Istanbul's Asian Side: Kadıköy, Moda and Üsküdar

Istanbul's Asian side is where most of the city actually lives, and it is the easiest way to see everyday Istanbul rather than the monument circuit. Take a 20-minute ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy for food and street life, walk on to Moda for the seafront, and spend a second half-day in Üsküdar for mosques, the Maiden's Tower and the best sunset view back at the old city.

Why cross to the Asian side at all

Most first-time visitors stay in Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu or Galata and never cross. That is a pity, because the Asian side (Anadolu Yakası) feels different: fewer tour groups, more local cafés, neighbourhood markets, and streets where people are shopping for dinner rather than souvenirs. It is also where you get the classic view of the European skyline, with the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Süleymaniye on the ridge across the water.

For repeat visitors it is often the highlight of a second trip. For first-timers, half a day here is enough to change the impression of the city.

Getting across

The crossing is part of the experience. City ferries (vapur) run frequently from the European side:

• Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy — roughly 20 minutes, the most popular route.
• Eminönü or Beşiktaş to Üsküdar — about 15 minutes.
• Marmaray — the rail line under the Bosphorus links Sirkeci and Yenikapı with Üsküdar in a few minutes, useful when the weather is bad.

Pay with an Istanbulkart, the rechargeable transport card sold from machines at stations and piers. Fares are low compared with taxis, and the ferries have an open deck with tea sold on board. Bring a simit to share with the gulls only if you do not mind being followed.

Kadıköy: the market and the food

Kadıköy is the liveliest district on the Asian side. Step off the ferry, cross the main road and you are in the Çarşı, the market streets around Güneşlibahçe Sokak. This is where Kadıköy shops: fishmongers with the day's catch on ice, pickle shops selling pickle juice by the glass, cheese and olive counters, Turkish delight makers, spice and coffee roasters.

It is also one of the best places in the city to eat well without a reservation. Look for:

• Esnaf lokantası — tradesmen's restaurants with ready-cooked stews, vegetables in olive oil and rice, chosen from a counter.
• Meze and fish — small meyhane-style places serving cold starters and grilled fish.
• Kokoreç, midye dolma and lahmacun — street-food classics, best at busy stalls.
• Turkish breakfast on a weekend morning, with cheeses, olives, honey and clotted cream.

If you want context for what you are eating, a guided tasting walk is the efficient way in. Our Istanbul food tour in Kadıköy on the Asian side works through the market with a local guide, stopping at the stalls and small kitchens you would walk past alone.

Beyond the market, Bahariye Caddesi is the main shopping street, and the backstreets of Yeldeğirmeni, just north of the pier, are known for murals and independent cafés. Kadıköy is also the centre of the city's live-music and bar scene in the evenings.

Moda: the seafront walk

From Kadıköy it is a 15–20 minute walk south to Moda, a residential neighbourhood on a small peninsula. The draw is the seafront park and promenade along the Sea of Marmara, where locals sit on the rocks and grass in the evening. There are old ice-cream shops, tea gardens and plenty of benches facing the water.

Moda is the place to slow down. Come in the late afternoon, walk the coast, then head back into Kadıköy for dinner.

Üsküdar: mosques and the Maiden's Tower

Üsküdar, a short way north along the shore, is more conservative and more historic than Kadıköy. Right by the ferry pier stands the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, designed by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. A few minutes' walk along the water is the small Şemsi Pasha Mosque, another Sinan building that sits almost on the waterline.

Offshore is the Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi), a small tower on an islet that reopened to visitors after restoration in 2023, with boats from the Üsküdar side. The waterfront between Üsküdar and Salacak is the best place in the city to watch the sun set behind the old city's domes and minarets. Locals bring tea and sit on the sea wall.

On the hill above the district, the Çamlıca Mosque, opened in 2019, is the largest mosque in Turkey, and Çamlıca Hill nearby gives a wide panorama over both continents. Both are easier by taxi than on foot.

Kuzguncuk

Further north along the Bosphorus, Kuzguncuk is a small former village of wooden houses where a mosque, churches and a synagogue stand within a few streets of each other. It is quiet, photogenic and popular for a slow breakfast.

How to plan your time

Time you have	Suggested plan
Half a day	Ferry to Kadıköy, market and lunch, walk to Moda, ferry back
A full day	Morning in Üsküdar and Kuzguncuk, afternoon in Kadıköy and Moda, dinner in Kadıköy
An evening	Sunset on the Üsküdar waterfront, then dinner in Kadıköy
Part of a bigger day	A guided day that covers both continents and a Bosphorus cruise

If you would rather see both sides in one organised day, our Istanbul Europe and Asia day tour with Bosphorus cruise combines the old city with a crossing to the Asian side and time on the water, without you having to work out ferries and transfers.

Practical tips

• Ferries are busiest at commuter hours (roughly 8–9 am and 5–7 pm). Mid-morning and early afternoon crossings are more relaxed.
• Kadıköy market is most lively late morning to early evening; many places close earlier on Sundays.
• Dress for mosque visits in Üsküdar: shoulders and knees covered, a headscarf for women.
• The Asian side is generally relaxed and safe; use the same common sense with bags in crowds as anywhere in the city.
• Staying here is an option too. Kadıköy has good transport links and often better value accommodation than Sultanahmet.

FAQ

How do I get from Sultanahmet to Kadıköy?

Walk or take the tram to Eminönü, then a city ferry to Kadıköy, which takes about 20 minutes. Pay with an Istanbulkart.

Is the Asian side worth it on a short trip?

Yes, if you can spare half a day. A ferry to Kadıköy, the market and a walk to Moda show a side of Istanbul the monument circuit does not.

Which is better, Kadıköy or Üsküdar?

Kadıköy for food, markets and nightlife; Üsküdar for Ottoman mosques, the Maiden's Tower and sunset views. With a full day you can do both.

Can I visit the Maiden's Tower?

Yes, as of 2026 boats run from the Üsküdar side since the tower reopened after restoration. Check current times and fees before you go.

Is it safe to stay on the Asian side?

Yes. Kadıköy and Üsküdar are mainly residential, well connected and popular with locals and expats.