Haydarpasa Railway Station (Haydarpasa Gari)

The Haydarpasa Railway Station, or Haydarpasa Gari, stands as a major transportation hub in Istanbul’s Kadikoy area and a symbolic gateway to the city. Built between 1906 and 1908 in a neo-Renaissance German style, it was a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to Sultan Abdulhamid II. Originally designed as the terminus for the Istanbul-Baghdad and Istanbul-Damascus-Medina railways, it served as a crucial link between Berlin and Baghdad during the late Ottoman Empire. Today, visitors can admire its grand architecture, though the terminal is currently closed for renovation. When operational, it serves as the departure point for trains to Ankara, Kayseri, Konya, and other destinations to the east and south.