The Colourful Rainbow Steps Istanbul

Before my recent trip to Istanbul, midway through some pre-holiday ‘pinteresting’, I came across some very colourful photos. They were depicting the so-called ‘Rainbow Steps Istanbul’ which connect the artsy districts of Findikli and Cihangir on the European side of the city.

Along with the initial thought ‘I must visit these’, the question of ‘why are they there?’ came to mind. Are they merely art? Are they politically loaded or perhaps aimed at initiating LGBT discussions? What is the story behind them?

In 2013, Huseyin Cetinel, a retired forestry engineer, began his unexpected street art project. Equipped with a selection of different coloured paints, he set out to transform the huge staircase from dull concrete-grey, to bright rainbow colours. Naturally, everyone fell in love with it and it injected new life and energy into an otherwise unvisited part of town.

Huseyin’s actions caused quite a commotion across Istanbul and many people began to discuss his motivation, assuming it had something to do with gay rights, or that it was a silent rebellion against the government. The latter seemed particularly apt considering the then-recent protests in Gezi Park. However, it turned out that Huseyin had a completely different goal:

“I didn’t do it for a group or as a form of activism. I did it to make people smile.”

Huseyin's Rainbow Steps — Image from www.jebiga.com

Unfortunately, not everybody was a fan of Huseyin’s feel good artwork, as in the course of a night, the stairs were painted over with a dull shade of grey. It was not clear who the perpetrator was but it immediately caused a stir and the local government was forced to take full responsibility.

Many people were angry and saw it as an attempted act of control combined with a lack of respect for the people. This was the start of the rainbow revolution!

Over the next few days, not only were Huseyin’s original steps repainted in their bright shades, but local volunteers began painting a number of other staircases and walkways in cities across the whole of Turkey. Pictures spread via social media and within no time, crowds of people began flocking to see the rainbow steps with their own eyes!

yavaş yavaş türkiye’nin sokakları gökkuşağı rengine bürünüyor. sizce de böyle daha güzel değil mi? #direnmerdiven pic.twitter.com/tKJMIwVPsV
— kerem tekinalp (@cktekinalp) August 31, 2013

Naturally, whilst I was in Istanbul last month, I too wanted to visit and view these steps. At first, I was unsure of their exact location and was almost fooled by a washed out set, just one street away.

Thankfully some kind locals pointed us in the right direction.

As you can see, Huseyin was right, his steps really do make people smile!

You will find the Rainbow Steps on Salı Pazarı Yokuşu near the Findikli metro stop (Café Nove is on the corner).

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.