Haydarpasa Train Station Istanbul

When Kaiser Wilhelm II visited Istanbul in 1898, an event commemorated by the fountain that stands in the Hippodrome, this state visit influenced the relationship between the Ottoman and German courts which resulted in the building of the Turkish railway network being transferred from the British to the Germans.  When a new station was needed in Istanbul the construction was paid for by the German government and was part of their plans to build a Berlin to Baghdad railway.  Otto Ritter and Helmut Cuno, German architects, were responsible for this monumental building which would look more at home on the Rhine and is in complete contrast to the very oriental looking Sirkeci Station that ironically is on the European side of the city.  


Not much has been changed with the building even though it sustained accidental damage in 1917 and 1979 and remains much as it did when it first opened to the public in 1908.  When you arrive here by ferry you alight at its small and delightful landing stage, designed by Vedat Tek in 191 , that has excellent Kutahya tiles and what looks like a chimney sticking out of the roof is actually a bird house.

Haydarpasa Train Station is where the Chanel perfume advertisement was shot.