Yandex Türkiye has published the results of research aimed at identifying the most vibrant and active living areas in Istanbul.

According to the company, the study analysed Yandex Search and Yandex Maps data to examine Istanbul residents’ daily behaviour and location preferences between June and August 2025. Focusing on categories such as daily needs, tourism and sport, it paints a picture of urban living habits and provides useful information for residents, tourists and business owners.

Leading districts by category

Restaurants: the most restaurants are in Fatih, Kadıköy and Şişli. The highest density is on the Princes’ Islands (Adalar), where one in ten businesses is a restaurant — three times the Istanbul average.

Shops and markets: Fatih ranks first with 11% of all Istanbul shops, followed by Küçükçekmece and Kadıköy.

Hairdressers and beauty salons: Küçükçekmece has the highest density, with 20 salons per 1,000 businesses, followed by Kadıköy and Esenyurt.

Tourist areas: with its historic fabric, Fatih has the most tourist attractions and historic monuments; 10% of all tourist sites and 20% of the city’s fountains are there. Kadıköy and Üsküdar follow. Although the Islands have fewer sights, their tourism density is three times the city average.

Mosques: Fatih, Üsküdar and Pendik have the most mosques; 10% of Istanbul’s mosques are in Fatih. By density, the Asian side leads, with Şile at five times the city average.

Hotels and hostels: most are concentrated in Fatih and Beyoğlu, which host a third of the city’s accommodation. By density, the Islands lead with an average of 80 hotels or hostels per 1,000 businesses, followed by Şile (77) and Beyoğlu (55).

Parks: central districts have fewer parks relative to area than the outskirts. Şile has three times the city average density, followed by Çatalca and the Islands at twice the average. The lowest density is in Fatih, Zeytinburnu and Şişli.

Pools and sports facilities: Ümraniye has the most swimming pools (7.5% of Istanbul’s total), with Kadıköy and Pendik joint second and Sarıyer third. For sports complexes, Sarıyer and Büyükçekmece lead, with 18 facilities per 10,000 businesses in Büyükçekmece and 12 in Sarıyer.

Yandex partnerships and city campaigns

To make getting around Istanbul easier and cheaper, Yandex Türkiye has announced two new partnerships:

  • With ferry operator İDO: users who set Yandex as their default search engine get TRY 100 off ferry tickets.
  • With the İstanbulkart transport card: eligible users automatically receive TRY 100 of gift credit on their card.

These steps are part of Yandex’s strategy to improve the urban experience and use digital data smartly in the daily lives of Istanbul residents.