Infrastructure in Transition
Zekeriyaköy has been among the fastest-developing neighbourhoods in Istanbul in recent years. The infrastructure and transport projects arriving in this part of Sarıyer in 2026 mark a genuine turning point, both for the property market and for daily life. With more than ten years' experience at Keller Williams Türkiye, I follow closely how these developments feed into property values.
The woodland cover and the closeness of the Black Sea have always made the residential projects here distinctive. Transport and infrastructure, however, have been a weakness for years. The projects starting in 2026 are serious steps toward solving that.
The Sarıyer to Kilyos Tunnel
The biggest infrastructure news for Zekeriyaköy and Sarıyer is the completion of the Sarıyer to Kilyos Tunnel in 2026. Delivered by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the project will make a substantial difference to travel across northern Istanbul.
Construction runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once the tunnel opens, journeys from Zekeriyaköy to Sarıyer and Kilyos will shorten considerably. The time saved on a daily commute feeds directly into the standard of living here.
These improvements are expected to raise property demand in Zekeriyaköy significantly. By bringing the business districts closer, the tunnel is the kind of project that starts a new wave of interest in an area.
Local Services: Sports Facilities and Schools
A site of roughly 8 dönüm on Zekeriyaköy's Kilyos Caddesi is being converted into a multi-purpose sports facility. Approved by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council, the plan covers football, basketball and volleyball areas alongside walking routes and social space.
The 2026 investment programme also includes a new primary and middle school at Kasapçayırı in Zekeriyaköy. Educational investment of this kind is a strong draw for buyers looking for a family home.
These improvements in local services:
- Raise the quality of daily life directly
- Increase the area's appeal to younger families
- Add value to residential projects
New Dynamics in the Property Market
Among the larger residential projects under way in Zekeriyaköy, KÖY Zekeriyaköy is designed as 1,535 homes across seven phases. Its horizontal layout and 15,000 m² open-concept shopping street offer a new way of living in the area.
The pace of infrastructure work directly affects how well projects on this scale perform. The expected completion of the Sarıyer to Kilyos Tunnel in 2026 in particular is the kind of development that will multiply investment interest in the area from 2027 onward.
Modern infrastructure and transport, combined with the woodland and the closeness of the Black Sea, are making Zekeriyaköy one of the most appealing districts in Istanbul.
If you would like advice on property in Zekeriyaköy and the surrounding area, please get in touch. With more than ten years in Sarıyer I follow every development in the area closely and bring investors the opportunities that fit.