From Kuzguncuk to the Hill: The Quiet Side of the Bosphorus

1. 01
   Nature

   Slow Down the Day in the Grove

   Start at this Bosphorus-facing grove, one of Üsküdar’s lesser-known green spaces. The path through the trees begins near sea level and gives you the first uphill stretch of the walk; after just a few steps, the city noise falls behind.

   Fethi Paşa Korusu Kuzguncuk Gate, Istanbul, Turkey
2. 02
   Culture

   Count Three Faiths on One Street

   On Kuzguncuk’s market street, a mosque, church, and synagogue stand within walking distance of one another. The Armenian church Surp Krikor Lusavoriç was rebuilt in 1861 by Boğos Ağa Şalcıyan and reopened for worship after its 2005 restoration; in its courtyard, there is a fountain dated 1910.

   Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Ermeni Kilisesi, Kuzguncuk, Istanbul, Turkey
3. 03
   Nature

   See What’s Growing in the Neighborhood Garden

   Kuzguncuk Bostanı is one of the few remaining agricultural plots in the middle of the city and is used almost like a shared neighborhood garden. Here, the question of what an empty urban lot should become feels very concrete: housing, or a market garden?

   Kuzguncuk Bostanı street-side entrance, Istanbul, Turkey
4. 04
   Photography

   Face the Bridge from the Hilltop

   Finish the walk at Nakkaştepe, a broad garden overlooking the Bosphorus and the bridge. You started at sea level and climbed all the way here, leaving the rooftops of Kuzguncuk below as the city’s noise gives way to the wind.

   Nakkaştepe Millet Bahçesi scenic terrace, Istanbul, Turkey

Check opening hours before you go. Hours, access conditions and weather can change.