Last Updated on March 28, 2021
Istanbul is a festive city, event destination and offers some of the best major entertainment and event venues in the world. You can enjoy the city’s dining, wining, shopping, music and entertainment scene throughout the year of its variety of lively events, concerts, festivals, art exhibitions, panels, seminars, summits, conferences, workshops, shows, receptions and more. Here, you can see our pick of some of the the major venues of Istanbul.
Event Venues
Zorlu Performing Arts Center
Located at the Zincirlikuyu neighborhood of the Besiktas district, The Zorlu Performing Arts Center (PSM) is one of the most popular culture and art centers in the city, as well as number one venue hosting the biggest names in music. The venue hosts variety of performing art events and concerts within its 7 venues. The venue hosts about 3 different events per day.
Address: Zorlu Center, Levazim Mah. Koru Str. No:2/PSM/70 Zincirlikuyu, Besiktas
Tel: +90 212 912 37 76
Web: zorlupsm.com
Salon IKSV
Located at the entrance and the first floors of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) building in Sishane, Beyoglu district, the Salon IKSV is one of the most popular hubs in the city for culture and arts events. The venue hosts variety of great events from classical, jazz, rock, alternative and world music concerts, to theater and dance performances, as well as various panels and conferences. The venue hosts about 20 different events each month.
Address: Nejat Eczacibasi building, Sadi Konuralp Str. No:5 Sishane, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 334 07 55
Web: saloniksv.com
SantralIstanbul
Located at the upper end of the Golden Horn, Eyup district, SantralIstanbul is a cultural event venue established with the conservation and restoration of an old Power Plant established by the Bulgarians in 1911. It is Turkey’s first museum of industrial archaeology. It consists of energy museum, an amphitheater, concert halls and a public library, and hosts contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events. You’ll find award-winning food and beverage places.
Address: Kazım Karabekir Str. No:2, Eyup, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 311 78 78
Web: santralistanbul.org
Bomontiada
Located in the Sisli district, Bomontiada hosts variety of great cultural activities, co-generating screenings, concerts, workshops, live performances, screenings and markets, visual art performances, food festivals, creative business conventions and more throughout the year.
Address: Birahane Str. No:1 34381, Sisli, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 230 21 62
Web: bomontiada.com
Cemile Sultan Korusu (Grove)
Located in the Kandilli district, Asian Side of Istanbul, the Cemile Sultan Korusu is a historical grove from the Ottoman era, and an event venue with a lovely restaurant. The venue has an impressive views of the Bosphorus and hosts variety of events from weddings, corporate meetings to graduations. The open and closed restaurants serve great Turkish and international cuisines. The venue also has various sports facilities such as swimming, basketball, volleyball and tennis.
Address: Omurtepe Yokusu Str. No: 6, Kandilli, Istanbul
Tel: +90 216 308 49 43
Web: cemilesultan.com
Portaxe
Located at the Sariyer district, the Portaxe is an event venue and hosts variety of of organizations such as wedding ceremonies, corporate gatherings, launches, graduation balls, cocktails, parties, henna night organizations, and bachelor parties, in its , open areas, waterfront terrace and closed hall. The venue has beautiful views of the Bosphorus.
Address: Baltalimani Str. No: 60, Sariyer, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 277 82 33
Web: portaxe.net
Concert Venues
Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater
Located at the Harbiye neighborhood of Sisli district, the Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater is a contemporary amphitheater which is famous for its open air summer concerts. The venue hosts music concerts in various genres of both local and international performers, as well as cultural activities for several summer festivals.
Address: Harbiye, Taskisla Str. No:8, Sisli, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 455 39 00
Kucukciftlik Park
Located at the Macka neighborhood of Sisli district, Kucukciftlik Park is a great venue hosts corporate events, launches, exhibitions, receptions, weddings, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year, with a capacity of 17,000.
