Happy TravellerWelcome to Bahçelievler, a bustling middle-class suburb located on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. The name Bahçelievler translates to ‘houses with gardens’ in Turkish, and while this was once an accurate description of the area, it has since become densely populated with high-rise apartments and commercial buildings. The suburb is easily accessible from the D.100 highway that connects the Istanbul airport to the Asian side of the city and covers 5% of Istanbul’s land area, with a population of over 570,000 people.
== History ==
The area that is now Bahçelievler was once largely farmland occupied by ethnic Greeks before the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. However, following the founding of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s, settlements began to emerge alongside roads stretching out from the center of the province towards Europe. The Londra Asfalt was the first road built, followed by the E5 in the 1960s. Factories were constructed alongside the roads, which were then followed by dense housing and apartment buildings. The population of Bahçelievler grew from 8,500 in 1960 to 100,000 in 1975, and today nearly half a million people are packed into its 16.7 km2 area.
== Today ==
Despite the lack of green space in many areas, Bahçelievler still boasts some districts with small parks and tree-lined avenues, such as Bahçelievler, Basın Sitesi, and Yayla. These districts are also home to big shopping centers, cinemas, and many small cafes. Traffic in these areas can be congested, despite efforts to alleviate pressure with new roads, bridges, and underpasses. Outlying districts like Yenibosna or Soğanlı consist mainly of factories, retail, and small businesses, including many textile wholesalers, intermixed with extremely dense housing and arterial roads. The infrastructure in these areas is poor, and the narrow streets are often choked with traffic.
Bahçelievler is also home to branches of four universities, several public and private schools, and hospitals. Prominent landmarks include the Unverdi shopping center, which is located on the site of the old Unverdi cinema in the center of the district, and the Omur Plaza on the E5, near the Incirli Metrobus station.
== Transportation ==
Bahçelievler is accessible via bus, minibus, dolmuş (share taxi), or car, primarily from the E5 highway, and municipal train. Transit duration depends on the hour, but has been greatly reduced with the introduction of dedicated Metrobus lanes. Typical times from the major hubs in Eminönü and Mecidiyeköy run from 35–15 minutes, respectively, and under an hour to the Söğütlüçeşme Metrobus hub in Kadıköy. Atatürk International Airport is 10 minutes away by municipal train. Expedient crossing to Asia is available by sea-bus from the adjacent municipality of Bakırköy, with connections to Kadıköy and Bostancı.
== Climate ==
Bahçelievler experiences a Mediterranean climate according to both Köppen and Trewartha climate classifications, with cool winters and warm to hot summers. Compared to most places in Istanbul, Bahçelievler is rather warm and dry. It is classified as USDA hardiness zone 9a and AHS heat zone 4.
== References ==
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A7elievler
== External links ==
[1] Official website: https://bahcelievler.bel.tr/
