District · Istanbul
Kadıköy and Üsküdar
The Asian side: cheaper food, a big market and views back over the old city.
Key facts
- Suits
- A ferry ride, markets, a local evening
What it's like
- Suits:
- A ferry ride, markets, a local evening
- In short:
- The Asian side: cheaper food, a big market and views back over the old city.
About these names
Istanbul is huge, but a first visit stays on the European side. The old peninsula (Sultanahmet, Topkapı, Eminönü) is on the south bank of the Golden Horn; Karaköy, Galata and Beyoğlu are across the Galata Bridge on the north bank; Kadıköy and Üsküdar are on the Asian shore, reached by ferry.
Stay here?
Not a base in this guide
Drink and nightlife
Lines from the Istanbul drinking guide that name this district.
- Kadıköy (Moda and the bar streets) · Pubs, live music, street-side cafés · until Very late on weekendsA local scene on the Asian side; ferry to Kadıköy and taxi back.
Shopping
Markets and shopping streets from the Istanbul buying guide that name this district.
- Kadıköy market streets · Fish, cheese, olives, sweets, spices · Daytime; Sunday quieter (check) · haggling: noA local food market on the Asian side; fixed prices and good tasting.
Safety at night and noise
Kadıköyday: oknight: ok
Normal city care; the ferry is the safe way home.
Built from this guide’s Istanbul districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.