WARNING: Readers who get easily lost, may find these instructions distressing. Unfortunately Enka Sanat does not have either a helpline or even an email address for those who get hopelessly. lost.

The ENKA compound, which has a sign saying ‘Sadi Gülçelik Spor Tesisleri’ above the entrance, contains a school as well as various sports and cultural facilities; it is situated on the opposite side of Katar Caddesi from the turning that leads to ‘Borsa İstanbul’, the Istanbul Stock Exchange. To say that ENKA does not advertise itself would be an understatement: it is difficult to locate, especially in the dark – in fact, I walked right past it in the February gloom, and had to retrace my steps. Concert-goers should be advised that if coming from Maslak, they will find the ‘Sadi Gülçelik Spor Tesisleri’ sign (which is not illuminated) on their left after the İstinye Park shopping mall, at the place where the advertisement hoardings come to an end just before the ‘Sait İskender Döner’ kebab restaurant.

Once you have entered the compound, the people in the security cabin will direct you to take the third turning on your left (“Üçüncü sol”), but that will not help you overmuch as you will pass multiple side roads on your left. Go right to the bottom of the hill, where the ground finally levels out; if at this point you can see on your left a basketball court with a three-storey building behind it, you will know that you have arrived at the right place. Here, turn left. Passing ‘Özel ENKA Ortaokulu’ on your right, you will come to a T-junction; turn right here, and you will see the entrance to the concert hall – the ‘İbrahim Betil Oditoryumu’ – on your right, at the end of the hedge.

Transport details