Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world that sits on two continents, Europe and Asia. The two sides are separated by the busy Bosphorus Strait. While most tourists stick to the European side of Istanbul, a much different atmosphere, there are still plenty of things to do on the Asian side of Istanbul.
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How to Get to the Asian Side of Istanbul
There are three options to get to the Asian side of Istanbul (unless you also want to include swimming). You can take a taxi, the Marmaray, or the most popular, the ferry.
Istanbul Bridges
Taking the suspension bridge across the Bosphorus is actually not that exciting, and is my least recommended option for getting to the Asian side of Istanbul.
Known as the Bosphorus Bridge, it connects the areas of Ortakoy on the European side and Beylerbeyi on the Asian side. The bridge is actually fairly new to Istanbul having just been completed in October 1973. Further up the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea is another bridge called Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
It is the 14th largest steel suspension bridge in the world, completed in 1988. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is outside of the main area of the city, so you probably won’t see it unless you take a Bosphorus cruise tour.
Taxis and Tolls
Toll price for the bridge is 10,75 TL and is not included in your taxi fare.
There are 3 different colors of taxis in Istanbul, yellow, turquoise, and black.
You will most likely be using a yellow standard taxi. There are very easy to find and there are plenty of taxi stands around the city. The starting price is 9,80 TL.
The turquoise taxis are a little bit of an upgrade from the standard yellow taxi. The make and models of these taxis are different and a little more spacious. Consider them the equivalent of a large size sedan. They are slightly more expensive as well. The starting price is 11,27 TL.
If you want to feel a little luxurious, you can take a black taxi. These are usually Mercedes models and are the most expensive taxi. Personally, I’ve never seen a black taxi driving around in Istanbul, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist! The starting price is 16,66 TL.
Taxis in Istanbul are your least favorable option just because the traffic is horrendous. I would only suggest you take a taxi if it’s raining, you have a lot of bags with you, or you are in a hurry and traveling far. However, if you find yourself needing a taxi I recommend using the local app BiTaksi instead of Uber. The interface of this app is available in English, which is a plus, and you can pay with a credit card on the app. Also note that taking a taxi across to either side isn’t ideal for taxi drivers too. This is because taxis can only pick up new passengers in their designated areas.
Marmaray
The Marmaray is the only underground train that connects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. So as you can imagine, it is usually packed with people. On average, 120,000 people take this train every day.
It is almost 77 km long and connects the suburban areas of the city.
The most convenient station to catch the Marmaray from the European side is located near Topkapi Place in the Old City. The station is called Metro Station West. You can take this to the neighborhoods of Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian side.
To use the Marmaray and other public transportation in Istanbul, you will need an IstanbulKart card. This is a reloadable card costing 35 TL as of November 2022. There are yellow kiosks near all train and tram stations where you can purchase these from.
Ferry
The ferry is the best option to get to the Asian side of Istanbul. It is the most scenic and you can even enjoy a hot cup of tea on board. You’ll be treated to amazing views of the city on both sides.
A notable sight is the Maiden’s Tower which was once used as a lighthouse, but today is a restaurant and museum. It is located just off the coastline and has a pretty unique story.
A former emperor received a prophecy that his daughter would be killed by a snake on her 18th birthday. So he had this island tower built to protect her from snakes until then. However, when the day came, the emperor brought his daughter a fruit basket as a gift. Little did he know, a small snake was hiding inside and killed his daughter just as the prophecy predicted.
And, so, the tower was named Maiden’s Tower.
Ferries leave from Eminonu, Karakoy, Besiktas, and Katabas on the European side daily. Destinations on the Asian side can be Uskudar or Kadikoy. Boats leave often, every 10-20 minutes. The fare depends on the starting station and ending station, but shouldn’t cost more than 10 TL one way.
Things to Do on the Asian Side of Istanbul
Now that you’ve made it across to another continent — crazy, right? — it’s time to explore.
Right away you’ll notice a slower pace of life and a more local feel. There are fewer tourists on this side of the city. There also aren’t many attractions or historical sites, but if you’re looking to connect with more locals, this is the place.
Traditionally, the Asian side of Istanbul is a more residential area. And the rent prices are slightly cheaper. However, millions of people cross the Bosphorus on their daily commute to work.
There are two main districts that you’ll want to check out, Kadikoy and Uskudar. Let’s go through both places and talk about all the cool things to do on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Kadikoy
First up is Kadikoy. Kadikoy is a cool, hip place in Istanbul. It’s more liberal and fashionable. You’ll find plenty of people speaking English here in the shops and restaurants. Kadikoy is also a great place to live and work if you’re a digital nomad in Turkey.
Walk Around and Explore Moda/Kadikoy
Up until a few years ago, Moda wasn’t really on anyone’s radar as a place to visit. It was mostly just residential but then hip cafes started to pop up making Moda what it is today. There are many sought-after apartments with a seaside view that offer some of the best sunset spots in the city.
When you first get off the dock from the ferry you’ll have to cross the courtyard to head into the district of Moda/Kadikoy. Cafe culture is strong here and you will find endless cafes to chill at. Come hungry because you will want to eat everything! My personal favorites are Montag, Walter’s Coffee Roastery, Story Coffee and Food, and Brekkie.
As you walk around this neighborhood, keep in mind that it’s very hilly so wear good walking shoes. All the streets are narrow and made from cobblestone as well.
