Where Was Erkenci Kuş (Daydreamer) Filmed? — Istanbul Locations You Can Visit

Erkenci Kuş (Daydreamer, 2018–2019) was filmed almost entirely in Istanbul. According to Turkish press reports from the production period, the Fikri Harika agency scenes were shot in the Tuzla district — fan sources place the building at Viaport Marina — while Sanem's neighborhood was largely a set built at the historic Beykoz Kundura studios on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. Can's childhood home is in Kanlıca, the famous romantic scenes used Kız Kulesi (the Maiden's Tower), and waterfront dates were filmed in districts like Arnavutköy and Caddebostan. This guide covers each location, how to reach it from Sultanahmet, and which ones are genuinely worth the trip — for the other big shows (Magnificent Century, Endless Love, The Golden Boy), see our full guide to Turkish series filming locations.

Quick Summary

• Fikri Harika agency: reportedly Viaport Marina in Tuzla — an open-air marina complex, free to walk around
• Sanem's neighborhood: mostly a backlot set at Beykoz Kundura, a historic factory turned film studio and cultural venue
• Can's childhood home: Kanlıca, Beykoz — a real Bosphorus village, free to visit, famous for its yogurt
• Romantic scenes: Kız Kulesi (Maiden's Tower) off Üsküdar, recently restored and open to visitors
• Waterfront scenes: Arnavutköy and Caddebostan — free neighborhoods to stroll
• From Sultanahmet: everything on the Asian shore starts with the Eminönü ferry, a 15-minute walk from Hotel Perula

Viaport Marina, Tuzla — The Fikri Harika Agency

The advertising agency where Sanem, Can, and the whole Fikri Harika team spent most of the series is the location fans ask about first. Turkish entertainment press reported during the show's run that the agency scenes were filmed in Tuzla, at the far southeastern edge of Istanbul, and fan location guides identify the building as part of Viaport Marina — a waterfront complex with a marina, outlet shops, restaurants, and a small theme park.

What fans recognize: the modern glass-and-timber exterior, the marina boardwalk in the background of arrival scenes, and the open plaza where several outdoor agency moments were shot.

How to get there from Sultanahmet: take the Marmaray suburban train from Sirkeci station (10 minutes' walk from the hotel) toward Gebze and get off at Tuzla — about an hour. From Tuzla station it's a short taxi or local bus ride to Viaport Marina. Entry is free; it's a public shopping and marina complex, so you can photograph the exteriors without any ticket.

Is it worth it? For dedicated fans, yes — it's the single most screen-time-heavy location of the series. For casual viewers, it's a long trip for a modern building; prioritize the Bosphorus locations below.

Beykoz Kundura — Sanem's Neighborhood (and Why It Isn't Kuzguncuk)

Here's the surprise most fans don't expect: Sanem's charming neighborhood — the grocery shop, the cobbled street, the neighbors shouting from windows — was largely a set. Turkish press reports from the production period state that the street and house scenes were filmed at Beykoz Kundura, a vast 19th-century former shoe factory on the Asian shore that has hosted dozens of Turkish productions.

Many fan guides assume the neighborhood is Kuzguncuk, the postcard district of colorful wooden houses further down the Asian shore — understandable, because Kuzguncuk has played the "warm mahalle" role in many other dizis (including Endless Love). If you want to walk a real street with exactly that atmosphere, Kuzguncuk delivers it better than anywhere in the city, and it's easier to reach than the studio.

Can you visit Beykoz Kundura? Partially. The site now operates as a cultural venue — Kundura Cinema and Kundura Stage host screenings, performances, and occasional heritage tours — so the grounds open to the public during events. Check their program before making the trip; you can't wander the backlot sets freely on a normal day.

How to get there: ferry from Eminönü to Üsküdar (the pier is a 15-minute walk from Hotel Perula), then bus 15 or 15A up the coastal road toward Beykoz. Each leg costs 42 TL with an Istanbulkart — current fares and daily budgets are in our Istanbul costs and prices guide.

Kanlıca — Can's Childhood Home and the Famous Yogurt

Kanlıca is the location that rewards the trip most. This small Bosphorus-side village in Beykoz is where Can's childhood home was filmed, and unlike a studio backlot, it's a real, living neighborhood — wooden houses, a tiny ferry pier, fishermen on the quay, and huge plane trees over the square.

What fans recognize: the quiet waterfront, the leafy lanes above the shore, and the general "escape from the city" feeling that defined Can's character. Fan location accounts point to a house on a lane above the village center — it's privately owned, so admire from the street and skip the garden selfies.

