Fodor's Expert Review Konak Meydanı

At the water's edge, this vast space is one of the city's two main squares (the other, Cumhuriyet Meydanı, or Republic Square, is to the north along Atatürk Caddesi), and is a good place to pick up a cheap street snack from roving vendors. The Saat Kulesi (clock tower), the city's icon, stands out at the center of the plaza, with its ornate, late-Ottoman design. The tower was built in 1901, in honor of Sultan Abdulhamid's 25th year on the imperial throne, and the clock itself was sent as a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. The small, 18th-century single-domed Yalı Camii (sometimes known as Konak Mosque), set back from the clock tower, is decorated with colorful tiles and was originally built by Mehmet Paşa's daughter, Ayşe. Just to the north is Konak Pier.