Official names, neighborhoods and transport
Sarıyer extends from the Bosphorus shore to Istanbul’s northern and forested areas. The municipal strategic plan identifies Büyükdere, İstinye and Tarabya among the district’s principal bays and Yeniköy as a notable headland. The character and accessibility of the waterfront neighborhoods differ substantially from Maslak and Zekeriyaköy.
Content last reviewed: July 2026
Official sources: Strategic Plan 2025–2029 · Sarıyer Life Guide
İstinye
Administrative status: Official waterfront neighborhood in Sarıyer district
İstinye is arranged around one of Sarıyer’s principal Bosphorus bays. İstinye pier is included in ferry services, and the Kadıköy–Sarıyer line stops there. The neighborhood extends inland from the shore, so the actual distance from a property to the waterfront, pier and principal roads must be checked individually.
Official sources: Strategic Plan 2025–2029 · Rumeli Kavağı–Eminönü Bosphorus line · Kadıköy–Sarıyer line
Emirgan
Administrative status: Official waterfront neighborhood in Sarıyer district
Emirgan is an official Bosphorus-side neighborhood, and its ferry stop appears on the long Bosphorus route. Property content should distinguish the waterfront from the upper sections of the neighborhood; wording such as “steps from the Bosphorus” should be used only after measuring from the exact address.
Official sources: Sarıyer Life Guide · Rumeli Kavağı–Eminönü Bosphorus line
Yeniköy
Administrative status: Official waterfront neighborhood in Sarıyer district
Sarıyer’s strategic plan identifies Yeniköy as a notable Bosphorus headland. Yeniköy pier is documented in the district’s life guide and historical ferry network. Access is largely based on the coastal road and bus services, while the most practical rail connection varies by exact address.
Official sources: Strategic Plan 2025–2029 · Sarıyer Life Guide
Tarabya
Administrative status: Official waterfront neighborhood in Sarıyer district
Tarabya is organized around one of Sarıyer’s principal bays. Municipal sources list it with İstinye and Büyükdere among the district’s major bays. A property page should state whether a home is on the shoreline, around the bay or in the upper parts of Tarabya.
Official sources: Strategic Plan 2025–2029 · Sarıyer Life Guide
Büyükdere
Administrative status: Official waterfront neighborhood in Sarıyer district
Büyükdere is both one of Sarıyer’s principal bays and an official neighborhood on the northern European shore of the Bosphorus. Its pier appears on Bosphorus ferry services. Because the name Büyükdere is also used for Büyükdere Avenue farther south, website pages should specify “Büyükdere, Sarıyer.”
Official sources: Strategic Plan 2025–2029 · Rumeli Kavağı–Eminönü Bosphorus line
Maslak
Administrative status: Official neighborhood in Sarıyer district
Maslak is an official inland Sarıyer neighborhood with a different urban role from the Bosphorus waterfront areas. İTÜ–Ayazağa and Atatürk Oto Sanayi stations on M2 provide rail access to the corridor. The Maslak name is sometimes used for nearby developments, so the formal address and station distance should be verified.
Official sources: Neighborhood head offices · M2 Yenikapı–Hacıosman
Zekeriyaköy
Administrative status: Official neighborhood in northern Sarıyer district
Zekeriyaköy is an official neighborhood in northern Sarıyer. The current metro network does not include a station named Zekeriyaköy, so access is primarily road-based. Municipal planning documents have separately addressed the Zekeriyaköy–Uskumruköy road connection. Travel time should be tested from the exact address under real traffic conditions.
Official sources: Neighborhood head offices · M2 Yenikapı–Hacıosman · District landslide-awareness booklets
What should be checked for a specific property?
A neighborhood name alone is not enough to assess a property. The formal title address, actual walking distance to a station entrance, street access and gradient, the building’s legal and technical status and any applicable restrictions must be checked for the specific property. District-level studies do not replace a building-level technical assessment.
Sources and research method
This page is based on official municipal and public-transport sources. Routes and service patterns can change and should be checked again before a purchase decision.
