27.11.2025 14:01
The Istanbul Governorship announced the roads that will be closed to traffic due to the visit of Pope Leo XIII, the Head of State of the Vatican, from November 27 to 30. Starting from 5:00 PM today, certain roads in the megacity will be closed to traffic for three days. Here are the roads that will be closed and the alternative routes.
According to a statement made by the Istanbul Governorship, roads that will be closed to traffic and alternative routes have been determined as part of the visits that Pope Leo XIII will make in Istanbul for four days during his visit to the country.
ROADS AND ROUTES CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TODAY
Due to the Pope's visit to the Vatican Istanbul Representative Residence, which will take place today at 17:00 from Atatürk Airport, the Atatürk Airport Road towards Atatürk Airport, Yeni Havalanı Street towards the Pool Junction, Old Airport Street towards Sirkeci (between Murat Dilmener and Pool Junction), Rauf Orbay Street towards Sirkeci, Kennedy Street towards Sirkeci (between Taşhanlar and Yenikapı) and Bakırköy (between Çatladıkapı and Yenikapı), Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha Street and Atatürk Boulevard towards Unkapanı, Refik Saydam Street towards Tarlabaşı Boulevard, and Tarlabaşı Boulevard towards Cumhuriyet Street will be closed to two-way vehicle traffic.
Until the end of the program, D100 North, D100 South, Old Airport Street, and Coastal Rauf Orbay Street towards Florya, as well as Aksu, 10th Year, Abdülezel Pasha, Ragıp Gümüşpala, Hungarian Brothers, Shipyard, Evliya Çelebi, Kemeraltı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, Vali Konağı, and Halaskargazi streets can be used as alternative routes.
ROADS AND ROUTES CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TOMORROW
Due to Pope Leo XIII's visit to Saint Esprit Church and Bomonti French Orphanage tomorrow, from 09:30 until the end of the program, Halaskargazi Street, Silahşör Street, Abide-i Hürriyet Street towards Halaskargazi, and from the intersection of Darülaceze Street, Abide-i Hürriyet Street, Ortakır Street, and Cumhuriyet Street will be closed to two-way traffic, while drivers can use Valikonağı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, Büyükdere, 19 Mayıs, and Merkez streets.
During the visit to the French Orphanage, from 07:00 until the end of the program, Ortakır and Düzoğlu streets will be closed to vehicle passage, while traffic flow will be provided on Silahşör and İncirlidede streets, as well as Nehir, Semt Pazarı, Gökkuşağı, and Yeniyol streets.
During the Pope's journey from the French Orphanage to the Vatican Istanbul Representative Office, from 09:00 until the end of the program, Cumhuriyet, Silahşör, Abide-i Hürriyet, and Halaskargazi streets, as well as Ortakır, İzzet Pasha, Papa Roncalli, and Babil streets will be closed to traffic. Drivers can prefer İstiklal Street and Valikonağı, Merkez, Büyükdere, and Akar streets as alternative routes.
Due to Pope Leo XIII's journey from the Vatican Istanbul Representative Office to the Atatürk Airport State Guest House, from 12:00 until the end of the program, Refik Saydam and Cumhuriyet streets, as well as Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Atatürk Boulevard towards Aksaray, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Street towards the coast, Eurasia Transit Road towards Bakırköy, Coastal Kennedy Street towards Bakırköy (between Çatladıkapı and Taşhanlar), Coastal Rauf Orbay Street towards Florya (between Taşhanlar and Pool Junction), and Yeni Havalanı Street towards Atatürk Airport will be closed to traffic.
As alternatives to these roads, Tersane, Evliya Çelebi, Kemeraltı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, Vali Konağı, Halaskargazi, Abdülezel Pasha, Ragıp Gümüşpala, Hungarian Brothers, Aksu, and 10th Year streets, as well as Coastal Kennedy Street and Rauf Orbay Street towards Sirkeci can be used.
Due to Pope Leo XIII's journey from Atatürk Airport to the Vatican Istanbul Representative Residence, from 14:30 until the end of the program, the Atatürk Airport Road towards Atatürk Airport, Yeni Havalanı Street towards the Pool Junction, Old Airport Street towards Sirkeci (between Murat Dilmener and Pool Junction), Rauf Orbay Street towards Sirkeci, Kennedy Street towards Sirkeci (between Taşhanlar and Yenikapı), and Bakırköy (between Çatladıkapı and Yenikapı), Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha Street and Atatürk Boulevard towards Unkapanı, Refik Saydam Street towards Tarlabaşı Boulevard, and Tarlabaşı Boulevard towards Cumhuriyet Street will be closed to two-way vehicle traffic.
