Cengelkoy (Turkish Çengelköy) is located between the districts of Beylerbeyi and Kuleli in Istanbul, Turkey, in the Üsküdar district on the Asian side of the Bosphorus strait. This area consists mostly of homes. In the Ottoman era, many grand homes were constructed there. The neighborhood is home to a Greek church known as Aya Yorgi; however, it sees very little worship these days. The houses of Abdullah Aga and Sadullah Pasha are two of Cengelkoy’s most notable landmarks.
From the sixth century on, when Justin II constructed a palace for his wife Sophia in the area, the port of Cengelkoy began to be known as Sophianai.
It is unclear where the name Cengelkoy came from, but the settlement is appropriately named since it is situated on a hairpin bend in the Bosphorus coastline. There is a legend that Ottoman admiral Cengeloglu Tahir Pasha, who lived in a waterfront home in the 19th century, inspired the village’s name (and there is a Cengeloglu Street in Cengelkoy).
It has also been suggested that the name comes from the Persian word for “crab,” çenkar, due to the abundance of shellfish in the Bosphorus. It looks like the name “Cenger koyü” came from an Ottoman document from the 1600s.
Small cucumbers from Cengelkoy have become famous around the world, and they are now also grown in Kandira.
The Mehmet Çakir Cultural and Sports Center, which opened in 2015, is Istanbul’s largest sports facility, with six indoor swimming pools.
The Vahdettin Pavilion is on a hill near Cengelkoy. It is both the official home of the president and a place for state guests to stay.
Cengelkoy Overlooking
Cengelkoy is known for its tasty gherkins and old beachfront homes. It is perched on a cliff with a view of the strait.
If you’re ever in Istanbul during the spring and you happen to be around the Üsküdar district center, you can consider renting a rowboat and taking a leisurely cruise down the water. Enjoying the nice weather and some distance from the beach, you cruise through the settlements of Pasha Limani and Beylerbeyi in turn. Sadullah Pasha’s seaside home, which is brick red, will catch your eye as you approach Çengelköy.
You may think you’ve arrived on another planet when you get off the ship and smell the bread baking in wood-fired ovens. The main boulevard is lined with stores and stalls selling fresh seafood, a historic bakery, wooden homes with front doors that open directly into the street, old coastal mansions, locals, and, of course, greengrocers, where the “Cengelkoy gherkins” take center stage.
The delicious pastry bakery is another must-see. The village’s name has been around for a while, and its origin is shrouded in mystery. A handful of Byzantine palmed anchors (whose Turkish equivalent (derived from the Persian word for “claw” is cengel) were found in the area as Sultan Mehmed II prepared for his expedition to take Constantinople (1453). Cengelkoy, or the “Village of Anchors,” is what the locals started calling the settlement after that. According to another legend, the town got its name since it was famous for being the site where anchors were first made.
Cengelkoy has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most lovely settlements on the Bosphorus, regardless of where the name comes from. While other sleepy Bosphorus towns have been absorbed by Istanbul’s sprawling metropolis, Cengelkoy has managed to maintain its own identity.
Bosphorus’s wooden waterfront homes have rightfully received praise for their aesthetic appeal. Cengelkoy formerly had an abundance of similar buildings. Many of these historical artifacts have been destroyed by fire. Incredibly, the Sadullah Pasha coastal palace from 1783 is still standing today. The Edip Effendi coastal house is a dying building that has yet to be restored.
Cengelkoy Plane Tree
Of course, there are other types of historical relics than seaside villas. There’s something special about Cengelkoy’s locals, too. The neighborhood elderly and veterans are in good health and always willing to provide a polite greeting. What sets them apart is the fact that they have maintained cordial relationships with their neighbors. Cengelkoy locals know each other well, in contrast to those of us who live in massive apartment complexes and sometimes don’t even recognize our next-door neighbors.
People in Cengelkoy are really pleasant, which is a nice bonus while you’re out doing some shopping. The merchants and residents are indeed familiar with one another. Even if you are a stranger to them, you can be certain that you will be welcomed with open arms.
For this reason, Cengelkoy’s population more than doubles during weekends. People from all around the world come to enjoy the relaxed and welcoming vibe. Tea gardens under the plane tree are common in Turkey, and Cengelkoy is no exception. The plane tree is 1.92 meters in diameter and 6.6 meters in circumference, and it is around 500 years old, making it the tallest living organism on Earth. But because of one terrible event in its past, it is known as “The Killer.”
