Büyükçekmece, Istanbul: Lake, Sea and New Apartments
Büyükçekmece guide, western Istanbul: location, lake and Mimar Sinan Bridge, neighborhoods, metro and transport, residence rules and buying tips.
Büyükçekmece sits in the west of Istanbul's European side, on the Sea of Marmara. It appeals to people who want a home near the coast, in a calmer setting than the city center, in new residential complexes. What makes Büyükçekmece special is the combination of sea and lake: Lake Büyükçekmece is one of Istanbul's drinking-water sources, and the historic Mimar Sinan bridge crosses it. On the other side of the ledger, the long distance from the city center and the lack of a metro are the most important points to weigh before buying. In this article we go through the location, neighborhoods, transport, residence status and tips for buying property in Büyükçekmece.
Where is Büyükçekmece?
Büyükçekmece lies west of Beylikdüzü and is about 36 kilometers from Istanbul's historic center. It borders Beylikdüzü and Esenyurt to the east and extends west to the edge of Silivri. The D-100 highway (the old E-5) runs through the district and divides it into the coastal neighborhoods below and the more inland neighborhoods above.
According to Turkey's population registry figures published by citypopulation.de, Büyükçekmece's population grew from about 211,000 in 2013 to 243,000 in 2017 and about 277,000 in 2022. So the district has grown, but it is still far less populous than its neighbor Esenyurt, which, according to the end-of-2025 figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), became the first district to pass one million people.
If you are not familiar with the neighboring districts, also read our guides to the Beylikdüzü district and the Esenyurt district.
Lake Büyükçekmece and the Mimar Sinan Bridge
Lake Büyükçekmece used to be open to the sea and, over the years, was separated from it so that salt water would not seep in and the lake could be used for drinking water and farming. The Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) uses the lake as one of the city's water sources. This also means the area around the lake has protection restrictions, and you should not expect to be able to build freely at every point along it.
The Büyükçekmece Bridge, also known as the Suleiman the Magnificent Bridge, is a sixteenth-century stone bridge with multiple arches, built across the mouth of the lake by Mimar Sinan, the famous Ottoman architect. Construction began under Suleiman the Magnificent and was completed under Selim II. The bridge is in the Dizdariye neighborhood and is today one of the main attractions of the district for walks and photography.
Neighborhoods of Büyükçekmece
Büyükçekmece has more than 20 neighborhoods. These are the ones foreign buyers deal with most:
- Mimarsinan and Dizdariye: the old core of the district, around the historic bridge and the shore
- Mimaroba, Sinanoba and Kamiloba: coastal neighborhoods with residential complexes and villas
- Kumburgaz and Güzelce: coastal neighborhoods further west, part of which consists of holiday and summer homes
- Pınartepe and Alkent 2000: neighborhoods further east, near the Beylikdüzü border
In the coastal neighborhoods, part of the stock is second or summer homes, and the area is quieter in the cold season. If you plan to live there year-round, visit the neighborhood in different seasons before buying.
Transport: the district's biggest challenge
Büyükçekmece currently has no direct metro line or Marmaray station. The mainstay of public transport is the Metrobus, whose last stop, "Beylikdüzü Sondurak" (TÜYAP), is on the district's eastern border and runs from there to Söğütlüçeşme in Kadıköy. From Büyükçekmece's neighborhoods you can reach that stop and the neighboring districts by bus and minibus.
On the metro, know the reality:
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has prepared a plan for the Sefaköy - Beylikdüzü - TÜYAP metro, 18.4 kilometers long with 10 stations. The line is designed to follow the Metrobus route.
- According to a report by the newspaper Nefes in January 2025, the plan has been turned down six times in the government's investment program, and construction has not yet begun.
- A 2.5-kilometer cable-car plan from the Büyükçekmece shore to TÜYAP has also come up in the news.
So if you commute daily to the city center, for example to Levent or Maslak, take the travel time seriously. Buying in the hope of a future metro is a risky decision; judge the price by the current state of transport.
