Göktürk Istanbul: Living by Belgrade Forest and Buying a Home
Göktürk guide: Belgrade Forest location, M11 metro, schools, villa lifestyle and tips for buying property, residency and citizenship in Eyüpsultan.
Göktürk is one of the quietest and greenest neighborhoods on the European side of Istanbul: a neighborhood in the north of the city, part of the Eyüpsultan municipality, surrounded on several sides by the Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) and known for villas and low-rise complexes rather than high-rise towers. If you are looking for a home with clean air, good schools and metro access to the city center and Istanbul Airport, and you do not want to live in the middle of the city's crowds, Göktürk is an option worth considering. In this article we review the location, access, amenities, property types and legal points for buying in this area, based on official and reliable sources.
Where Is Göktürk and What Is Its History?
Göktürk is in the north of the European side of Istanbul and neighbors Kemerburgaz. It is about 25 kilometers from Taksim, and the drive to Istanbul Airport takes around 20 minutes in normal conditions. The TEM highway is also about 10 kilometers away. The neighborhood was originally an agricultural village; in the 1980s, the construction of the villa complex and golf club "Kemer Country" changed its course of development and turned it into one of Istanbul's well-regarded, upper-middle-class and affluent neighborhoods. According to published estimates its population is around 40,000, which makes it a small, low-density neighborhood compared with areas such as Esenyurt or Bağcılar.
An important point for Iranian buyers is that administratively Göktürk is a "neighborhood" (mahalle), not a "district" (ilçe). All administrative matters, such as address registration, the tax office and the municipality, are handled under Eyüpsultan. This matters when applying for a residence permit and registering your place of residence.
Belgrade Forest and Kemerburgaz Urban Forest
Göktürk's biggest advantage is the nature around it. The Belgrade Forest, at roughly 5,400 hectares, is the largest forested area in Istanbul and stretches between the Sarıyer and Eyüpsultan districts. Walking and cycling trails, recreation spots such as Neşet Suyu and Mehmet Akif Ersoy, and historic water dams are located in this forest, and for Göktürk residents it is effectively a backyard.
In addition, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality opened the "Kemerburgaz Urban Forest" (Kemerburgaz Kent Ormanı) in the same area on October 26, 2019: a space of about 5.5 million square meters with walking and cycling trails, a children's playground, cafes, a sports field, pony stables and a lookout tower, which according to the municipality had more than one and a half million visitors in its first year. For families who have struggled with air pollution in Tehran or other large Iranian cities, this one factor is usually the main reason for choosing Göktürk.
Access and Transport: The M11 Metro
Until a few years ago, Göktürk's main drawback was its complete dependence on a car. That changed with the opening of the M11 metro line. The Göktürk station opened on January 22, 2023, together with the Hasdal, Kemerburgaz and İhsaniye stations. On January 29, 2024, the line was connected to Gayrettepe, in the heart of the Levent and Mecidiyeköy business axis, and on June 20, 2026, the extension to Halkalı also opened. Today the M11, at 69 kilometers and 16 stations, is the longest metro line in Istanbul, and Göktürk residents can reach both Istanbul Airport and the city's business center without a car.
Alongside the metro, city bus and minibus lines connect Göktürk to Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Hacıosman metro station and the center of Eyüpsultan. Realistically, though: for daily life in Göktürk, especially if you have school-age children, having a car is still a real advantage. If metro access is your first priority, also read the article Best Areas Near the Metro in Istanbul for Buying a Home.
Schools, Amenities and Lifestyle
Göktürk is one of the few neighborhoods in Istanbul where villa fabric and gated complexes (site) dominate. The Kemer Country complex, with its golf course and equestrian club, is still the symbol of the neighborhood, and in recent years low-rise apartment and boutique projects have been added to it. In the center of the neighborhood you will find restaurants, cafes, bank branches, supermarkets and private medical centers, and for bigger shopping trips, the shopping malls of the Maslak and Levent axis are along the metro route.
In terms of education, Hisar Schools (Hisar Okulları), one of the best-known schools in Istanbul, is located in this neighborhood (Göktürk Merkez), and according to published information it has about 1,600 students from preschool to high school. Several other private schools and colleges, as well as state schools, operate in the Göktürk and Kemerburgaz area. For this reason Göktürk usually appears on lists of the best areas in Istanbul for families.
On the other hand, you must accept a few realities: Göktürk is far from the sea and the Bosphorus, its winters are cooler and foggier than on the coast, it does not have the nightlife and culture of Kadıköy or Beyoğlu, and the monthly fees (aidat) of villa complexes are usually higher than those of ordinary apartments in the city because of the green spaces, security and shared facilities. Before buying, review the article Annual Running Costs of an Apartment in Istanbul.
Buying Property in Göktürk: What Kind of Property Is Available?
The Göktürk market has three main categories:
- Detached villas and duplexes in older complexes, such as the Kemer Country area, which usually have their own land and garden and are the most expensive part of the market.
- Low-rise apartment complexes with shared green space, built in the last ten years, suitable for families who do not want a villa but are looking for a garden, a pool and complex security.
- New and off-plan projects with boutique architecture, garden units and penthouses, which attract foreign buyers and citizenship applicants the most.
