Vodafone Park is one of the most beautifully located stadiums. In the neighbourhood of Beşiktaş, next to the Bosphorus, the Dolmabahçe Palace and near Taksim Square in Istanbul's centre. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable noisy night. One that you will always remember fondly.
Vodafone Park is one of the most beautifully located stadiums in the world. Next to the Bosphorus in the Beşiktaş neighbourhood and close to the Taksim Square in the city centre. The stadium was rebuilt in 2016. Since then, unfortunately, added a roof to the stadium which means that you do not have a magnificent view of the Bosphorus strait and the Asian part of Istanbul anymore. However, the addition of the roof made sure that the noise stays inside the stadium. The fans in Vodafone Park are now overwhelmingly loud, especially during the big games. Be prepared for ringing in the ears.
From the outside, the stadium is just as spectacular. It looks like a colosseum with its gigantic pillars. Even the non-football lover can appreciate this beautiful piece of architecture.
Vodafone Park is the home ground of the Turkish football club Beşiktaş, one of the country’s big three football clubs. Beşiktaş and the Çarşı fan club are traditionally left-wing and derive from the working class. The stadium is also built to be environmentally friendly and generates power from solar panels. They also use rainwater to sprinkle the pitch.
Beşiktaş is a successful football club with numerous trophies. Ricardo Quaresma, Atiba Hutchinson, Mario Gómez and Demba Ba are former players you may have heard of before.
The neighbourhood of Beşiktaş is one of the oldest regions in the city. It houses three universities and is full of coffee shops, restaurants and pubs. Be aware that not every place is as cheap as the other. The area is filled with luxury 5-star hotels and expensive restaurants. On match days you will see Beşiktaş fans gather around the streets of the neighbourhood. Hours before the match they will start their festivities, just like the fans of any other football club from Istanbul.
In the surrounding area of the stadium, you will also find the largest palace in Turkey, the Dolmabahçe Palace. This palace is one of the most beautiful monuments in the city and used to be the house of the Sultans. Nowadays, it is a museum. From the water, you have a stunning view of the palace.
Even closer to the stadium, you will find the Dolmabahçe Mosque, a lovely baroque mosque along the Bosphorus strait.
A trip to Turkey would be incomplete without trying a bite of one of the most famous dishes in Turkish cuisine. Karadeniz Döner is one of the best-rated döner restaurants in the city and is located in Beşiktaş. You can also get a takeaway here, but be prepared to wait in line.
Tickets can solely be bought through Passo, the official seller of football tickets to all games in Turkey (including league, European, cup and friendly games). You need to register on Passo and buy a PASSOLIG card, with which you can buy a ticket and enter the stadium. Tickets are usually for sale a week before the match. More information can be found on the website of Passo.
Vodafone Park is right on the edge of the city centre of the European part of Istanbul. The stadium is a twenty-minute walk away from Taksim metro station. On match days you will also find plenty of Beşiktaş fans celebrating on and around Taksim Square.
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