For those who are interested, we examined Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater, one of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s open-air theaters. Harbiye Open Air Theater, as it was previously known, is located in Istanbul’s Şişli district. Harbiye Open Air, whose name we often hear in the Spring and Summer months, is one of Istanbul’s most famous open-air theaters. Every year, IMM manages the Harbiye Open Air Theatre, where entertaining concerts are held. Famous Harbiye concerts include those by Yıldız Tilbe, Haluk Levent, Teoman, and Hayko Cepkin. For those who enjoy open-air concerts, the Theater is a must-see in Istanbul.
About Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater

In the 1930s, Harbiye Open Air Theater participated in the Istanbul zoning plan study of French urbanism expert and architect Henri Prost. Nahit Uysal and Nihat Yücel designed the Harbiye Open Air Theater, which opened in 1946. The first play performed at the Harbiye Open Air Theater is Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Oedipus the King. Ankara State Conservatory artists performed this Tragedy play. The Open Air Theater was named after Cemil Topuzlu, a former mayor of Istanbul who died in 1958. The name of the Habiye Open Air Theater, on the other hand, was changed to Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater.
Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater Seating Arrangement

The Open Air Theater’s seating arrangement is designed in the shape of an amphitheater. Seating areas are made up of semi-circular steps that provide a 180-degree view of the center. These steps are made up of blocks denoted by letters. In front of the stage, there is a protocol box for 30 people with a capacity of 80. Furthermore, the Theater has a seating capacity of 4532 people, and up to 6500 people can attend an event today.
Harbiye Outdoor Activities

The Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater hosts a variety of musical and theatrical performances. The Tarkan concert is the most crowded event ever held in Harbiye. Tarkan, a well-known pop music artist, performed eight concerts in Harbiye in a single year, drawing a crowd of 52 thousand people. Each of these concerts drew an average of 6500 people. These performances nearly exceeded Harbiye’s capacity. When the seats at the Theater were sold out, tickets for the stairs were made available. Tan Taşçı holds yet another Harbiye record. Tan Taşçı was the artist who performed the most concerts in Harbiye in a single year. The artist performed on stage 16 times as part of the Harbiye Open Air Star Parade event in 2021. Tan Taşçı also became the “artist who gave the most concerts in a year in Harbiye” at all times.
Will the concerts be canceled if it rains in Harbiye?
The Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater hosts a variety of musical and theatrical performances. The Tarkan concert is always the most crowded event in Harbiye. Tarkan, a well-known pop music artist, performed eight concerts in Harbiye in a single year, drawing a crowd of 52 thousand people. Each of these concerts drew an average of 6500 people. These performances nearly exceeded Harbiye’s capacity. When the seats at the Theater were sold out, tickets for the stairs were made available. Tan Taşçı holds yet another Harbiye record. Tan Taşçı was the artist who performed the most concerts in Harbiye in a single year.
What is the best way to get to Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre?
Transportation in Istanbul may vary depending on traffic density hours. You can use the instant traffic to plan your route. Those who want to use public transportation may find it confusing. We have written the simplest way to get to Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre for those who are visiting for the first time.
Going from the Anatolian Side to Harbiye
To get to Harbiye Open Air by public transportation from Üsküdar, take the Üsküdar Marmaray from Üsküdar. You should transfer to Hacosman Metro station after exiting at Marmaray Yenikap Station. After that, get off at the Osmanbey Metro station and walk 14 minutes to Harbiye. Another quick option is to transfer to the 30M at Beşiktaş Platforms after crossing from the Üsküdar Ferry Port to the European Side on the Beşiktaş-Üsküdar ferry. After walking for about 8 minutes from the Teşvikiye stop, you can get to the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater.
Going from the European Side to Harbiye
Those traveling from Başakşehir to Harbiye should first visit Hüdavendigar Street. Take the bus number 78 from Başakşehir Police Station Station and get off at Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Station. They can then take the 76D bus from Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Station to Gümüşsuyu Peron and walk for 10 minutes to the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater.
Check out the concerts.
Venue Name | Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater |
Address: | Harbiye District, Taşkışla Street, 34367 Sisli/Istanbul |
Phone: | 0 (212) 455 39 00 |
Event Types | Concert, Theater and Other Stage Performances |
Consept | Open Air Theatre, Open Air Concerts |
Capacity | 4532 |