The Asian side of Istanbul is not the most attractive part of the city for travelers. There are almost no popular tourist attractions here, and not everyone is willing to make the trip — to get here, you need to cross the Bosphorus by ferry, metro, metrobus, or car.
I had already become quite familiar with one district on the Asian side — Üsküdar — where I lived for several months. But the Kadıköy district had remained almost unknown to me. During my next visit to Istanbul, I decided to fix that: to walk through its streets, explore the colorful Moda neighborhood with its bright graffiti, and take a ride on the vintage tram.
Kadıköy: One of the Most Lively Districts of Istanbul
In the past, the area now known as Kadıköy was home to the ancient city of Chalcedon, founded around 635 BC. The current name of the district translates as “Village of the Judge.”
According to online maps, Kadıköy stretches several kilometers inland on the Asian side of Istanbul. During my walk, I only explored a small area near Kadıköy metro station and the ferry pier. Part of my route went through a neighborhood called Moda, which is full of restaurants and bars. The word moda translates from Turkish as “fashion,” likely alluding to the area’s popularity and prestige.
Kadıköy is a very vibrant district, famous for its lively nightlife. Charming cafés and restaurants are scattered throughout its western part. One of the distinctive features of the streets here is the abundance of bright graffiti on building facades.
Most of my walk followed the circular T3 tram line, which opened in 2003. The route, with eleven stops, partially repeats the old tram line No. 20. It’s said online that some of the trams used here once operated in East German cities.
I started my walk near the ferry pier, strolled through the streets of the district, and ended up at a small square with a sculpture of a bull — one of the main photo spots in the area. Both tourists and locals like taking pictures with it.
On the way back, I took the tram. It’s part of the city’s public transport network, and you can pay with a regular İstanbulkart. When planning your trip, keep in mind that the T3 tram runs in one direction only.
In my opinion, every traveler experiences Kadıköy and Moda differently: some fall in love with these districts at first sight, while others wonder what’s so special about them. I must admit, I used to be in the latter group — nothing here really impressed me during my first few visits. But now, after riding the historic tram and spending more time walking around, I realized these are great places for a relaxed stroll, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the colorful architecture.
How to Get There
I took the ferry from Eminönü Pier — the trip took about 20 minutes. If you prefer using the metro, the nearest stations are Kadıköy and Söğütlüçeşme. You can plan public transport routes in Istanbul using the Moovit app.
If you’re interested in other attractions on the Asian side of Istanbul, I suggest checking out my virtual architecture route.
Happy travels!
