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3 JULY 2014YAZAR: SEMA KAVASLAR

RENT A BIKE IN ISTANBUL

The Ultimate Bike Renting Guide For Istanbul by Bahadır Efeoğlu

Istanbul is a huge city and you can’t visit everywhere on foot. Traffic is a big problem and probably you wouldn’t prefer spending your time stuck in a bus. There is one option left which is cycling! Believe me you will get a different taste from the city when you are pedalling through it. Ok, Istanbul might not be the safest or most bike friendly city, however there are nice and safe routes for you. You can check the bicycle routes of Istanbul from here.

Most probably you don’t have a bicycle and you need one. It is pretty easy to rent a bike in Istanbul. If you have visited the Prince’s Islands, then you know what I am talking about. However it is not always easy to find a bike shop, and rent bikes in Istanbul. Mostly, every neighborhood has at least one shop, but it is hard to locate.

So here is your magical guide for renting a bike in Istanbul!
How is the pricing ?
Pricing is on a daily or an hourly basis. There are no standards for the pricing, and it may change depending on the type and the condition of the bicycle. In general, you can rent a bike for 5TL/hour and 15 TL/day to 30 TL/day. These are the average prices I know but daily rent should not pass 50 TL unless you want to rent a special setup bike.

Where can I find these bike shops ?
Well as I said, there are many of them scattered around the city but I will share the well known ones.

Also keep in mind that, shop owners may not understand English. Just in case you need, renting = kiralamak in Turkish.

1- ISBIKE

Firstly, you can rent bikes from the bicycle stations located all along the seaside of Asian side. These bikes are like Boris Bikes of London or CitiBikes of NYC.

You can rent up to 4 bikes with your credit card by paying a 50 TL/each deposit.

Hours Price
0-1 Hours 2 TL
1-2 Hours 3 TL
2-3 Hours 5 TL
3-5 Hours 8 TL
5-7 Hours 11 TL
7-10 Hours 14 TL
All Day (24 Hours) 25 TL

There are 10 stations at the seaside. The closest one to Kadıköy is in Caddebostan. You don’t have to return your bike to the station that you rented from, you can return it on any ISBIKE stations. You have to be harsh when you want to pull the bike off the station.

Local Shops
These are the some known bicycle shops where you can rent a bike. Do not forget to ask for a helmet when you rent a bike.

2- Bisikletevim – Bicycle Cafe – Bostancı (Asian Side)

Bisikletevim is my favorite stop for buying equipment and getting my bike fixed. They recently opened this half bike shop – half cafe place. They sell many cool bicycle accessories and if you know the bicycle fashion you may know Brooks. Bisikletevim has one of the largest Brooks collection for sale in Istanbul.

One more interesting fact about this place is they have showers in the downstairs for the use of cyclists.

Location
Adress: prof.dr.ali nihat tarlan cad. no:25/a, Bostancı / Istanbul
Telephone: +90 (216) 445 12 61

3- Bike & Outdoor – Beşiktaş (European Side)

Bike & Outdoor is one of the popular and trusthworty bicycle dealers. They have good quality bikes for rent.

Location
Address: Barbaros Bulvarı, No:63, Beşiktaş / İstanbul
Telephone: +90 (212) 259 74 76-77

4- Bike & Outdoor – Fenerbahçe (Asian Side)

Location
Adress: Fenerbahçe Mahallesi, Lalezar Sokak, No:8/A, Selamiçeşme, Kadıköy / İstanbul
Telephone: +90 (216) 301 14 10-11

5- Delta Bisiklet – Kadıköy (Asian Side)

Delta is also one of the well known bicycle dealers and they have their own cycling team. They organize tours and events for cyclists.

Location
Address: Bağdat Cad. No:9/A, Kızıltoprak, Kadıköy / ISTANBUL
Telephone: +90 (216) 450 66 30

6- Delta Bisiklet – Levent (European Side)

Address: Nispetiye Caddesi No:13-C Levent / ISTANBUL
Telephone: +90 (212) 281 56 40

7- Atilla Bisiklet – Üsküdar (Asian Side)

Atilla Bisiklet has two shops in Istanbul both located on the Asian Side. You will notice many professional cyclist wearing jerseys of Atilla Bisiklet.