Drivers can use D100 North, D100 South, Old Airport Street, and Coastal Rauf Orbay Street towards Florya, as well as Aksu, 10th Year, Abdülezel Pasha, Ragıp Gümüşpala, Hungarian Brothers, Tersane, Evliya Çelebi, Kemeraltı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, Vali Konağı, and Halaskargazi streets as alternative routes.
ROADS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Due to Pope Leo XIII's programs on Saturday, November 29, the roads closed to traffic from 07:00 until the end of the program due to his visit from the Vatican Istanbul Representative Residence to the Sultanahmet Mosque will include Cumhuriyet, Refik Saydam, Tersane, and Kemeraltı streets, Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Galata Bridge Sirkeci, Reşadiye Street Sirkeci, Ankara Street Sirkeci (between Ebu Suud Street and Sirkeci Square), and Reşadiye Street towards Sirkeci, while Ragıp Gümüş Pala Street will be available for use.
As part of the measures taken around the Sultanahmet Mosque, from 06:00 until the end of the program, traffic flow will not be allowed on Küçükayasofya and Atmeydanı streets in Fatih, as well as Torun, Dalbastı, Utangaç, Üçler, Nakilbent, Tavukhane, and Aksakal streets. As alternatives, Kadırga Port, Piyerloti, and Türkeli streets will remain open to traffic.
Due to Pope Leo XIII's visit from Sultanahmet Mosque to Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church, from 07:45 onwards, Coastal Rauf Orbay Street (between Taşhanlar and Pool Junction) and Yeşilyurt Station and Railway streets will be unavailable, while traffic flow will be provided on Ragıp Gümüşpala, 10th Year, Aksu, and Old Airport streets.
As part of the measures taken around Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church, in Bakırköy, Serbesti Street (between Harekat Ordusu Street Junction and Serbesti Street and Station Street Junction), Yeşilzeytin, Endaze, Andelip, Yakutçu, and Zümrüt streets, Harekat Ordusu and 14 Nisan streets will be closed to traffic from 06:00 onwards, while Gazi Evrenos and Fener streets can be used as alternatives.
During Pope Leo XIII's transition from Mor Efrem Syriac Ancient Orthodox Church to the Vatican Istanbul Representative Residence, from 08:00 onwards, Rauf Orbay Street towards Sirkeci, Kennedy Street towards Sirkeci (between Taşhanlar and Yenikapı), Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha Unkapanı Street, Atatürk Boulevard towards Unkapanı, Refik Saydam and Cumhuriyet streets, and Tarlabaşı Boulevard will be closed to traffic. Drivers will be redirected to D100 North, D100 South, Old Airport, and Coastal Rauf Orbay streets towards Florya, as well as Aksu, 10th Year, Abdülezel Pasha, Ragıp Gümüşpala, Hungarian Brothers, Tersane, Evliya Çelebi, Kemeraltı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, Vali Konağı, and Halaskargazi streets.
Due to the transition from the Vatican Istanbul Representative Residence to the Fener Greek Patriarchate, at 13:00...
30th of November, starting from Cumhuriyet Avenue and Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Refik Saydam Avenue and the streets of Ayvansaray, Mürsel Paşa, Kadir Has, and Abdülezel Paşa in Fatih will be closed. Tersane, Evliya Çelebi, Kemeraltı, Yedikuyular, Asker Ocağı, and Vali Konağı avenues, as well as Fevzi Paşa Avenue in Fatih, can be used as alternatives.
As part of the visit precautions, Yıldırım and Dr. Sadık Ahmet streets in Fatih surrounding the Fener Greek Patriarchate, as well as Camcı Çeşmesi Hill and İncebel streets, will be closed to traffic starting from 06:00, with access provided via Baki Dede and Sancaktar Hills.
Due to Pope Leo XIII's transit from the Fener Greek Patriarchate to Volkswagen Arena, starting from 14:20, Ayvansaray, Mürselpaşa, Kadir Has, Abdülezel Paşa, and Savaklar streets in Fatih, as well as the D100 South Golden Horn Old Bridge Entrance and the Okmeydanı Side Road, the Okmeydanı Hasdal Connection Road towards TEM direction, the Tem South Road Okmeydanı junction to Maslak Side Road connection, and Büyükdere and Ayazağa streets will be closed to traffic.