A good place to go shopping for hip new trendy clothes is Cilek St. This street is one of the streets that branch off from the bull — more on that later. All throughout Kadikoy and Moda are cute handmade boutique shops for accessories. You’ll have fun shopping here and finding one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Along the coastline, there is a long bike path and parks where locals love to chill after work and on the weekends. People will bring their own folding chairs and picnic in the grassy areas with a bottle of wine or some beer. There are lots of bike rentals and electric scooters scattered along the bike path if you want to ride along the coastline.
Take a Selfie with the Bull
There is a famous meeting point known as the bull which is located on the main street in Kadikoy and separates 6 streets. The bull has an interesting story that starts in Paris in 1864. Isidore Bonheur was a French sculptor and created the bull in honor of a French victory of territory over the Germans.
However, a few years later the Germans took over this land along with the bull. Then during WWI Germany gifted the Ottoman Empire the bull where it resided at Yildiz Palace. After the war was lost, the palace was abandoned. In 1955, the bull was moved to The Istanbul Hilton Hotel where it stayed for 15 years. Then in 1970, it made its way to Asia. First to the Kadikoy Municipality Building and then to its current resting place.
Stroll Along Bagdat Avenue
Bagdat Avenue is a 14 km long road that runs parallel to the coastline. It was first created to link Asia with Constantinople and used for trade in and out of the city.
Today Bagdat Avenue is the glitz and glam of the Asian side. You can find luxurious mansions that were built for Pashas and high-ranking officials during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Prestigious worldwide brands line the streets for high-end shoppers. The best restaurants can also be found here, which means if you’re a foodie you should definitely have this street on your radar of things to do on the Asian side of Istanbul.
I recommend branching out and exploring the side streets as well. There are pubs and bars for those that are looking for more casual options.
The traffic of Bagdat is one way for vehicles. However, you can rent an electric scooter and zip around very easily. The most popular electric scooter company is called Marti which means bird in Turkish. You can download the app to your phone and find available scooters.
Uskudar | Things to do on the Asian Side of Istanbul
Now, let’s move on to Uskudar. Uskudar is definitely more conservative than Kadikoy. However, there are a few unique places that you’ll want to check out.
Visit Camlica Mosque
The Camlica Mosque is Istanbul’s biggest mosque. It sits on top of the highest hill where you can see for miles on a clear day. The mosque was completed in March 2019 and was designed by 2 women. It has a capacity of 63,000 with 70 domes, and 6 minarets. And to top it off, it also has a library, conference hall, and art gallery.
Surrounding the mosque is a nice grassy area where you can walk around or relax in the grass while taking in the views. There is a cafe and people selling simit and Turkish tea from their own carts.
Chill in the Quiet Kuzguncuk Neighborhood
Kuzguncuk is an adorable little neighborhood with colorful buildings. It doesn’t have a busy city feel and there is even a community garden!
Spend time walking around exploring the streets and looking at the architecture of the buildings. You’ll also be able to find a mosque, a church, and a synagogue all relatively close to each other. This will give you a sense of how harmonious the people are.
There are lots of boutique cafes that offer Turkish breakfast and various cuisines. I recommend a little place called Vanilin Chocolate. They have handmade chocolates that you can buy and sample. I’ve never been disappointed!
Learn About the History of Beylerbeyi Palace
Most visitors don’t make it over to Beylerbeyi Palace since it isn’t as popular as the Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahce Palace.
Nonetheless, the Beylerbeyi Palace is known as the smaller version of the Dolmabahce Palace. It served as the summer residence and was commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz. The palace has 24 rooms, 6 halls, and a Hamam. Inside the palace, you can see French clocks, Bohemian crystal chandeliers, and porcelain vases. There is even an impressive fountain in the main hall!
What’s unique about this palace is that Sultan Abdullhamit II was imprisoned here for 6 years. He was a master carpenter and make much of the cabinetry in the palace.
Visiting dignitaries would often be comfortably put up in the palace during their stay in the city.
Tickets are 60TL for foreigners and 30TL for residents and citizens.
Go to the Top of Camlica Tower
Camlica Tower is the newest addition to Uskudar. The telecommunications tower just opened in May 2021. It offers amazing views of the whole city and there is even a restaurant and cafe on the 39th and 40th floors. There is a panoramic elevator to bring you up to the top in less than 2 minutes. You can stay on the observation floor for 1 hour.
The tower stands 369 meters tall with a 221-meter antenna making the entire structure 587 meters above sea level. It is the highest structure in Istanbul and Europe.
Tickets are 60TL for residents and citizens and 120TL for foreigners. They can be purchased online in advance or at the entrance. Reservations for the restaurant need to be made in advance and can also be made online. However, you don’t need a reservation for the cafe.
Are there enough things to do on the Asian side of Istanbul?
Of course! I encourage you to explore this part of the city for a couple of days on your next visit to Istanbul.
Which area would you like to visit the most?
More Things to Do in Istanbul
Explore the neighborhood of Karakoy and GalataPort.
Go on a cafe hunt for all the cute Instagram-worthy spots in the city.
Don’t forget to complete the Istanbul bucket list.
I am fascinated by the Asian side! Istanbul is near the top of my travel bucket list but I hadn’t considered that it literally sits in two continents (showing my ignorance, I guess I thought that was more metaphorical). So very cool!
It’s amazing to think that a daily commute could put you on two different continents! What a beautiful post. Thank you.