Istiklal Caddesi

Statistically Three million people a day walk through Istiklal Street. Given how busy it is at any given time, I believe it.
This long cobbled stoned street leading away from Taksim square is an interesting mix of Tourist shops, eateries, clothing stores, and bars. Its easy to notice the difference between day travelers and night time party goers!
Its a great place for people watching and paying too much for souvenirs!

Istiklal Caddesi is a really fantastic, busy street full of shops, restaurants, cafes, clubs, and other things to get into. On the main drag you have a solid mix of international brands (KFC, McD’s, the GAP, Sephora, etc.) and local/​Turkish places. It feels like almost everything is open until 11p.m. or so, with some places (cafes/​restaurants) open even later. Clubs are open until the wee hours of the morning, but that’s a given.
It doesn’t matter if it’s daytime, nighttime, sunny, or rainy. I was there for all of ‘em and it was packed! Families doing family stuff up until midnight, and then club-​goers wandering the street in 5 inch heels and mini skirts (even when it was cold, windy, and rainy!) once the music started going… And you can hear it coming out of everywhere.
While this is a pedestrian road, there’s a trolly that goes up and down during the day and early evening. Otherwise cops, ambulances, garbage trucks, and street sweepers will drive on the trolly tracks honking at people to move out of the way.
It’s a nice solid afternoon out, in my opinion. I really dig the coffee/​dessert shop right next to the Simit Sarayi all the way at the end opposite of Taksim Square and spent a few nights there hanging out.