Best Flats in Istanbul: Luxury Properties available on Both Sides of the Bosporus

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, offers a wide variety of real estate, including property that is usually designated luxury. In our subjective ranking, we will tell you about some projects that are a perfect fit of the definition "modern luxury".

• Penthouse in a Tower with a Swimming Pool and art Residence
• Duplex in Palace Park with a Huge Terrace
• Skyscraper Flats Offered by a Dubai Developer
• Low-Rise Duplex in Green Residential District with Pond

Penthouse in a Tower with a Swimming Pool and art Residence

The top three floors of the 22-storey Ritz-Carlton Residences tower feature six penthouses, ranging in size from 322 to 807 square metres and costing up to USD 16,000,000. Each penthouse has a terrace, pool, and private sauna.

Recently reconstructed based on a design of Turkish architect Tanju Özelgin, this historical building has 121 flats. Their residents have access to a 24-hour concierge service and valet parking. In a word, they offer you the service that you would expect to find in an expensive hotel, albeit with one proviso: the building operates on a licensing basis and is not part of an  international deluxe hotel network.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences offers its owners a spa complex with a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a small cinema which can be rented for private screenings. It also has a studio where artists are invited to work on their projects.

The tower is located in the European part of Istanbul, in the historical Nişantaşı district, which has been the scene for several novels by Orhan Pamuk who lives here. As well as the famous writer, this district - one of the most expensive ones in the city - is also known for its Art Nouveau houses and shops which sell local and international brands.

Duplex in Palace Park with a Huge Terrace

In the same Nişantaşı district, the Nişantaşı Koru residential complex is being developed. The developer presents it as a house designed with health in mind. It consists of six mid-rise buildings located near a park. You will find at the other end a pond with ducks and the former summer residence of the Turkish sultans, Ihlamur Palace.

The residential complex has 160 flats, which have primarily one to four bedrooms.  However, there are also more spacious options: the biggest has seven rooms. Admittedly, estate agents maintain that the largest duplexes have already been sold. Nevertheless, they deserve a mention in the list of the best flats in Istanbul.

Flats in Nişantaşı Koru boast vast terraces with biofuel fireplaces and infinity pools overlooking the Bosporus. A public swimming pool and spa centre with sauna and hammam are also due to open soon. A gym, cinema and karaoke hall are also part of the project. Meanwhile the 24-hour concierge service for the flats includes the transportation of local residents to nearby restaurants and shops.

Skyscraper Flats Offered by a Dubai Developer

Luxury flats are not only appearing in Istanbul on the European side of the city. In the Asian part of the city, the 34-storey Emaar Square Heights residential skyscraper attracts everyone’s attention. Two other skyscrapers stand nearby: an office building of a similar style, and the 230-metre Address Istanbul Hotel. The latter is one of the five tallest buildings in the city.

Emaar Square Heights features 333 flats. Each flat has a unique layout and a different number of rooms, ranging from one to five. These flats stand out due to the three-metre ceilings and large windows. The stylobate of the residential and office complex includes an entertainment centre with an outdoor swimming pool, children’s club and gymnasium. Residents also have access to a rooftop swimming pool.

The site, developed in its entirety by Emaar Properties, includes a shopping centre with hundreds of shops and dozens of cafes and restaurants. In terms of entertainment you will find a multi-screen cinema and bowling alley, an oceanarium and multimedia exhibitions with images that "come to life".

The Emaar high-rises are located in Üsküdar where you can find a number of landmarks, such as the neo-baroque Beylerbeyi Palace. The Maiden Towner, one of the symbols of Istanbul, is also located here. Formerly serving as a lighthouse on a small island in the middle of the Bosporus, now it is a place where tourists enjoy nightly light shows.

Low-Rise Duplex in Green Residential District with Pond

Anyone looking for some privacy in the crowded city of Istanbul can find it in Üsküdar district. For example, in the Nef Reserve Nakkaştepe, which is still under construction. Four four-storey buildings with 20 flats are being built on a guarded area of 20,000 square metres. The largest flat will be a four-bedroom duplex of almost 500 square metres.

The flats will have large terraces, while the residential district will have a green courtyard with a pond. Nakkaştepe residents will enjoy the proximity to nature and a variety of urban amenities, including cafes, restaurants and a cinema. Sports facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, gym and even a basketball court, are also projected.

Nef is implementing a new concept for the use of public space in its projects. Called Foldhome, it is designed to enable residents to rent space in the complex and expand their living space as and where necessary.

It is worth mentioning here that the busy D100 motorway, which links Turkey's eastern and western borders, runs nearby. The 15 July Martyrs Bridge over the Bosporus, a road which is  one and a half kilometres long, is part of this motorway. It can be seen from the adjacent Nakkaştepe Park.

In A Nutshell

Istanbul is a vast city with a vibrant property market and an interesting range of luxury housing. The Turkish megapolis has a wide range of flats for sale, including three-storey penthouses, duplexes with pools, skyscrapers and flats in gated low-rise neighbourhoods.

Cover photo: Osman Köycü (Unsplash)