Küçükçekmece & Sefaköy, Istanbul: Metro, Prices, Residency

20 October 2026

Küçükçekmece and Sefaköy guide: neighborhoods, price per m² by area, Marmaray and the M11 airport metro, residency status and buying tips.

Küçükçekmece sits on the European side of Istanbul, in the west of the city on the Sea of Marmara, and is one of the city's most populous districts. Sefaköy is its administrative center and busiest part. The district's biggest advantage is rail transport: three Marmaray stations, the M9 metro and, since June 2026, the M11 metro, which connects Halkalı station directly to Istanbul Airport. On the other hand, since 2022 Küçükçekmece has been among the districts where new registrations of foreigners' residence permits were restricted, something an Iranian buyer must know before making any decision. In this article we review the location, neighborhoods, transport, residence permit situation and buying tips for Küçükçekmece and Sefaköy.

Where Is Küçükçekmece?

Küçükçekmece is about 23 km from the city center. It borders Avcılar and Lake Küçükçekmece to the west, Başakşehir to the north, Bahçelievler and Bağcılar to the east, and Bakırköy and the Sea of Marmara to the south.

Lake Küçükçekmece, a coastal lagoon of about 16 square kilometers, connects to the Sea of Marmara through a narrow channel. The route of the Kanal İstanbul project also passes through this lake, but the project has made no significant progress since its launch ceremony in 2021. So do not base a decision to buy property in this district on the promise of the canal.

Population

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) figures for the end of 2025, published in February 2026, Küçükçekmece has a population of about 785,000, placing it among Istanbul's five most populous districts. For comparison, its neighbor further west, Esenyurt, has passed one million. This density means active services and a lively market, but also crowded streets and heavy traffic.

Sefaköy and the Neighborhoods of Küçükçekmece

Küçükçekmece has 21 official neighborhoods (mahalle). Sefaköy itself is not an official neighborhood but the name of an area that includes eight of them: Beşyol, Fevzi Çakmak, Gültepe, İnönü, Kartaltepe, Kemalpaşa, Sultanmurat and Tevfikbey. Sefaköy is the district's administrative center and had its own municipality from 1967 until after the 1980 coup.

A few other neighborhoods that matter to buyers:

• Halkalı Merkez: around the large Halkalı station, with newer residential projects
• Atakent: the most populous neighborhood in the district, with residential complexes and proximity to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital
• Kanarya and Cennet: dense neighborhoods close to the coast and the D-100 highway
• Yenimahalle and Yeşilova: close to the lake and the Marmaray stations

One tip to avoid confusion: the Florya neighborhood, seen often in listings, belongs to Bakırköy, not Küçükçekmece, although some places near it in Küçükçekmece are known by the name Florya. Always check the exact address on the title deed (neighborhood and parcel).

Transport: The District's Main Strength

Few districts in western Istanbul have this many rail options:

• Marmaray: three stations, Halkalı, Mustafa Kemal and Küçükçekmece, are in this district. The Halkalı-Gebze line has been running since March 2019 and goes under the Bosphorus to the Asian side.
• Halkalı station: the westernmost Marmaray station, also served by high-speed and intercity trains and the M11 metro.
• M11 metro (Istanbul Airport): the last section of this line, between Halkalı and Arnavutköy, opened on June 19, 2026. According to Turkey's Ministry of Transport, the trip from Halkalı to Istanbul Airport takes about 30 minutes.
• M9 metro: the Halkalı Caddesi, Atatürk Mahallesi and Bahariye stations are in this district, and the line was extended to Ataköy in March 2024.
• Metrobus: runs through the district along the D-100 road, with stops such as Sefaköy, Beşyol and Küçükçekmece.

The Sefaköy-Beylikdüzü-TÜYAP metro project (line M20) has not yet received government approval and construction has not started; do not count it among the current facilities. For a comparison of districts near the metro, read Best Areas in Istanbul Near the Metro.

Home Prices in Küçükçekmece by Neighborhood

According to Emlakjet property portal data for September 2026, the average price per square meter of apartments for sale across the whole of Küçükçekmece is about TL 63,661, and prices have risen about 40% in lira terms over the past 12 months. Differences between neighborhoods are significant:

A few points for reading this table correctly:

• These figures are averages of asking prices, not transaction prices; a new building in a complex with amenities usually costs more than the neighborhood average, and an old building less.
• Price growth is in lira. Since the lira weakened against the dollar over the same period, growth in dollar terms is lower than these percentages.
• Atakent is the most expensive neighborhood in the table because a large part of it consists of newer residential complexes.