Address: Harbiye, Kadirgalar Ramp No:4, Macka, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 231 19 37
Web: kucukciftlikpark.com
Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall
Located at the Harbiye neighborhood of Sisli district, the Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall is the major concert hall of the city and popular for the classical music concerts. The hall is owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and named after the Turkish composer Cemal Resit Rey.
Address: Harbiye, Dar’ul Bedayi Str. No:6, Sisli, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 312 63 25
Web: crrkonsersalonu.ibb.istanbul
Sureyya Opera House
Located in the Kadikoy district, Asian Side of Istanbul, the Sureyya Opera House was designed as an opera, theater and ball house in 1927 by Sureyya Ilmen Pasa but used to serve as cinema hall for many years. After a hard work in 2007, Sureyya Opera House restored to its original and has become the first opera house on Istanbul’s Asian side and 6th one in Turkey. The building is very attractive with its facade with the cravings of the Muses and masks of art, tragedy and comedy as well as the very beautiful interior. You’ll also see a marble sculpture named Vodvil standing by the building.
Address: Bahariye Str. No:29, Kadikoy, Istanbul
Tel: +90 216 346 15 31
Web: sureyyaoperasi.kadikoy.bel.tr
Cultural Centers
Akbank Sanat
Located on Istiklal Street, Taksim, at the Beyoglu district, the Akbank Sanat is a popular venue supporting the development of contemporary arts in Turkey. The venue hosts about more than 700 events throughout the year, from exhibitions, modern dance performances, classical music recitals, jazz concerts, to panel discussions, children’s workshops, film screenings and theatrical performances.
Address: Istiklal Str. No:8, Taksim, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 252 35 00
Web: akbanksanat.com
Caddebostan Culture Center
Located in the Kadikoy district, Asian Side of Istanbul, the Caddebostan Culture Center (CKM) is an important cultural venue that hosts variety of events from plays, jazz and classical music concerts, movie screenings, to art exhibitions and panels of national and international artists and more. The venue consists of 8 movie halls, a book house, a restaurant, a gym, a boutique art library, an art gallery, 2 foyer exhibition areas and 2 multipurpose halls.
Address: Bağdat Str. Haldun Taner Str. No:11 Caddebostan, Kadikoy, Istanbul
Tel: +90 216 467 25 68
Web: ckm.kadikoy.bel.tr
Movie Theaters
Atlas Movie Theater
Located within the Atlas Passage on Istiklal Street, Taksim, at the Beyoglu district, the Atlas Movie Theater a historical one, and has been in service to movie-lovers since 1946. Atlas Movie Theater is one of the most unique places in Istanbul.
Address: Istiklal Str. Atlas Passage No:131, Taksim, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 252 85 76
Grand Pera Emek Movie Theater
Once being a historical movie theater located on Istiklal Street, Taksim, at the Beyoglu district, the Emek Move Theater now serves within the Grand Pera complex in Istiklal Street. Dating back to 1884, the old place of the movie theater was one of the oldest ones in the city, with the Art Nouveau style angel figures on the screen.
Address: Istiklal Str. Grand Pera No:56, Taksim, Beyoglu, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 252 85 76
Theater Stages
Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage
Dating back to 1964 and located at the Harbiye neighborhood of Sisli district, the Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage has always been the most unique theater stages of the city. It is owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and operated by the City Theaters (Sehir Tiyatrolari) division. The name of the stage is after the famous Turkish actor, producer and director Muhsin Ertugrul.
Address: Harbiye, Darulbedayi Str. No:3, Sisli, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 455 39 00
Web: sehirtiyatrolari.ibb.istanbul
Haldun Taner Stage
Dating back to 1989 and located at the Kadikoy district, Asian Side of Istanbul, the Haldun Taner Stage has is another valuable theater stages of the city. It is owned by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and operated by the City Theaters (Sehir Tiyatrolari) division. The name of the stage is after the famous Turkish playwright Haldun Taner.
Address: Caferaga Mah, Rihtim Str., Kadikoy, Istanbul
Tel: +90 216 455 39 00
Web: sehirtiyatrolari.ibb.istanbul
