Turkey's most visited street has been identified

The latest report on Istanbul's most vibrant shopping destinations has revealed striking increases and decreases in the number of visitors to the city's popular streets. In particular, Istiklal Street broke a historical record in 2025, reaching 107 million visitors. This result surpassed the previous record of 91.8 million visitors in 2022, solidifying the street's position as the center of tourism and retail.

Looking at daily averages, pedestrian traffic on Istiklal increased by 13 percent on weekdays, rising to approximately 240 thousand. On weekends, this number grew by 27 percent to reach 427 thousand. Of the 275 stores on the street, 265 are currently in operation. While the clothing and footwear sector accounts for 35 percent of businesses, food and beverage holds a 31 percent share, and cosmetics holds 15 percent. In terms of brand distribution, 85 percent are domestic and 15 percent are foreign. Rental prices are at the level of 220 dollars per square meter.

A significant rise was also recorded on the Bagdat Street side. In the 2.6-kilometer section analyzed, the number of visitors increased by 31.2 percent to reach 41.2 million. Here, the daily number of pedestrians increased by 19.5 percent on weekdays, while it reached 137 thousand on weekends with a 61.2 percent increase. Of the 309 stores on Bagdat Street, 296 are occupied, and the ratio of international brands has risen to 23 percent, making this street attractive in terms of foreign investment as well. Despite high rental prices, the monthly rent per square meter on Bagdat Street reached 180 dollars.

The Nisantasi region, on the other hand, exhibited the opposite trend; in 2025, the number of visitors to this area, which covers Rumeli, Tesvikiye, Vali Konagi, and Abdi Ipekci Streets, fell by nearly 60 percent to 14.6 million. Weekday and weekend pedestrian traffic declined by 50 percent and 72 percent, respectively. Local shopkeepers and report preparers point to the decrease in foreign tourists, especially Arab visitors, as the main factor in this decline. Rental pressure has led food and beverage venues to shift from main arteries to side streets. Of the 373 stores located on these four main streets, 350 are active; the clothing and footwear sector has a 43 percent share, accessories-cosmetics 19 percent, and food and beverage 14 percent. Local brands lead the region with 82 percent. Abdi Ipekci Street continues to be Istanbul's most expensive shopping location with a rent of 250 dollars per square meter.

NEW TRENDS EXPECTED IN THE SECTOR

The latest shopping streets report points out that in the coming period, brands will begin to follow a policy focused on efficiency and selectivity rather than growth due to the impact of economic conditions. The report stated, "In the coming period, a retail movement focused on efficiency and selectivity rather than growth-oriented expansion is expected to come to the fore on Istanbul's main streets. In line with rising costs and global economic uncertainties, it is predicted that brands will adopt more cautious strategies and turn to smaller, high-performance areas with high location quality. While primary locations are expected to continue to see strong demand during this process, retail spaces located on secondary streets are expected to remain under more pressure."

News Source: 12punto