Eminönü is one of the squares of İstanbul most visited by the tourists, and daily hustle is most hectic. The history of the square, which hosts the world-famous Spice Bazaar, Flower Bazaar and Yeni Cami (New Mosque), is parallel with the history of İstanbul, which goes back to 8 thousand 500 years ago. For this reason, the area where the Eminönü Square is located is named the Historical Peninsula.

The area in front of the entrance gate of New Mosque facing Spice Bazaar, hosts hundreds of pigeons. Since the historical square and its environment is not largely residential, but rather is a commercial district instead, there is a significant difference between the day population and the night population. Eminönü Square, which bursts at the seams during the day time, retreats into a much different form during the night, when it becomes virtually along with historical buildings carrying the traces of the past to our day.

The area where the Byzantine Empire was first founded is the surroundings of today’s Topkapı Palace, and around Sarayburnu and Sirkeci areas. During the first days of the Byzantine Empire, the whole Sirkeci and Eminönü coast, starting from the west of Sarayburnu, was used as port. After the 10th century, Latin colonies, particularly the Genoese and the Pisan, obtained privileged areas around Eminönü and Sirkeci and settled there, establishing their own commercial harbors at the port. The area, which continued to be a busy commercial center during the Ottoman Era, just like it was the case during the Byzantine era, takes the name of Eminönü since the Sea Customs were located there, and Emin was the title of an Ottoman customs official, while önü means ‘in front of’. The architectural character of Eminönü, which had been subject to engravings of many foreign travelers, went through a big change in time. The part played by the Galata Bridge in this change, was huge. The arrival of railroad to Sirkeci during the Abdülaziz era, the construction of Tünel, horse-driven and later power-driven streetcars, and new quays constructed in Galata and Sirkeci at the end of the 19th century, changed the appearance of Eminönü and the square. With the construction of the Sirkeci Railway Station, the area became even more important in the urban life. Dördüncü Vakıf Han (Fourth Foundation Inn) and Big Post Office, further increased the importance of the region. The physical structure changed after the proclamation of the Republic, particularly between the years 1938 and 1949, during the Governance and Mayoralty of Lütfi Kırdar. Eminönü Square became more spacious, after the removal of the structures facing the New Mosque, and ticket selling box-offices. The surroundings of the Spice Bazaar were cleared, the Bazaar went through a renovation; with the subsequent demolishment acts, Eminönü Square took its current form.

The square, which recently started to also host various cultural and artistic activities, is also the where the quays of ships carrying passengers in the Kadıkö, Üsküdar and Boğaz Lines are located, and the departure point of boats offering touristic Bosphorus tours. The square also hosts one of the main terminals of inner-city buses, which offer trips to many neighborhoods of İstanbul.