Kadıköy is where many Istanbul residents actually live, shop and go out, and it is the easiest way to see the Asian side of the city. A 20-minute ferry from Karaköy or Eminönü brings you to a busy food market, streets full of cafés and bookshops, and, a short walk south, the leafy neighbourhood of Moda with its seafront park. There are no big monuments to tick off. People come for the food, the ferry and the atmosphere.
The area is old: Kadıköy stands on the site of ancient Chalcedon, founded by Greek settlers in the 7th century BC, and gave its name to the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Today it feels young, with a lively mix of students, families and long-time residents.
How to get to Kadıköy by ferry
The ferry is the classic way to arrive, and the view back towards the old city's mosques and Topkapı Palace is worth the trip on its own. Public Şehir Hatları ferries are paid with an Istanbulkart; see our Istanbul public transport guide for how the card works.
| From | Line | Time (approx.) | Fare with Istanbulkart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karaköy | Şehir Hatları Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü | about 20 min | ₺65.21 |
| Eminönü | Şehir Hatları Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü | about 25 min | ₺65.21 |
| Beşiktaş | Şehir Hatları Kadıköy–Beşiktaş | about 20–25 min | ₺65.21 |
| Kabataş | Şehir Hatları Kadıköy–Kabataş | about 20–25 min | ₺65.21 |
| Karaköy / Kabataş | Şehir Hatları Bostancı–Moda–Karaköy–Kabataş (to Moda pier) | few sailings a day | check the timetable |
On the current timetable, the Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü boats run roughly every 20 minutes from early morning, with the last ones leaving Karaköy for Kadıköy after midnight. Private operators such as Turyol and Dentur Avrasya also run boats between Kadıköy and the European side, and they take the Istanbulkart as well. Şehir Hatları sailings between 00:30 and 05:30 cost double.
Without the ferry, the Marmaray rail line crosses under the Bosphorus to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, one stop from Kadıköy on the M4 metro. It is quicker from Sirkeci or Yenikapı, but you miss the view.
The Kadıköy market
Cross the road from the ferry terminal and walk uphill into the Kadıköy Çarşı, a few pedestrian streets around Güneşlibahçe Sokak packed with fishmongers, greengrocers, cheese and olive shops, pickle sellers, spice merchants and bakeries. It is a working market for locals, not a souvenir bazaar, so prices are written up and there is little hard selling. Most stalls open from mid-morning until the evening, and it is busiest on Saturday afternoons.
- Pickle juice (turşu suyu): the pickle shops sell it by the glass, often with a spicy version. It is an acquired taste and very Istanbul.
- Stuffed mussels (midye dolma): sold from stalls and fish shops, spiced rice in the shell with a squeeze of lemon.
- Çiya: on Güneşlibahçe Sokak, chef Musa Dağdeviren's restaurants serve regional Anatolian dishes rarely found elsewhere in the city. Çiya Sofrası is the best known; Çiya Kebap is across the street.
- Turkish coffee and sweets: the market streets have long-established coffee roasters and shops selling lokum (Turkish delight) and helva.
For more ideas on what to order, see our guide to what to eat in Istanbul.
Landing at Sabiha Gökçen? Kadıköy is the closest central district: see the fixed price.
Moda: a walk to the seafront
Moda is the quieter, greener end of Kadıköy, about 15–20 minutes on foot from the ferry. Walk up through the market and follow Moda Caddesi south, past cafés, bakeries and old apartment buildings. The street ends near the point of the Moda peninsula.
- Moda seafront park: a long strip of grass and paths along the water, where people sit with tea and sunflower seeds at sunset. On clear days you can see across the Sea of Marmara to the Princes' Islands and back to the old city's skyline.
- Moda pier: the restored ferry pier below the park, with a few boats a day on the Bostancı–Moda–Karaköy–Kabataş line.
- Ice cream and tea gardens: Moda is known for its ice cream shops and for simple tea gardens above the water.
- Barış Manço House: the former home of the Turkish rock musician, now a small museum run with the Kadıköy Municipality. Opening hours and prices published online disagree, so check before you go.
The red T3 heritage tram that normally loops between Kadıköy and Moda has been suspended since 19 October 2026 for track renewal, and the city plans to reopen it in the early months of 2027. During the works, small electric buses run from the Kadıköy İDO pier towards Moda, while the Kilise, Moda İlkokulu and Moda stops are not served. Walking is the simplest option.
More to see in Kadıköy
- Yeldeğirmeni: the old streets north of the ferry terminal, known for large murals on apartment walls, small cafés and second-hand shops.
- Bahariye Caddesi: the main shopping street, with the Süreyya Opera House, a 1920s theatre building that still stages performances.
- Kadife Sokak: a lane of small bars known locally as Barlar Sokağı, busy from early evening.
- Haydarpaşa Station: the grand 1908 station on the water just north of Kadıköy. By June 2026 the exterior restoration was largely finished and the scaffolding had come down, but the building is not open to visitors. In September 2026 the Culture Minister gave 2027 as the target for opening the first phase.
- The Tuesday market (Salı Pazarı): a large open-air market held on Tuesdays and Fridays near Fenerbahçe's stadium. It has been due to move to a new site in Hasanpaşa, so check the current location before going.
A simple half-day plan
- Late morning: ferry from Karaköy or Eminönü to Kadıköy (about 20 minutes).
- Walk through the market streets; stop for stuffed mussels or pickle juice.
- Lunch at one of the market's lokantas or at Çiya.
- Coffee on Moda Caddesi, then walk down to the seafront park.
- Stay for sunset at Moda, then walk back to the ferry and cross at dusk with the old city lit up.
If you have a full day, add Üsküdar and the Maiden's Tower, about 15 minutes away on the Marmaray, or a Princes' Islands day trip, since island ferries also call at Kadıköy.
Staying in Kadıköy
Kadıköy is a good base if you prefer a residential neighbourhood with great food over being next to the main monuments. The ferry makes Sultanahmet and Karaköy easy to reach. Compare neighbourhoods in our guide on where to stay in Istanbul.
It is also the closest central district to Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW): about 35 km, normally 35–55 minutes by car. A fixed-price transfer from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy is $65 in a Private Mercedes Vito or $75 in a VIP Vito. From Istanbul Airport to Kadıköy, which crosses the Bosphorus, it is $80 / $90. Prices are per vehicle for up to 6 passengers and up to 12 suitcases, with tolls included. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, and you pay on arrival in cash (EUR, USD or TRY).
Flying into Istanbul Airport? Get a fixed price to Kadıköy or Moda.
Istanbul VIP is operated by Regatta Turizm (TÜRSAB licence 10138). Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