Location
Address: Barbaros Mahallesi Nuhkuyusu Caddesi NO:68/A Altunizade, Üsküdar / ISTANBUL
Telephone: +90 (216) 474 76 06

8- Atilla Bisiklet – Bostancı (Asian Side)

This one is close to the Bostancı Ferry Station. If you take the “Deniz Otobüsü” seabus from Bakırköy to Bostancı you can rent bikes from here.

Location
Address: Ali Nihat Tarlan Cad. Kitapçı Mehmet Süleyman Sk. Ada Apt. No:22/A Bostancı / ISTANBUL
Telephone: +90 (850) 226 45 66

Source: atdaa.com

THEATRES AT BEYOĞLU - ISTANBUL

16 SEPTEMBER 2014YAZAR: M. GÖKHAN MEMİŞ

THEATRES AT BEYOĞLU

There is an innovative and young community changing the perception of “theatres” in Istanbul. Renovating the old theatres or opening performance places is now more cool! So; we listed the theater stages at Beyoğlu;

5- ASMALI STAGE

Asmalımescit the Asmalı (Ivy) Stage theater is located at the 2nd floor of an apartment building. They designed a room as a scene, the plays’ subjects are from the real life, which makes you feel “Theaters are cool!”. Asmalı Stage is waiting for new visitors with its great new plays.

4- KUMBARACI 50

With the help of corporate and individual supporters opened on 2 November 2009, this stage is designed as production and exhibition center. Kumbaracı 50 gets its name from the hill that locates and 50 comes from the building’s number.

3- MAHŞER-İ CÜMBÜŞ HAYALHANE THEATER

The first word used for theater in the Ottoman Empire was Hayalhane. After decorating the four storeyed building’s top floor as an event hall, this place was put into operation in December 2003.

2- SALON IKSV

Located at the entrance and first floors of IKSV’s new building, at the crossroads of the city’s hub of culture and arts, Salon has become a new stop on the line joining Galata and Şişhane.

1- STATE THEATER SMALL STAGE

At the year 1951, Muhsin Ertuğrul (also known as Ertuğrul Muhsin Bey, was a Turkish actor and director) opened the doors of this theatre. Original name of this stage is “Küçük Sahne”, and you can see “küçük” means “small” in English, like its name this hall is small but charming and a deep history lays beneath it.

THEATER STAGES IN ŞİŞLİ - ISTANBUL

THEATER STAGES IN ŞİŞLİ

We have listed the theater stages in Şişli, in no particular order: you go and decide which ones are good and which ones are better 

9- GRI STAGE

Gri Sahne, literally meaning “Stage Grey,” is named after the independent theater company GRI owns the place. While mainly dedicated to the performances by GRI, you may also watch plays by other groups. While you’re there, don’t forget to drop by the cozy Cafe GRI!

8- STAGE HAL

Turned from a pool parlor into a theater stage, SahneHal hosts not only plays but also short film screenings, photo exhibitions, festivals and even parties. One of the up and coming art spaces of Istanbul 

7- TALIMHANE THEATER

Talimhane Theater, where you can watch plays by the new generation Turkish playwrights as well as the works of classical writers that have not been previously performed in Turkey, also hosts national and international festivals.

6- ALİ POYRAZOĞLU THEATER

The stage hosts the plays of Poyrazoğlu Theater Company, founded by reputable Turkish actor Ali Poyrazoğlu.

5- KARNAVAL THEATER (GÖNÜL ÜLKÜ – GAZANFER ÖZCAN STAGE)

Karnaval Theater is not only a performance stage, but a school of acting that provides seminars as well as various other artistic classes.

4- KENTER THEATER

Kenter Theatre is the private stage for one of the first independent companies, Kent Players, founded by two of the most respected stage actors in Turkey: Yıldız and Müşfik Kenter. It is possible to watch various other companies’ play as well as those Kent Players at Kenter Theatre.

3- DOTMARSTA

Sponsored by Mars Entertainment Group, DOT keeps on performing in its new venue at Maçka G-MALL. Do follow the program for contemporary, provocative and award-winning performances 

2- ISTANBUL STATE THEATER CEVAHIR STAGE

Istanbul State Theaters’ Şişli stage, where you can see great shows for reasonable prices is located at Cevahir Shopping Mall.

1- ISTANBUL CITY THEATRES HARBİYE MUHSİN ERTUĞRUL STAGE

One of the oldest stages of the City Theatres in Istanbul, where you can watch great shows for very reasonable prices.