İSTANBUL HIGH STREETS 2025

Leasing Activity Shifts Toward Smaller Retail Units

- According to the report, as of 2025, prime rents on Istanbul’s high streets remained stable compared to 2024, with monthly rents per square meter at US$ 250 on Abdi İpekçi and US$  220 on İstiklal Street. On Bağdat Street, however, prime rents increased from US$ 150 in 2024 to US$  180 in 2025.

- Over the past five years, the number of leasing transactions across the three main streets declined from 144 in 2021 to 64 in 2025, while total leasing volume dropped to approximately 7,500 sq.m, marking one of the lowest levels in recent years.

İstiklal Street Reaches Full Capacity

- With supply reaching its natural limits and an occupancy rate of 98%, İstiklal Street has effectively reached full capacity. The report highlights that İstiklal Street demonstrated the strongest visitor performance among Istanbul’s prime retail streets.

- In 2025, weekday daily footfall on İstiklal Street increased by 13% to around 240,000 visitors, while weekend footfall rose by 27% to 427,000. The annual total number of visitors reached 107 million, maintaining its position as one of the busiest hubs for both tourism and retail activity in Istanbul.

Abdi İpekçi Maintains Value, Visitor Traffic Declines Sharply

- Located in the Nişantaşı district, Abdi İpekçi maintained its status as Istanbul’s most expensive shopping street, with prime rents at US$ 250/sq.m/month.

- While the annual visitor count stood at approximately 36 million in 2024, it declined sharply to 14.6 million in 2025, marking a significant contraction. Similarly, weekday and weekend visitor numbers decreased by 50% and 72%, respectively. This decline in footfall is attributed in part to the reduction in the number of foreign tourists, who have played a significant role in the area’s visitor profile in recent years. In particular, the decrease in the previously high concentration of Arab tourists has exerted downward pressure on pedestrian traffic in Nişantaşı.

International and Luxury Presence Concentrated on Bağdat Street

- Bağdat Street was the only major high street to record an increase in prime rents in 2025, rising from US$ 150 to US$ 180 per sq.m.

- The share of international brands was measured at 23% on Bağdat Street, compared to 18% in the Nişantaşı area and 15% on İstiklal Street, confirming Bağdat Street’s position as the location with the highest concentration of international brands.

- The report notes that ongoing urban regeneration projects continue to impact the dynamics of the street, with a 34% increase in such activities recorded in 2025. While this may limit leasing activity and visitor mobility in the short term, it is emphasized that the modernized physical environment and renewed commercial spaces are expected to enhance the street’s attractiveness in the medium term.

Selectivity and Efficiency to Take Priority

- In light of rising costs and global economic uncertainties in the retail sector, the report suggests that brands will adopt more cautious strategies. It is expected that, in the coming period, retail activity on Istanbul’s prime high streets will prioritize efficiency and selectivity over expansion-driven growth.