Üsküdar

Üsküdar is a district on the Asian shore of the Bosporus Strait with wooden houses, white minarets, and cypress trees scattered across the hillside. The area stretches along the waterfront and displays a mix of older and modern buildings.

The district was known as Chrysopolis in ancient times and served as a toll collection point for passing ships. It later became an important military outpost under Ottoman rule.

The district contains many mosques that shape the streetscape and give visitors insight into Islamic architecture and local daily life. People gather in these spaces not only to pray but also as community meeting points.

Regular ferry services, metro lines, and buses connect the district to central Istanbul with ease. Walking is the best way to explore the area and get a good sense of its different neighborhoods.

A large cemetery holds the graves of thousands of British soldiers from the Crimean War, showing the historical connection between Turkish and British war experiences. This burial ground remains an important place to understand their shared past.