A person enjoying the tea garden was tragically killed when a dead limb fell from the tree’s canopy. Although the tea garden still sees a lot of traffic on the weekends, whatever the situation, the tree itself is showing signs of aging. A single, massive limb stretches out horizontally for a good dozen meters. The Üsküdar Municipality has extended a hand by providing iron braces at regular intervals of one meter. The tree’s age and significance led to its designation as a monumental tree in Istanbul and its subsequent preservation. The late president of the Turkey Touring and Automobile Club, Çelik Gülersoy, recognized it as a significant tree.
Castaways and Kittens
What could be more relaxing than stretching out your legs in the shade of this 500-year-old tree while listening to the waves lap against the shore? As soon as you finish this pastry filled with ground beef, the server will bring you a drink of strong tea. You go out onto the pier in front of the tea garden and take a deep breath of the salty ocean air as you watch the boats pull up and launch one after the other. These are the early risers, the fishermen who left before dawn.
However, you’d be wrong to think that all fishermen were male. because women and even children are among the marine fishermen. It will astound you how many fish are taken. There are several stray cats of many sizes and colors roaming the tea garden, so if you aren’t a cat lover, you may feel uneasy sitting under the plane tree. It’s common to adopt a cat you like and bring it home with you. Because of their upbringing, they have learned to be subdued. Cats are popular among the local populace.
Nearly every home has bowls of water and food out in front of the neighborhood cats. In addition, there is a wide selection of cats available at several local pet stores.
For Automobile Enthusiasts
There is an automobile museum at Cengelkoy as well. The Automobile Museum of the Sabri Artam Foundation may be found near the top of Bosna Boulevard. The museum is dedicated to preserving a wide range of automobiles and motorcycles, from vintage to modern and everything in between.
A service for repairing and refurbishing classic automobiles is also provided. As far as I’m aware, this is the only museum in Turkey dedicated to automobiles. Weekend hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Cengelkoy is both historic and contemporary; it formerly supplied the whole Üsküdar district with its famed staked tomatoes, the aroma of which could be smelled throughout the neighborhood. It may be small in stature, but you’ll soon notice that it’s packed with enticing bonuses. No matter the season, you’ll get the same warm greeting from the locals and be happy you made the trip.
Q: What is Cengelkoy?
A: Cengelkoy is a neighborhood located in Istanbul, Turkey.
Q: Where is Cengelkoy located?
A: Cengelkoy is located on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Q: What is the history of Cengelkoy?
A: The history of Cengelkoy is not well documented, but it is known to be an old fishing village.
Q: What are the popular tourist attractions in Cengelkoy?
A: Some of the popular tourist attractions in Cengelkoy include the Çengelköy Mosque and the Çengelköy Pier.
Q: What are the popular shopping areas in Cengelkoy?
A: Some popular shopping areas in Cengelkoy include the local market and small shops.
Q: What are the popular dining options in Cengelkoy?
A: Cengelkoy is known for its seafood restaurants.
Q: What is the transportation like in Cengelkoy?
A: There is a bus service and a ferry service available in Cengelkoy for transportation.
Q: Is Cengelkoy a safe place to visit?
A: Yes, Cengelkoy is generally considered a safe place to visit.
Q: How far is Cengelkoy from Istanbul’s city center?
A: Cengelkoy is approximately 30 kilometers from the city center of Istanbul.
Q: What is the average cost of living in Cengelkoy?
A: The cost of living in Cengelkoy is lower compared to other areas in Istanbul, but it can still be considered expensive for some.
You can book an Istanbul city tour with our licensed tour guides. The links are below:
Private Guided Istanbul Tour I Private Guided Bosphorus Cruise Tour I 3 Days Private Guided Istanbul Tour Package I Istanbul Food Tour I Istanbul Asian Side Tour I Istanbul Layover Tour I Private Half-Day Guided Istanbul Old City Tour I Private Half-Day Guided Bosphorus Cruise I Private Half-Day Guided Istanbul Tour I Private Half-Day Guided Istanbul Historical Tour I Istanbul Islamic Heritages Tour I Istanbul Jewish Heritage Tour I Gallipoli Tour I Edirne Tour from Istanbul I Bursa Tour
Istanbul Tour Guide Baris I Istanbul Tour Guide Sanem I Istanbul Tour Guide Semih I Istanbul Tour Guide Ozgen I Istanbul Tour Guide Cem I Istanbul Tour Guide Hulya I Istanbul Tour Guide Murat I Istanbul Tour Guide Duygu
Map of Cengelkoy