops that you can buy souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones. Also, you can see many brands and boutiques that you can buy fashionable clothes and accessories. There are also bars, cafes and restaurants that you can taste delicious traditional foods, desserts and so on. If you are interested in museums, you can visit Madame Tussauds Istanbul wax museum, Pera Museum and The Mevlevi Museum of Whirling Dervish.

If you are a photography-lover, then you should definitely visit Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, and Galata Tower in Taksim to capture amazing photos.

Transportation to Taksim is easy. From Anatolian Side, you can take yellow dolmus from Kadikoy to Taksim; or if you prefer to see Bosphorus, you can take ferry from Kadikoy to Besiktas, then take yellow dolmus. There are few buses going directly to Taksim as well. You may also use Metrobus to reach Zincirlikuyu station and take Yenikapi-Haciosman metro line, then get off Taksim station. From European Side, you can take Yenikapi-Haciosman metro line to reach Taksim or from Ataturk Airport, you may use Havatas shuttles go directly to Taksim. There are buses in European Side go to Taksim as well.

To make a long story short, Taksim Square with its Istiklal Street is one of the most popular places in Istanbul. If you plan to take a trip in Istanbul, you should definitely see this place with its historical and dynamic atmosphere.