Boğazi̇çi̇ Mansions: Turkey's Luxurious Villas for the Super Rich

Bosphorus villas are the quintessence of Turkish real estate. These luxury villas in Istanbul, also known as the Yali House, are worth more than the average person's income in six lifetimes.

Often selling for $50 million or more, their iconic status attracts wealthy and influential people from around the world who want to break into Turkey's elite circles. Owning a property along the Bosphorus was not only a sign of wealth and prestige, but also a great honor, as many of them date back to the Ottoman era.

About Bosphorus Villa

There are approximately 620 Yali villas along the Bosphorus, spread across the districts of Bebek, Ortaköy, Tarabya and Üskudar. Most are 19th and 20th century buildings and, as was common at the time, were designed by architects using wood. Each house is unique, with a specific style and type of construction. The 320 houses are protected as monuments, so owners must obtain permission for renovation and modernization works.

Historically, influential members of Ottoman society used it as a summer residence. Today, some of them are used as rental venues for events such as museums, hotels and weddings. However, the interior of the private Yalis house is a secret and is now considered the most expensive house in Turkey.

Iconic villas and their national popularity

Unfortunately, Amcazade Koprulu Huseiyn Pasha Yalisi, the oldest villa dating back to 1699, is today only a shadow of its former glory. It has 20 rooms and is located in the Beykoz district, famous for its wooden architecture, but today it looks dilapidated and in desperate need of refurbishment. In Europe's Istanbul's Sariyer district, the second-oldest Serifler Mansion dates back to 1782.

In Europe's Sariyer district, the Erbigin Tower gained international notoriety after it was sold in 2015 for 100 million euros. Ranked by Forbes as the fifth most expensive house in the world, it was bought by Qatari businessman Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri. The Neo-Baroque style mansion of more than 5,000 square meters has as many as 64 rooms.

In April 2018, the Hekimbasi Salih Efendi building gained international notoriety after an oil tanker crashed. The tanker's rudder is said to have jammed, its front facade torn off and its upper floors collapsed. No one was inside at the time of the incident, but the owners say the historic value of the property was destroyed and it cost $50 million to rebuild.

How to see mansions on the Bosphorus

Although closing in the near future, Hekimbasi is one of the few venues that rent out space for events such as weddings, while the Sait Halem Pasha mansion offers a unique Ottoman setting for all occasions including conferences.

If you don't have the excuse to host a lavish event, Les Ottoman Hotel is a converted 18th-century Yali, as is the 18th-century Fuat Pasha Yali. Additionally, they opened their bar and restaurant to the public.

The restored 19th-century Sadberk Hanim Museum is open to the public every day except Wednesdays. Located in the Sariyer district, the prominent and wealthy Koc family bought it in 1950. They used it as a summer residence until 1978, when they converted it into a three-story museum. In 1983 they bought the Yali next door and did extensive restoration work to bring it back to its former glory.

While the above options offer excellent opportunities to peek inside the mansions on the Bosphorus, we prefer to take the ferry from the port of Eminonu. In addition to the important buildings on the waterfront, other sights await you such as DolmaBahce Palace and Rummel Castle. Not only is this the best way to visit a luxury hotel, it's also the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Bosphorus Style: Lifestyle on Istanbul's Magical Waterways

To learn more about luxury real estate in Istanbul, buy the book "Bosphorus Lifestyle" by author Nevbahar Koc. He goes inside 19 famous mansions on the Bosphorus and in his book recounts how they went from iconic status to part of modern Istanbul.

Serdar Gulgen's Ottoman Chic is another book that peeks out from behind the curtains of his beachfront mansion in Istanbul. Alternatively, you can view Yali villas and apartments for sale in Istanbul here. In addition to restoring old homes, many builders have used their unique architectural designs to create new Yali homes, combining Ottoman nostalgia with the conveniences of a modern lifestyle.