A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the real Istanbul locations behind popular Turkish dramas.
Istanbul is not just the setting of Turkish dramas, it is a cast member. Its steep neighborhoods, Bosphorus mansions and historic hotels appear in series after series, and fans increasingly travel to see them. This guide groups real locations by area, with the series connected to each, so you can plan a walk or simply understand what you are seeing on screen.
A note on accuracy: locations used by productions change, and some are private homes or closed sets. Details here are drawn from published travel and reference sources, and we mark where a place is open to visitors. Please check opening details before you travel, and respect residents and private property.
Balat, the Golden Horn and the old city
Balat (Fatih)
This historic neighborhood is the best-known drama location in the city. Çukur was shot mostly in Balat, with a few scenes filmed abroad in Paris and Berlin. The series ran from 2017 to 2021, and fans have painted its emblem on walls in various places. Ezel also used Balat as the home of its title character.
Ayvansaray and Eminönü
For Ezel, a rooftop café in Ayvansaray overlooking the Golden Horn and the Büyük Yeni Han, an 18th-century inn in Eminönü used for a character's office, are reported filming locations. If you like historic architecture, the inn is worth seeing as a building even apart from the series.
Sultanahmet and Topkapı
Magnificent Century used studio sets that recreate the Ottoman palace, and the real Topkapı Palace in Sultanahmet is the landmark they emulate. The production set itself is closed to the public.
The Bosphorus and the waterfront
Yalı mansions
Waterfront mansions, known as yalı, are a staple of wealthy-family dramas. Reported examples include a mansion in Büyükdere used for Forbidden Love, which is now a museum, and a country cottage at Riva on the Asian side that appeared in the same series and is now a hotel. Other series used yalı in Kandilli, Anadoluhisarı and İstinye.
Üsküdar, Göksu and Çengelköy
On the Asian shore, Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? used riverside spots in Göksu and Çengelköy, and Kuzey Güney used a bakery and a family house in Üsküdar. These are mostly residential or commercial, so they are better for a stroll than a visit.
Beyoğlu and Pera
Pera Palace Hotel
Midnight at the Pera Palace was filmed at the Pera Palace Hotel itself, which is open to visitors and whose café welcomes guests. It is the easiest drama location to visit. Our Midnight at the Pera Palace review covers the series.
Tarlabaşı
A neighborhood in Beyoğlu used for Broken Pieces as the area where one of its characters lives.
Beyond the center
Beykoz and Riva
These forested areas north of the city host large period-drama sets, including those for Diriliş: Ertuğrul. Many are private production sets, not tourist attractions.
Zeytinburnu
Love Is in the Air was filmed in Zeytinburnu, according to its production details, which makes it a rare example of a hit romance set outside the postcard areas.
Universities and offices
Not every location is historic. For Endless Love, part of Acıbadem University served as the set for the main family's holding company, while a mine explosion scene was filmed in Zonguldak, outside Istanbul.
A sample one-day route
If you only have a day, a simple plan is to start in Balat with its colorful streets, which will be familiar from Çukur and Ezel, then walk or take a short ride to Ayvansaray and the Golden Horn waterfront. After lunch, cross to Beyoğlu and finish at the Pera Palace Hotel for a coffee in the surroundings used in Midnight at the Pera Palace. On a second day, take a Bosphorus ferry to see the waterfront mansions from the water, which is the best way to appreciate the yalı seen in so many family dramas.
Tips for visiting
- Start with the open locations. The Pera Palace Hotel and Balat are the most accessible.
- Treat residential areas with care. Many locations are private homes, so photograph from public streets and keep noise down.
- Expect change. Cafés and restaurants used for filming close or change, and some locations are temporary.
- Combine locations. Balat, Ayvansaray and Eminönü can be seen in one day, and the Bosphorus ferry connects several waterfront sites.
- Check the series first. It is more rewarding if you have seen the scenes. Our crime and mafia list and period drama list include several of these series.
If you want series to watch before you visit, explore the drama and crime sections, or read how to start watching Turkish dramas.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Çukur filmed?
Mostly in Balat, in Istanbul's Fatih district, with some scenes in Paris and Berlin.
Can I visit the hotel from Midnight at the Pera Palace?
Yes. The Pera Palace Hotel is a real, open hotel whose café welcomes guests.
Is Magnificent Century filmed in the real Topkapı Palace?
The series used studio sets that recreate the palace, and the set is closed to the public.
Which Turkish drama locations are free to visit?
Streets and neighborhoods such as Balat can be visited freely, but private homes and sets cannot.
Are the filming locations always in Istanbul?
No. Productions also film in other places, such as Zonguldak for a scene in Endless Love, and abroad.
