The 6 most beautiful football stadiums in Istanbul
A city trip to Istanbul should be on everyone’s bucket list, especially if you are a football fan because football is life in Turkey and Istanbul is the epicentre of that. It is the country’s football capital, the home of Turkey’s three biggest football clubs and the city where Turkish professional football was born. You cannot miss out on seeing these six stadiums in person.
Vodafone Park
Vodafone Park is the magnificent home ground of Beşiktaş. The stadium is beautifully located next to the Bosphorus Strait, hence why it has also made our list of most scenic stadiums. The exterior of the ground in the working-class district of Beşiktaş is mouth-watering. It looks just like a colosseum given its gigantic pillars. If the Beşiktaş fans are loud? Ask the German striker Timo Werner who had to be subbed off because he could not stand the roars and hisses of the crowd anymore.
Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu
The pitch of the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu from Fenerbahçe is holy ground. It is the birth ground of professional football in Turkey. All clubs who participated in the Istanbul Football League played on this ground, including the likes of Beşiktaş and Galatasaray. It is a proper football stadium where everything is blue and yellow with a fantastic atmosphere in the beautiful neighbourhood of Kadıköy, which is in the more pristine Asian part of Istanbul.
Nef Stadyumu
If you really want to know exactly how much passion and love the Turkish have for football, then you have to visit a match at Nef Stadyumu. It is officially known as the loudest football stadium in the world. The fans use torches, pyros, flags, loud cheers and a war chant to create an intimidating atmosphere in the home ground of Galatasaray, the country’s most successful club. Plus, you are very likely to see an older superstar on the pitch.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadyumu
The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadyumu of Kasımpaşa SK is the hidden gem of Istanbul. It is right in the city centre against a hill, close to the busiest shopping street. From Refik Saydam Street, you will have a stunning view of the green pitch and the eye-catching blue and white stands. In the distance, you will see Istanbul’s Golden Horn, apartment blocks and the Süleymaniye Mosque. Kasımpaşa may not be the city’s most popular football club, but it has one of the most beautiful home grounds.
Vefa Stadi
The Vefa Stadi is another well-kept secret which most football tourists will not know about. The stadium of Fatih Karagümrük does not meet the standards of the Turkish league, hence why they play in the somewhat boring Atatürk Olympic Stadium. It is a shame because Vefa Stadi is so pure and rough and will surely make your heart skip a beat. The pitch is built onto a former cistern which stems back to the Byzantium Era. Colourful apartment blocks encircle the ground. Pay special attention to the old commentary box.
Kagithane Belediyesi Yahya Kemal Spor Kompleksi
If we are talking about football pitches with a magnificent backdrop, we cannot forget about the Kagithane Belediyesi Yahya Kemal Spor Kompleksi. You have a ridiculously good view of the Yahya Kemal Cami mosque from the pitch of the amateur side Yahya Kemal Spor. The colourful apartments on the front complete the image. The view from the other side is not bad either: A hill with another mosque that has a nice green roof. In the distance, you can also spot the two skyscrapers which are next to Nef Stadyumu.
Image: Shutterstock
Related
Cambuur komt eraan! Een kennismaking met het nieuwe stadion
Articles
FC Barcelona - Real Madrid: El Clásico op vreemd terrein
Articles
The 6 largest stadiums of Croatia
Articles