Living in Büyükçekmece
The district's strengths for families:
- The beach and seafront promenade, and more open space than the central districts
- New complexes with pools, gyms, security and parking
- Proximity to the shopping centers and universities of Beylikdüzü
- Lower density than neighboring districts such as Esenyurt
And the points you should know:
- A long distance from the city center and dependence on a car or the Metrobus
- A big difference in quality between complexes; compare delivered projects that come with a title deed and occupancy permit against those still under construction
- The rental market in the coastal neighborhoods is somewhat seasonal
Residence permits in Büyükçekmece
Turkey has restricted new foreigner residence registrations in neighborhoods where the foreign share of the population has risen above the set limit. In the list announced by Turkey's Interior Minister in 2022, ten Istanbul districts were closed entirely to new residence registrations, including Esenyurt, Fatih, Küçükçekmece and Avcılar. Büyükçekmece was not on that list, but the restrictions are applied at the neighborhood level, and the list of closed neighborhoods is updated. Property buyers have in some cases been exempt from this restriction, but that rule may change too.
Before buying, check the current status of your chosen neighborhood with the ALO TURKEY advisors. You have read more about open and closed districts in the article Best areas of Istanbul for getting a residence permit.
Buying property in Büyükçekmece: key points
- Delivered project or off-plan: Büyükçekmece has both kinds of project. For projects under construction, check the contract guarantees and the real delivery date; see the guide to buying off-plan property.
- Building resistance: The coastal districts of western Istanbul lie close to the Sea of Marmara. Ask for the building permit date, the soil survey report and the occupancy permit; the details are in the article on earthquake-resistant buildings.
- Sea or lake view: A permanent view raises a property's value, but check whether future construction on the plots in front is possible.
- Citizenship: If your goal is citizenship through property, see the minimum investment and the official valuation report requirements on the citizenship page, and check with an advisor before buying.
Büyükçekmece projects at ALO TURKEY
- Albatros Life: a delivered project by Asil İnşaat with 4 blocks and 74 residential units, near the coast
- Aria Marin: a larger project by the same developer with 12 blocks and 260 units; ask the advisors about the delivery date and title deed status
- Aria Blue: a complex with sea and lake views
Prices of these projects are on request and vary with floor, layout and view.
Frequently asked questions
Does Büyükçekmece have a metro?
No. At present the nearest rail-like option is the Metrobus, which leaves from the Beylikdüzü terminus (TÜYAP). The Sefaköy - Beylikdüzü - TÜYAP metro plan has not yet been built.
Can you get a property-based residence permit in Büyükçekmece?
Büyükçekmece was not among the ten districts announced as fully closed in 2022, but the restrictions are neighborhood by neighborhood and change over time. Check the status of the specific neighborhood before buying.
Is Büyükçekmece suitable for year-round living or as a summer home?
For both. The more inland neighborhoods and large complexes suit year-round living, and some of the western coastal neighborhoods have a summer feel.
How far is Büyükçekmece from central Istanbul?
About 36 kilometers to the historic center. Travel time depends heavily on traffic and the time of day.
Free consultation with ALO TURKEY
To visit projects in Büyükçekmece, check the current residence status of a neighborhood and compare options with other districts, contact the Persian-speaking ALO TURKEY advisors via WhatsApp or the contact page.
Sources: citypopulation.de, based on Turkey's population registry figures (2013, 2017 and 2022); the Turkish Statistical Institute TÜİK (end-of-2025 population figures, as cited by Bloomberg HT and Ekonomi Gazetesi); Structurae and the Kültür Envanteri database on the Büyükçekmece Bridge; the newspaper Nefes (January 2025) and Sözcü on the Sefaköy - Beylikdüzü - TÜYAP metro; Gazete Birlik (November 2024) on transport; Duvar English and Ekonomist on the districts closed to residence permits (2022); project information from the ALO TURKEY properties page. Information checked as of October 2026.