“The Roof” of Istanbul – this is what we can call one of the most impressive skyscrapers in this incredible megacity, which spans across two continents!
I have said many times that Istanbul is a city of contrasts – as ancient as it is modern. This city seems to never sleep and always has something to surprise you with. But today, I won’t talk about Istanbul and its popular landmarks. Instead, I want to take you to a height of 238 meters and let’s look at Istanbul from above!
This is the tallest residential building in Europe, rising to a height of 261 meters. With its unique design and vertical gardens, which set the complex apart from all other buildings in the entire city, it can be said that this is the first eco-friendly building in Turkey. A huge shopping mall, a golf course, fitness center, swimming pool, and spa are all available to the public.
I can confidently speak about this building because I have had the pleasure of visiting it three times and enjoying the incredible views from it! It is located a bit away from the historical center, in one of the most modern business districts of Istanbul, Levent, but it is very easy to reach by Metro Line 2. You get off at Levent.4 station, and there is a direct connection from the metro to the skyscraper, so you can enter it directly.
A piece of advice from me – if the weather is unpredictable and changing, it’s advisable not to use the underground connection but instead go above ground to check the conditions!
When we first visited the Sapphire, we entered through the underground passage, but it was already dark, and it had rained during the day. So, when we reached the observation deck, we couldn’t see anything because a thick fog had surrounded the building, and everything around us was white.
Had we gone above ground, we would have seen that the weather wasn’t suitable, and we probably wouldn’t have gone up. But what’s done is done – there were still things to do! 🙂
In addition to the observation deck, which offers a 360-degree panoramic view of all of Istanbul, there is also a 4D cinema, where you can take an incredible helicopter ride over the city and view its main landmarks from above! It’s an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Now, it’s important to note that there are two types of tickets. One is for the observation deck only, and the other is a combined ticket that allows you to visit both the observation deck and the 4D cinema. I recommend getting the second option!
Additionally, there are several restaurants where you can enjoy the incredible atmosphere and views with a cup of traditional Turkish tea!
And because of this unsuccessful attempt to admire the view, my sister and I had to go back up there after 2 days, and I must admit – I was speechless! It was exactly January 1st, and we went up around 7:30 PM, when the sun had long set, but its light was still reflecting and illuminating the city in all its glory. The entire city was visible, and it was an incredibly colorful view! The three bridges over the Bosphorus stood out the most, while the large boulevards twisted through the city, lit up, and the cars looked like tiny fireflies moving along them!
Two years later, I had the pleasure of visiting this incredible place again, but this time during the day and in daylight! The difference was huge, primarily because Istanbul itself had changed at an incredibly fast pace.
This time, the buildings around us were very clearly outlined, the Asian side was visible, and the bridges… What I saw was very hard to describe, because for me, Istanbul is an indescribable city—how can you describe it when the entire city is at your feet, and you’re literally in the clouds!
I’ll leave you to enjoy the beautiful views of Istanbul and Sapphire, and hopefully, we’ll be able to visit it again soon. 🙂
