A predominantly residential area, Bostancı is an important transport interchange with stops on the Marmaray and M4 Metro lines and ferries leaving for the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara. It is generally considered the starting point of Bağdat Avenue, the major shopping street that runs as far as Kadıköy.
Because of its position on the water, Bostancı has several fish restaurants. It is also popular as a place to stop off for late night fast food. Several places stay open all night serving people returning from the bars and clubs on Bağdat Avenue.
Bostancıbaşı Bridge: the stream it once crossed is now dried up
History
In the Byzantine period Bostancı was probably called Poleatikon. When the emperors returned from campaigning in Anatolia, the city chief would greet them here and it is thought that there was a palace for the emperor here.
When the Umayyad forces besieged Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 718, their navy took refuge in the port here.
During the Ottoman period, the main road connecting the capital to Anatolia passed through Bostancı, which was the eastern border of the city. A Bostanji (a type of imperial guard, whose name literally means "gardener" in Turkish) outpost was established here where they could control the entrances and exits to Istanbul. The neighbourhood took its name from this outpost.
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