As an alternative route, Ayvansaray, İmrahor, Kemerburgaz, Çilekli, and Baltalimanı streets, Piyalepaşa and Odesa boulevards, as well as the Coastal Lower Route can be used. Additionally, the flow coming from the D100 South Golden Horn New Bridge will be directed towards D100 South, while the flow coming from the D100 North towards the Hasdal-Okmeydanı connection road will be closed at the Hasdal-Okmeydanı Connection Road entrance and redirected towards Kağıthane via Dersaadet Avenue, while the Tem South Okmeydanı junctions towards the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge will be closed and redirected towards Hasdal-Okmeydanı.
The section of Ayazağa Avenue between Akasya Street and Hadım Koruyolu Avenue surrounding Volkswagen Arena will be closed to traffic starting from 07:00. Traffic will be directed to Büyükdere, Okul, Mimar Sinan, and Ayazağa Cendere avenues.
During Pope Leo XIII's return from here to the Vatican Istanbul Representation, starting from 17:00, Ayazağa, Büyükdere, Merkez, Halaskargazi, and Cumhuriyet avenues, the TEM North Road Beşiktaş junctions, and the Hasdal Junction area, the Hasdal Okmeydanı Connection Road towards D100, and the D100 South Okmeydanı and Çağlayan Side Road connection will be closed to traffic. The Baltalimanı Coastal Road, Katar, Azerbaijan, İmrahor, Ortaklar, 19 Mayıs, Abide-i Hürriyet, Vali Konağı, Rumeli, and Odesa Avenues, as well as Piyale Paşa Boulevard can be used as alternatives.
ROADS TO BE CLOSED AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Due to Pope Leo XIII's programs on Sunday, November 30, starting from 07:00, Cumhuriyet, Refik Saydam, and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa avenues, Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Atatürk Boulevard towards the coast, and Atatürk Bridge Coast will be unavailable. Drivers can prefer Vali Konağı, Halaskargazi, Yedikuyular Avenue, Asker Ocağı, Evliya Çelebi, Tersane, Ragıp Gümüş Pala, and Namık Kemal avenues.
Due to the measures to be taken around the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate, from 06:00 until the end of the program, Hayriye Tüccar, Türkeli, and Molataşı avenues, Nişancı, Sevgi, and Nalbant Mosque streets in Fatih will be closed to traffic, while Sahil Kennedy, Kadırga Port, and Çifte Gelinler avenues can be used.
During Pope Leo XIII's transition from the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate to the Fener Greek Patriarchate, from 08:30 until the end of the program, Atatürk Boulevard towards Atatürk Bridge, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa Avenue, and Atatürk Boulevard towards Unkapanı, Ayvansaray, Mürsel Paşa, Kadir Has, and Abdülezel Paşa avenues will be closed to traffic. Traffic flow will be provided via Ragıp Gümüş Pala and Sahil Kennedy avenues.
As part of the measures to be taken around the Fener Greek Patriarchate, starting from 06:00, Yıldırım and Dr. Sadık Ahmet streets in Fatih, as well as Camcı Çeşmesi Hill and İncebal streets will be closed to traffic, with Baki Dede and Sancaktar Hills being used as alternatives.
During the Pope's transit from the Fener Greek Patriarchate to the Atatürk Airport State Guest House, starting from 12:45, Atatürk Boulevard and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Paşa towards the coast, Sahil Kennedy Avenue towards Bakırköy (between Yenikapı Taşhanlar), Rauf Orbay Avenue towards Florya (between Taşhanlar Havuzlu Junction), and Yeni Havaalanı Avenue towards Atatürk Airport will be closed to traffic. Traffic flow will be provided via Vatan, Millet, Macar Kardeşler, Aksu, and 10th Year avenues, as well as D100.
Due to the accommodation of Pope Leo XIII's Istanbul programs, from 07:00 on November 27 to 12:00 on November 30, Satırcı, Papa Roncalli, and Cebel Topel streets, as well as the intersection of Çimen Street will be closed to traffic, with Yedikuyular Avenue and Çimen and French Hospital streets being used as alternatives.