Taksim Square Istanbul: monument, how to get there, what to see
Taksim Square is free to visit, day and night, and easy to reach on the M2 metro (Taksim station). Taksim Square is the modern heart of Istanbul, at the top of Beyoğlu, where İstiklal Avenue begins. Its name comes from the Arabic "taksim", meaning division: the square marked the point where the water pipes coming from the north of the city were gathered before being distributed to the districts, a network set up under Sultan Mahmud I. In the middle stands the Republic Monument (Cumhuriyet Anıtı), by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica, unveiled on 8 August 1928 to mark five years of the Turkish Republic. About 11 metres high, it shows Mustafa Kemal Atatürk surrounded by İsmet İnönü, Fevzi Çakmak and other figures of the War of Independence. Allow 15 to 30 minutes: the square is mostly a landmark, a starting point and a place to change transport.
Highlights
The Republic Monument
A sculpted group best seen from several angles: Atatürk at the centre, surrounded by his comrades from the War of Independence and the founders of the Republic. Official ceremonies take place here on 19 May and on 29 October, Republic Day (see our national holidays in Istanbul).
The buildings around the square
The Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM), rebuilt and reopened on 29 October 2021; the Taksim Mosque, opened in May 2021; the Marmara Hotel to the south; Gezi Park to the north. There is no ticket office: everything is seen from public space.
The transport hub
Taksim is the central station of the Istanbul metro (line M2), the terminus of the F1 funicular from Kabataş and of the T2 nostalgic tram, which runs down İstiklal to Tünel. Many bus lines meet here. Our guide to funiculars and cable cars describes the F1.
Practical info
Tips
- Access is free and open day and night. Traffic is heavy around the monument: cross at the pedestrian crossings and lights. Taksim is closely monitored and gatherings have rarely been allowed since 2016: if you see barriers or many police officers, simply walk on, do not wait in the area and do not join any crowd. It is crowded in the evening and at weekends; keep your phone and wallet safe and beware of touts (see scams and safety). To enjoy the district rather than just the square, read our guide to the Beyoğlu and Taksim district. Sources consulted in October 2026.
How to get there
Taksim Square, Gümüşsuyu, 34435 Beyoğlu, Istanbul. Metro M2, Taksim station; F1 funicular from Kabataş (connection with the T1 tram and ferries); T2 nostalgic tram from Tünel; many buses. From Sultanahmet, take the T1 tram to Kabataş and then the F1 funicular, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Opening hours
Nearby
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