Things to Do in Kadıköy: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kadıköy

• 1 Historic
• 2 Nature
• 2 Attraction
• 1 Cultural

1 🎭 Cultural

Kadıköy Bazaar

One of the historic bazaars located in the centre of Kadıköy.

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2 🌳 Nature

Moda Cape

This area extends out to the Sea of Marmara and, together with Haydarpaşa Cove, forms the historic core of Kadıköy.

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3 📸 Attraction

Kadıköy Çarşısı ve Tarihi Çarşı

The historic bazaar at the heart of Kadıköy, with its colourful streets full of fishmongers, spice sellers, cheesemakers and olive sellers, offers one of Istanbul's most authentic shopping experiences. The Ottoman-era fabric of the bazaar is still preserved.

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4 🌳 Nature

Moda Sahili ve Moda Cape

From Moda Point you can enjoy panoramic views of the Princes' Islands, the Historic Peninsula and the Bosphorus. The walking path along the shore, the cafés and the parks make this one of the most pleasant waterfront strips in Istanbul.

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i Photo: Ail Subway (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

5 🏛️ Historic

Haydarpaşa Garı

Built in 1909 by the German architects Otto Ritter and Helmuth Cuno in the Neo-Renaissance style, the station has been one of Istanbul's landmarks for more than a century, with its imposing silhouette on the waterfront.

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i Photo: DeBruyne16 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

6 📸 Attraction

Kadıköy Street Art (Yeldeğirmeni)

The Yeldeğirmeni neighbourhood has become one of Istanbul's most colourful districts thanks to its murals and street art projects. The works created as part of the Mural Istanbul project form an open-air gallery.

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While you are in Kadıköy, you can also see the highlights of Istanbul province. These places are in other districts.

• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque) — Built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 532 and 537, this was the largest cathedral in the world for about a thousand years; it was converted into a mosque in 1453 and a museum in 1934, and reopened for worship as a mosque in 2020. With its dome 55 metres high and its Byzantine mosaics, it is one of the turning points in the history of architecture.
• Topkapı Palace — Built by Mehmed the Conqueror at Sarayburnu in the 1460s, the palace was the seat of government and residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years; with its Harem, Treasury, Holy Relics and courtyards, it is now a museum.
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) — A six-minaret mosque built for Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa; it is also known as the Blue Mosque because of the more than 20,000 İznik tiles decorating its interior.
• Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) — A vast underground cistern built in the 6th century under Justinian and carried on 336 columns; the Medusa heads under two of the columns are its most famous corner.
• Süleymaniye Mosque — Built by Mimar Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent between 1550 and 1557, the mosque stands at the centre of a large complex with madrasas, a hospital, a soup kitchen and tombs; its silhouette on the hill overlooking the Golden Horn is one of the symbols of the city.
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) — One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, made up of more than 60 streets and thousands of shops that grew up around the bedestens built under Mehmed the Conqueror; carpets, jewellery, copperware and leather goods are sold.

Practical Information for Visiting Kadıköy

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn (April–June, September–November)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🐟

  Kadıköy Balık Pazarı Lezzetleri

  The historic fish market serves fresh seafood and street food such as midye tava (fried mussels), midye dolma (stuffed mussels) and balık ekmek (fish sandwich). The fish restaurants in the market are also famous for their fresh fish menus.

• 🍲

  Çiya Sofrası

  Çiya, Kadıköy's world-famous restaurant, brings to life long-forgotten historic recipes gathered from across Anatolia through modern presentations.

• 🍦

  Kadıköy Dondurmacıları

  The historic ice cream makers in the Kadıköy bazaar serve traditional Turkish ice cream made with goat's milk and salep.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kadıköy

• 🎭

  Kadıköy Kültür-Sanat Yaşamı

  Kadıköy is one of Istanbul's liveliest cultural and arts centres, with independent theatres, music venues, bookshops and art galleries. Barlar Sokağı and the cafés of Moda are meeting points for artists.

• 🏛️

  Chalcedon Ancient City Heritage

  Kadıköy was built on the site of the ancient city of Chalcedon, founded in 685 BC. Also known as the "Land of the Blind", this ancient city is the oldest settlement on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Local Products

• Taze Deniz Ürünleri — Kadıköy Fish Market is one of the places in Istanbul where the freshest seafood is sold. Fish from the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea appear on the stalls here.
• Yerel Peynir ve Zeytin Çeşitleri — The cheesemakers and olive sellers of the Kadıköy bazaar offer hundreds of varieties of cheese and olives from every region of Anatolia.

Economy

Kadıköy is the commercial and cultural centre of Istanbul's Asian side. Retail trade, gastronomy, entertainment and services are its main sources of income. The Haydarpaşa Port and its surroundings are being reshaped by regeneration projects.

How to Get to Kadıköy

Kadıköy is connected to every part of Istanbul by ferry, Marmaray, metro (M4), Metrobüs and bus lines. The Kadıköy–Eminönü and Kadıköy–Beşiktaş ferry services are the most popular transport routes.

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Kadıköy: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kadıköy Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Istanbul The province's 22 best places and all its districts →

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