To know whether the price of a particular unit is reasonable, an official valuation report helps; see the explanation in the article SPK Valuation Report.

Living in Küçükçekmece

• University: the main campus of Istanbul Aydın University is in the Beşyol neighborhood of Sefaköy, which creates demand for student rentals.
• Healthcare: Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital is in Atakent.
• History and nature: the Küçükçekmece Bridge, a work of the architect Sinan, and the Yarımburgaz caves are among the district's attractions.
• Urban renewal: some of the district's older buildings are going through renewal to make them earthquake resistant.

On the other hand, consider the high density, D-100 traffic and the large differences in building quality between neighborhoods. For older buildings, read the guide on earthquake-resistant buildings before buying.

Residence Permits for Foreigners in Küçükçekmece

This is the most important section for an Iranian buyer. On October 7, 2022, Turkey's then Interior Minister announced that Küçükçekmece, along with seven other Istanbul districts, would be closed to new foreigner residence registrations. In the same announcement he named three exceptions: a student whose university is in the district, someone who bought a home as an investment, and cases of illness.

In 2026, some law and consulting firms reported that from about June 2026 the closed-neighborhood restriction has in practice been lifted and applications are being accepted. But as of this writing, we have not found a comprehensive official announcement from Turkey's migration authority about this change. Therefore:

• If your goal is to get a residence permit through a property purchase, check the status of the specific neighborhood with an advisor and the Istanbul migration office before paying any money.
• Do not substitute other people's experience or reports for an up-to-date inquiry; the rules in this area have changed many times.

For this district's western neighbor, read the Büyükçekmece guide. For open and closed districts, also see Best Areas in Istanbul for a Residence Permit.

Buying Property in Küçükçekmece and Sefaköy

1. Proximity to a rail station is the most important driver of rental demand in this district; measure the walking distance to Marmaray, M9 or M11 carefully.
2. Large new projects are concentrated along the Basın Ekspres axis and in Halkalı; ask about the title deed status and the occupancy permit (iskan).
3. Residence permit: check the situation separately before buying, especially if residency is your only goal.
4. Citizenship: if your goal is citizenship, see the conditions and minimum investment on the citizenship page and review them with an advisor before buying.

Küçükçekmece Projects at ALO TURKEY

• Babacan Port Royal: a mixed-use hotel, residential and commercial project on the Basın Ekspres axis
• Sinpaş Boulevard Sefaköy: a project by Sinpaş GYO in Sefaköy with 7 blocks and 470 units

Prices for these projects are available on request and vary by floor plan, floor and time of purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sefaköy the same as Küçükçekmece?

Sefaköy is an area within the Küçükçekmece district and its administrative center, and it includes eight official neighborhoods.

How far is it from Küçükçekmece to Istanbul Airport?

By the M11 metro from Halkalı station, about 30 minutes according to the Ministry of Transport.

Can I get a residence permit by buying property in Küçükçekmece?

This district was declared closed to new residence registrations in 2022, and buying a home as an investment was named as one of the exceptions. There are reports of this restriction changing in 2026 but it has not been officially confirmed; make an inquiry before buying.

How much do homes cost in Küçükçekmece?

According to Emlakjet data for September 2026, the average asking price is about TL 63,661 per square meter; from about TL 55,000 in some Sefaköy neighborhoods to nearly TL 100,000 in Atakent.

Is Florya part of Küçükçekmece?

No. Florya belongs to the Bakırköy district, although it lies on the border between the two districts.

Free Consultation with ALO TURKEY

To visit projects in Küçükçekmece and Sefaköy, get an up-to-date inquiry on the residence permit situation and compare with other districts, contact ALO TURKEY's Persian-speaking advisors via WhatsApp or the contact page.

Sources: Turkish Statistical Institute TÜİK (end-2025 population, published February 2026, as cited by Turkish Wikipedia and Karar); Turkey's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (opening of the M11 metro, June 2026); Wikipedia (Küçükçekmece, Sefaköy, Marmaray, M9, Kanal İstanbul); Daily Sabah (October 2022) on districts closed for residence permits; reports from consulting firms on the status of closed neighborhoods in 2026; the Emlakjet property portal (prices, September 2026); Nefes newspaper (January 2025) on the Sefaköy-TÜYAP metro; Istanbul Aydın University; project information from the ALO TURKEY property pages. Information reviewed as of October 2026.