ALO TURKEY offers two projects by a well-known developer in this neighborhood: Özak DOA, a project in the heart of a forested setting with designed private gardens and extensive common areas, and Özak DUYU, with 1+1 to 4+1 units of roughly 65 to 360 square meters, including garden units, a pool and a fitness club. Prices vary by size, floor and delivery date and are provided on request. See the full list of projects on the properties page.
Residency and Citizenship by Buying Property in Göktürk
Turkey's residency and citizenship rules are nationwide and do not depend on a particular neighborhood, but three points matter for a buyer in Göktürk:
- Citizenship through property purchase: According to the Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye (Invest in Türkiye), the minimum property value for an exceptional citizenship application is 400,000 US dollars or the equivalent in foreign currency, and a three-year commitment not to sell must be recorded on the title deed (tapu). Because many Göktürk units fall in this price range, the neighborhood is a common destination for citizenship applicants. Read the details in the complete guide to Turkish citizenship and on the citizenship page.
- Five-year short-term residence permit: The same official source stresses that foreigners who buy property worth at least 400,000 dollars with a three-year no-sale restriction can obtain a five-year short-term residence permit together with their spouse and children. For cheaper properties, immigration law firms in Turkey state a minimum of 200,000 dollars of value recorded on the deed as the condition for property-based residence; be sure to confirm this figure with our advisors before buying.
- Closed neighborhoods for address registration: According to announcements published by law and immigration firms in Turkey, citing the Directorate of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi), from June 10, 2026 the "closed neighborhoods" restriction for new residence permit applications was lifted across Istanbul. In earlier lists, Eyüpsultan and Göktürk were also not among the fully closed areas such as Fatih and Esenyurt. However, this policy has changed several times in past years; read its history in the article Why Were Some Areas of Istanbul Closed for Residence Permits? and check the exact status of the address with ALO TURKEY advisors before signing a contract.
A reminder: granting residency and citizenship is the final decision of Turkish government bodies, and no property purchase on its own guarantees approval of an application.
Market Conditions in Autumn 2026
According to the latest report from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), published on October 16, 2026, 2,167 residential units were sold to foreign nationals in Turkey in September 2026, an increase of 9.9 percent compared with September of the previous year, although the nine-month total (January to September) of 15,308 units is still 4.3 percent lower than the same period in 2025. Foreigners' share of total housing sales this month was 1.5 percent. This means the foreign buyer market has revived in recent months after a period of decline. No separate official statistics are published for Göktürk; any figure you hear about "price growth" or "rental yield" in this neighborhood is a seller's estimate, not official data, and should be checked against an independent valuation report.
Who Is Göktürk Suitable For?
- Families with school-age children who prefer good schools, clean air and a safe environment over proximity to the city center.
- Citizenship applicants looking for a property in the 400,000 dollar range with quality construction and a limited but stable resale market.
- Frequent travelers for whom proximity to Istanbul Airport by car and metro matters.
And who is it not suitable for? Someone looking for a small, cheap unit for short-term rental, someone who lives without a car and is used to lively urban life, or an investor who needs quick liquidity; the market for villas and large units always turns over more slowly than that for mid-sized city apartments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which district of Istanbul is Göktürk in?
Göktürk is a neighborhood in the Eyüpsultan municipality on the European side of Istanbul, and its administrative matters (address registration, tax, municipality) are handled through Eyüpsultan.
Does Göktürk have a metro?
Yes. The Göktürk station on the M11 line has been operating since January 2023, and today the line connects Gayrettepe, Istanbul Airport and Halkalı.
Can you get Turkish citizenship by buying property in Göktürk?
The citizenship requirement does not depend on the neighborhood; according to official sources, the property must be worth at least 400,000 dollars and not be sold for three years. The final decision rests with the Turkish government.
Is Göktürk closed for residence permits?
According to published reports, the closed-neighborhoods restriction in Istanbul was lifted in June 2026, and Göktürk was not among the fully closed areas in earlier lists either. Because these rules change, ask our advisors for the current status before buying.
What is the biggest drawback of living in Göktürk?
Distance from the sea and the city center, and relative dependence on a car. In return, you get clean air, quiet and access to the Belgrade Forest.
Free Consultation with ALO TURKEY
If you are considering Göktürk as a place to live or invest, the Persian-speaking advisors at ALO TURKEY in Istanbul can arrange visits to the Özak DOA and Özak DUYU projects, review the property's official valuation report and walk you through the residency or citizenship path step by step. Message us on WhatsApp or request a consultation from the contact page.
Sources: Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye (Invest in Türkiye) on citizenship conditions and five-year residence; Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and Sabah newspaper, statistics on housing sales to foreigners in September 2026 (published October 16, 2026); Wikipedia and news on the opening of the M11 metro line (2023 to 2026); Bayant news agency on the opening of the Kemerburgaz Urban Forest (October 2019); Property Turkey blog on Göktürk's history and population; istanbul.com on the area of the Belgrade Forest; law firms Reptur and Yıldırım Hukuk on the abolition of closed neighborhoods (June 2026) and law firm Canaydın on the 200,000 dollar minimum for property-based residence; Search Associates on Hisar School.