Ortaköy Mosque & Square
The baroque Ortaköy Mosque at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge — Istanbul’s most photographed waterfront.
The Mecidiye Mosque of Ortaköy, completed in 1856 by the Balyan family of architects, sits on a small pier directly below the Bosphorus Bridge. The square behind it is lined with cafés and stalls famous for kumpir (stuffed baked potatoes) and waffles.
It is the classic stop for photos of the bridge and the Asian shore, and a lively evening venue with waterfront restaurants and bars nearby.
- →Coaches drop off on the main coast road; the square is a short walk.
- →The best light for photography is late afternoon and after dark when the bridge is lit.
- →Weekends are very busy — weekdays work better for groups.
Tours visiting this place
Hotels nearby
A boutique-style five-star hotel on the water in Ortaköy.
A former Ottoman imperial palace on the Bosphorus, now one of the most prestigious hotels in the city.
A contemporary luxury resort on the Kuruçeşme waterfront, with one of the city’s largest spas.
Places nearby
- Beylerbeyi Palace1.2 km
Sultan Abdülaziz’s marble summer palace on the Asian shore, at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge.
- Zorlu Center2.3 km
A mixed-use complex at Zincirlikuyu with a luxury mall, the Zorlu PSM performing-arts centre and Raffles Istanbul.
- Dolmabahçe Palace2.4 km
The nineteenth-century waterfront palace of the late Ottoman sultans, with a 4.5-tonne crystal chandelier.
- Nişantaşı2.8 km
Istanbul’s luxury-shopping quarter, with international fashion houses, Turkish designers and smart cafés.
- Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi)3.5 km
The tower on a small islet off Üsküdar — a symbol of the Bosphorus, reopened in 2023 as a museum.
- Taksim Square3.7 km
The hub of modern Istanbul, with the Republic Monument, the Atatürk Cultural Centre and Taksim Mosque.