Highlights
A Match Day in Istanbul
With our return to the stands after the pandemic, a beautiful experience that had been on hiatus for a while started to come back to life in Istanbul: Matchday rituals.
Everyone has a team to which they are devoted, to which they feel sad and happy. Gathering everyone under one roof regardless of class and economic status, soccer is by far the most popular sport in our country.
Sometimes you find yourself humming the tribune tunes of your favorite team during the day. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Especially from the moment you wake up on the morning of the match day and dream of going to the match, you get completely into the tribune mode. You even spread both hands and hum your team's tune before you leave the house.
In addition to the big three, Istanbul is home to many neighborhood clubs. As such, experiencing a full match day is one of the city's unique experiences. Istanbulites are familiar with this experience, but for the dozens of Anatolian clubs that visit the big three and their fans, the city is a huge unknown. Leaving aside those who know the city, we felt the need to prepare a file on what to do, what to eat and what to drink on match day in Istanbul for the guests of the city.
The day starts at night
You can't go to the match alone. For a diehard fan, there are few things more enjoyable than renting a car with a group of friends, spending time together until the match and singing songs shoulder to shoulder in the stadium. The evening before the match, find a nice breakfast place and make a reservation. You can go to the pre-booked venue in the morning in your jersey and enjoy a pleasant chat over tea, from pre-match first 11 preferences to the overall team template.
A little shopping, a little marching
Breakfast is over but the match is still a long way off. It's time to wander the streets of your team's neighborhood with drinks in hand and anthems on your lips. Then a visit to a club store, followed by a walk to one of the fans' meeting points accompanied by the tunes. Beşiktaş eagle statue, Kadıköy Yoğurtçu Park and Beyoğlu Nevizade are the most popular pre-match venues for fans of the three big clubs.
Stat menu
As you get closer to the stadium, you will smell the aromas. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable pre-match activities is eating meatballs! It is not possible to find the taste of that meatball anywhere else. Kokoreç, sausage-bread, chicken-pilav are also indispensable items on the menu of the "stadium restaurant".