Movie Tourist: Turkey

End of the Game (1975)
Skyfall (2012)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Bits and Pieces

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

"This was last November. Mr. Guillam sent me to Istanbul..." As the first shot introducing Istanbul, they used not the Galata Bridge, as is usual, but the silhouettes of the magnificent Blue Mosque (on the left) and Hagia Sophia (on the right).

Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy) crosses İstiklal Avenue, where the retro-style tram still runs — and they made sure to show it in the film. The building in the frame has since been substantially renovated, and the area where the character walks off is now fenced off and occupied by a police station.

Ricki walks along Kemankeş Street to send the encrypted message. The camera descends from above along the wall of a house that has since been replaced by a new building, but the location is recognizable by the building on the left side farther down the street — this is Çinili Han, built in 1910–11 as a passenger terminal. Since then, the former terminal building has undergone another renovation and gained one more storey. Most of the buildings on this street have been renovated and rebuilt in recent years; this is the Galataport area.

Ricki needs to send a message to the Center about Irina’s proposal. The boat sails east along the Sarayburnu cape; the building on the right is the Sepetçiler Pavilion (Basket Weavers’ Pavilion), built in the 16th century.

Ricki returns to the headquarters. Judging by his movements, he must have been living in Kadıköy. On the right in the frame is the historic building of the Imperial Military Medical School, built in 1893–1903 in the Ottoman Revival style. Today it is part of Istanbul University’s medical faculty. On the left are the Selimiye Barracks, built in 1825–1828 on the site of older wooden barracks from the time of Sultan Selim III. In the mid-19th century, there was a British hospital here where Florence Nightingale worked from 1854 to 1857.

And here’s an amusing episode that was curious to figure out. It has always been known that Alfredson also shot the “Paris” scenes in Istanbul, but no one ever gave the exact address. Ricki Tarr waits for the French agent on Faik Paşa Street in Beyoğlu that looks nothing like Paris.

Macelvor comes out of the dry cleaner located on the corner of Turnacıbaşı Street...

...and turns into Koca Ağa Alley, where his car is parked.

Skyfall (2012)

The action-packed opening episode in Istanbul.

Bond exits the building where he found the wounded Ronson—formerly the German Orient Bank in Sirkeci, built in 1912. Following a 2021 renovation, the building became a hotel known as the Orientbank Hotel Istanbul.

Moneypenny and Bond begin their pursuit of a black Audi along Büyük Postane Street.

As is typical in movies, the cars drive in circles during the chase; here, they descend Fındıkçı Remzi Alley, heading right back toward the Orientbank building.

The first leg of the chase concludes in the square situated between the New Mosque (Valide Sultan Mosque)—built between 1557 and 1665—and the Spice Bazaar.

To the right lies the entrance to the Spice Bazaar, which was built during the same period as the New Mosque and was historically part of its complex.

Bond is shown before entering the Spice Bazaar; he continues the pursuit on a motorcycle.

Moneypenny smashes the windshield and sets off after him. The red building in the distance is the Türkiye İş Bankası Museum.

Patrice rides into the Büyük Valide Han (Great Caravanserai of the Sultan's Mother)—a historic caravanserai founded in 1651 by Kösem Sultan. Originally, the han was intended to fund the Çinili Mosque.

Patrice rides onto the second level. The main building consists of two levels: the ground level was historically used to house camels and horses, while the upper level served as accommodation for merchants.

The second level of the caravanserai.

There is no exit from the Valide Han’s second-level gallery onto the roofs of the Grand Bazaar, yet such rooftop paths do exist and have appeared in three films in quick succession: the top screenshot is from Skyfall, the middle one from The International (2009), and the bottom one from Taken 2 (2012). The mosque in the background is the Yeni Cami (New Mosque of Valide Sultan), where the first part of the chase concludes.