Flats with Views of the Princes' Islands — Maltepe, Istanbul

Maltepe is one of those corners of Istanbul that tourists never discover — but locals know it well. The Anatolian side runs at its own rhythm: waterfront parks, wide promenades, restaurants with views over the water. Less noise than the European side, more room to breathe. And that view — the Princes' Islands on the horizon, which on a clear morning look as if they've been painted onto the sea.

The development spans over 27,000 m² of grounds with green spaces — this isn't a block squeezed into a tight plot, it's a piece of the city designed with everyday life in mind. I remember my clients coming here for the first time and saying they'd expected another tower block, but found something that felt like its own neighbourhood. The shopping centre is 200 metres away. The hospital — one kilometre.

The flats themselves are designed so that daily life simply works. Smart home technology and air conditioning come as standard, not as extras. A balcony or terrace, depending on the unit. Open-plan or separate kitchen, en-suite bathroom with shower, steel front door. Satellite TV. Nothing left to chance.

Picture an ordinary Tuesday: in the morning, the metro — 40 metres from your front door — takes you wherever you need to go. In the afternoon you come back and head to the tennis court or the indoor pool. In the evening, the outdoor pool with a view, weather permitting. Weekends? The coastal path is 3.5 km away — by bike, on a run, or just a stroll with a coffee. A social club, cinema room, event hall, gym, and games room — all within the same development, behind the same front gate.

This development suits someone who wants Istanbul on their doorstep, but doesn't want to live in the thick of it. The Anatolian side gives you distance — and that view of the islands, which is impossible to put a price on, yet changes every single morning.