Footy in Istanbul

Hi all

I may be in Istanbul later in the year and was thinking of checking out a match.

As far as I'm aware there are three clubs in 'bul: Galatasary, Fenerbache and Besikstas. Does anyone have any experience of going to a match at any of these? Any hints/tips, dos/don'ts/ recommendations gratefully received.

Cheers!

Hi all

 

I may be in Istanbul later in the year and was thinking of checking out a match.

 

As far as I'm aware there are three clubs in 'bul: Galatasary, Fenerbache and Besikstas. Does anyone have any experience of going to a match at any of these? Any hints/tips, dos/don'ts/ recommendations gratefully received.

 

Cheers!

Don't go sticking flags in the centre circle!!

Noted thanks!

How about wearing a perm and tache?

If this is anything to go by,

Besiktas looks like an amazing place to see some footie.

Hi all

 

I may be in Istanbul later in the year and was thinking of checking out a match.

 

As far as I'm aware there are three clubs in 'bul: Galatasary, Fenerbache and Besikstas. Does anyone have any experience of going to a match at any of these? Any hints/tips, dos/don'ts/ recommendations gratefully received.

 

Cheers!

Hi Benji, I lived in Istanbul for 20 months and went to all 3 stadiums, regularly to Fenerbahce as I lived very close on the Asian side of the city. As with any game best if you can go with a local/mate who knows his way around, but all are easily acessible, Fener is by far away the best stadium though, the others are older (galatasaray are building a new out of town stadium). Let me know if you would like more specific detail.

Email Danny Dyer

Email Danny Dyer

nobhead@nobtowers.nob?

Hi Benji, I lived in Istanbul for 20 months and went to all 3 stadiums, regularly to Fenerbahce as I lived very close on the Asian side of the city. As with any game best if you can go with a local/mate who knows his way around, but all are easily acessible, Fener is by far away the best stadium though, the others are older (galatasaray are building a new out of town stadium). Let me know if you would like more specific detail.

Cheers mate.

I won't be there for long so will be limited in my venue choice by who is at home when I'm free to go but I've had a look at Fenerbahce's stadium and it looks cool so will probably try to head there although Besiktas also looks pretty lively!

I suppose the main questions are: is it easy to get tickets (is there anything quirky about the system) and are there any unsafe or best avoided areas for neutrals and are there are many matches that might be best avoided (ie, if there's a derby will it be a war zone etc)?

I've been to every ground and istanbul derby, it's the bomb. Definatly go to the Inönû stadium, as the fans are the best. Galatasaray are w ankers, Fener are ok, nice ground etc, but Besiktas are my best. Go for a derby game if there is one. The Çarsi rule.

Fanimal where did you live and what did you do over there? I lived there for a year and had a mental time.

So is it easy to get Besiktas tickets?

The Black Eagles do have the reputation for being the noisiest, most passionate fans of the three, but all are very lively!

I lived in Suadiye off Bagdat Street, had an amazing time over there, people are so friendly and helpful, no trouble at all. I got my tickets from Biletix the website that sells all sports and concert tickets.

If you go to Fenerbahce get someone to take you to the nearby marina and go in one of the restaurants and join in the raki fuelled singalong before the game!

Sounds awesome.

Cheers guys.

I was over there in 2008, went to see Fenebache v Ankara, quite easy to get tickets went down the ground the day before and bought them from the ticket office. Also got a nice ferry journey over to the ground.

I think you would struggle getting a ticket for one of the derby games, Galatasaray v Besiktas was on the same weekend I was there but was played behind closed doors.

There is actually a 4th team in Istanbul, called BBS Istanbul. I saw them play at the Ataturk stadium (where Liverpool won the champions league) , bit of a strange team as they dont have any fans which is a bit eerie in a 80k odd capacity stadium. Apparently they were formed as a merger of other clubs when they were trying to find a club to play in the new stadium.

I recommend using this website for researching your trip - http://www.budgetairlinefootball.co.uk/140601/index.html

specific page on Istanbul http://www.budgetairlinefootball.co.uk/140601/63201.html

Cheers JRM!

The Black Eagles do have the reputation for being the noisiest, most passionate fans of the three, but all are very lively!

 

I lived in Suadiye off Bagdat Street, had an amazing time over there, people are so friendly and helpful, no trouble at all. I got my tickets from Biletix the website that sells all sports and concert tickets.

 

If you go to Fenerbahce get someone to take you to the nearby marina and go in one of the restaurants and join in the raki fuelled singalong before the game!

Kadiköy is cool, I stayed at the Hotel Bagdat for a few weeks, it was about 5 pound a nite and the only heater in the room was a candle in a Efes can. I lived in Kazasker, Taksim, Kadikoy, Besiktas, well all over really, even spent a few days in the old prison in Sultan Ahmet which is now a 5 star hotel by the Galata bridge. Crazy town, crazy people. I was there in 1990.

Benji can you do me a favour, when you go to istanbul, make sure you go to a bar in Taksim called Club Karnaval and give the brave doormen who stabbed me a good kicking. They will be all dressed in peach suites and calling your momma a whor e.

Apparently Besiktas have the loudest crowd in European football

Apparently Besiktas have the loudest crowd in European football

TBH I think all Turkish fans are very vocal. It is the fact that the grounds over there are full at 10am in the morning, awaiting the 2pm K.O. that amazes me. And when the amigo enters the ground with his crew half an hour before K.O. that is when all the fun & games begin. The amigo is more famous than the players, he's the one who gets the crowd going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD6fdr-Jhso&feature=related

Turn the sound up on this one, it always gets my hairs on my back to stand up. I have witnessed the Besiktas Carsi in action on more than one occasion and believe me, it takes some beating.

bir, iki, ooch, Besiktas!!!!

these are the best

these are the best

 

Bullsh*t, that was just a big derby game, and the stadium is tiny, every game in istanbul is like this.

This is a good one of Besiktas arriving across the Bosphrus to Kadikoy ferry port to take on their local rivals Fenerbahce, who didn't show. I have had the pleasure of doing this trip a few times and believe me it is awesome.

This is what you call a police escort:

Benji can you do me a favour, when you go to istanbul, make sure you go to a bar in Taksim called Club Karnaval and give the brave doormen who stabbed me a good kicking. They will be all dressed in peach suites and calling your momma a whor e.

Dog, I would love to oblige of course but unfortunately I think I'm busy that night.

Great city to visit and watch football in. I've been to see Fenerbache play and found it a surprisingly relaxed and family type atmosphere. Smart, very modern ground. Always worth getting the better seats, which aren't that cheap, think we paid close to £30, we just went down to the ground a couple of days before and got them, but it wasn't a big game. Decent journey over to the Asian side of the city as well by ferry. NOt too sure re Galatasary and Besiktas, think the atmosphere at these two is a bit less welcoming!