Kanlıca is also famous across Turkey for one thing that has nothing to do with the show: Kanlıca yogurt, served with powdered sugar at the waterfront cafés. Sitting by the water with a bowl of it, watching tankers slide down the Bosphorus, is one of the simplest and best experiences on the Asian shore.

How to get there: the same route as Beykoz Kundura — ferry to Üsküdar, then bus 15/15A to the Kanlıca stop (about 45 minutes total). Free to visit; budget an hour or two.

Kız Kulesi (Maiden's Tower) — The Romantic Scenes

The tiny tower standing alone in the Bosphorus off Üsküdar is one of Istanbul's most photographed landmarks, and Erkenci Kuş used it for some of the series' most-remembered romantic moments. The tower was restored in 2023 and is open to visitors again — small boats shuttle from the Salacak waterfront in Üsküdar (and from Kabataş on the European side).

Even if you skip the boat, the Salacak shore facing the tower is free and it's the classic sunset spot: the tower in the foreground, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi across the water behind it. For fans, this is the easiest Erkenci Kuş location of all — 20 minutes by ferry from Eminönü, then a short walk south along the water.

Arnavutköy and Caddebostan — Dates by the Water

Turkish press coverage of the production also names Arnavutköy and Caddebostan among the districts used for the series' outdoor scenes.

Arnavutköy, on the European shore of the Bosphorus, is a rowful of ornate wooden mansions, seafood restaurants, and narrow climbing lanes — one of the prettiest villages on the strait. Take the T1 tram to Kabataş, then a coastal bus (22, 25E, or 40) for about 20 minutes. Free to stroll, and easy to combine with Ortaköy next door.

Caddebostan, on the Marmara shore of the Asian side, is a long seaside promenade popular with locals. It's the least "sight-like" of the locations — go only if you're already exploring Kadıköy.

A One-Day Erkenci Kuş Route from Sultanahmet

The Asian-shore locations line up neatly into a single day:

• 9:00 — Walk to Eminönü (15 minutes from Hotel Perula) and take the ferry to Üsküdar
• 9:30 — Kız Kulesi: walk the Salacak shore; take the boat out to the tower if you want the full visit
• 11:30 — Bus 15/15A up the Bosphorus to Kanlıca
• 12:30 — Lunch and Kanlıca yogurt on the waterfront
• 14:00 — Beykoz Kundura, if your visit lines up with an event or screening; otherwise continue to Kuzguncuk on the way back for the real-life mahalle atmosphere
• 17:00 — Ferry back to Eminönü — the sunset skyline of the old city from the water is the best free show in Istanbul
• Evening — dinner in Sultanahmet; ideas in our Sultanahmet guide

Die-hard fans can add Viaport Marina in Tuzla as a separate half-day via the Marmaray from Sirkeci. And if you're planning the trip from scratch: our airport transfer guide covers getting from both airports to Sultanahmet without overpaying.

Staying in Sultanahmet makes this whole itinerary simple — Hotel Perula is a 15-minute walk from the Eminönü ferry docks where every route above begins, and our reception answers "which ferry, which bus" questions about series locations almost daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Erkenci Kuş filmed?

Almost entirely in Istanbul. The Fikri Harika agency scenes were shot in Tuzla (reportedly at Viaport Marina), Sanem's neighborhood was mostly a set at the Beykoz Kundura studios, Can's childhood home is in Kanlıca, and romantic scenes used Kız Kulesi, Arnavutköy, and Caddebostan.

Can you visit the Erkenci Kuş filming locations?

Most of them, yes. Viaport Marina, Kanlıca, Arnavutköy, and the Salacak shore facing Kız Kulesi are all free and open to everyone. Beykoz Kundura opens to the public during its cinema and stage events, and the Maiden's Tower itself requires a boat and entry ticket.

Where is the Fikri Harika agency building?

Turkish press placed the agency filming in the Tuzla district, and fan location guides identify the building as part of the Viaport Marina complex. It's about an hour from Sultanahmet by Marmaray train from Sirkeci, and the complex is free to enter.

Is Sanem's neighborhood a real place?

Not exactly — the street and house scenes were reportedly filmed on sets at Beykoz Kundura, a historic factory turned film studio. For the same atmosphere in a real neighborhood, visit Kuzguncuk on the Asian shore, which has played the classic Istanbul mahalle in many other series.