Kumkapı

Kumkapı
Seafood restaurants in Kumkapı at night
Location of Fatih in Istanbul
Country	Turkey
Province	Istanbul
District	Fatih
Time zone	GMT +2
Area code	(+90) 212

View of the Marmara Sea from Kumkapı.

Kumkapı (meaning 'sand gate' in Turkish) is a quarter in Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the northern shore of Marmara Sea. Up to recent times, Kumkapı is the center of the Armenian community of the city, boasting a school and several churches. It is also where the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is located. The quarter is famous for its many fish restaurants; therefore attracting many local and foreign tourists round the year.

History

In the Byzantine period, the area was known in Greek as Kontoskàlion.

Transportation

Earlier Kumkapı had a station on the suburban railway line Sirkeci-Halkalı but that station was permanently closed when Marmaray opened in 2013. Kumkapı is also easily accessible by sea.

See also

• Kum Kapu demonstration
• List of restaurant districts and streets