Kadikoy - attractions of the Asian part of Istanbul. Second day in Istanbul Istanbul how to get from Kadikoy to the center

On one of the days of our stay in Istanbul, we visited a popular area of ​​the Asian part of the city - Kadikoy. Already planning a trip to Istanbul, we knew that we would definitely look there and so now we are sharing our impressions with you, and also telling you what attractions you can see in this ancient area.

Istanbul - Kadikoy district

Kadikoy is one of the most ancient districts of Istanbul, which we planned a full day to visit during our week-long trip around the city. Our meeting with the Kadikoy district had already taken place when we arrived at Sabiha Gokcen airport in the evening and traveled to the European part of Istanbul through it.

It was the same on this day, only the route was the other way around. In the morning we went to Eminonu pier and took a ferry along the Bosphorus to Kadikoy. Approaching the Asian part of Istanbul, the first and one of the main attractions of Kadikoy began to appear in front of us - Haydarpasa Station.

Haydarpaşa is the train station that welcomes travelers to Kadikoy

Kadikoy cannot boast of an abundance of attractions, but the atmosphere that reigns in this area will be remembered for a long time. You find yourself in the real Istanbul, without crowds of tourists, without salespeople pushing everything, you are surrounded by local people, not in a hurry, who simply live, enjoying the atmosphere of their city - their Asia.

Attractions

As we have already said, the first thing you will see when you get to Kadikoy by water is Haydarpasa Station. Unfortunately, we did not go inside, but only admired it from afar, but the building is very beautiful.

When we first saw Haydarpasa Station, we thought it was some kind of medieval, European castle. And it turns out that this similarity is not accidental, because its construction was carried out under the leadership of a German architect. The station has a sandy-yellow color, thanks to the sandstone exterior, and shimmers beautifully in the sun. A large clock and two conical towers, on the left and right side facade, give the building a majestic and memorable appearance.

On the other side of the pier we see an incomprehensible structure; until recently there was a famous hot air balloon here, which anyone could fly. It was one of the symbols and recognizable elements in the Kadikoy area, but unfortunately, by the time we arrived, the balloon was dismantled and they say it’s gone forever. And the reason is simple, the fact is that there are strong winds in this area and the city authorities considered this event unsafe, so now only the skeleton and a small cafe remain, but the local authorities plan to build a Ferris wheel in this place. We think it's a good replacement for a hot air balloon.

We have not yet gone ashore, but have already managed to see several sights of Kadikoy. There are a lot of people on the pier at any time of the day, so after leaving the water transport, go to the large square-shaped building, from which we will begin our journey through the streets and interesting places Kadikoy district. This is a historical theater building.

Turning our backs to the historical theater, we head to Sogutlu Cesme Street. It is easy to recognize by the crowd of people walking towards it, including local residents and a few tourists who arrived by boat to Kadikoy.

You will immediately notice the many interestingly decorated cafes and bistros where you can have a snack, take food with you, or just drink tea. Read about what you can try from food in Istanbul in our articles:

To the market for sweets

Continuing along Sogutlu Cesme Street, we suggest turning right for a few minutes and getting acquainted with one of local markets, which sells cheap, low-quality clothing, but we are interested in its grocery part. The market is a narrow street with an amazing smell and atmosphere of a real oriental bazaar. Here you can buy the freshest fruits, vegetables and fish, but there are also several shops with sweets, in which prices are significantly lower than in the famous markets: the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian or in the Koska store, popular among Russian tourists.

We return to our street and, in the company of modern youth, move towards the center of Kadikoy, to the famous bull statue.

So we got to iconic place in Kadikoy - a statue of a bull. This is the most popular meeting place for all residents and visitors of the area. The meeting place is unchanged - everyone always meets at the bull. The bull statue is located in the small Altiyol square, where 6 roads intersect at once.

The bronze bull statue itself has a rather long history. It is more than 150 years old, and its author, the French animal sculptor Isidore Jules Bonheur, is known throughout the world for his animal sculptures. The bull changed its location many times throughout its history and only in 1976 moved to the square in Kadikoy, where it gained popularity and recognition throughout the world.

Popular streets

Next, the most interesting thing awaits us in Kadikoy - a walk along its most beautiful, famous streets. We will stroll along the glamorous Bahariya, look at Antique Street, and also visit the street of artisans and the most popular Fashion - one of the main streets of Kadikoy.

From the Bull statue, following the movement of the historical tram, we head along Bahariye Street, which is easily recognizable thanks to the fence in the form of multi-colored balls located along its entire length.

Bahariye is a pedestrian street, only a historical tram runs along it. On the street there are many shops of various Turkish and European brands and all kinds of cafes and restaurants, which is what this street is famous for.

For those who are interested in shopping, you can continue along Bahariye Street, looking into shops and outlets. If we go to the end of Bahariye Street, we will see at the end small area with a sculpture in the shape of a chicken. If anyone knows what this sculpture means, share it in the comments, it will be interesting. More recently, there was a fountain at this place, but the city authorities felt that the chicken sculpture looked more elegant.

We suggest turning left from Bahariye first, onto the street of artisans, and then returning and turning right onto the antique street, which we will actually do now, and then we will go out onto Moda street and further along the embankment, where we will taste Turkish tea on the banks of the Bosphorus in the tea garden and admire the indescribable beauty of the sunset.

Ali Suavi (Craftsmen) Street

Walking along Bahariye Street, you can see in the alley a monument to the famous Turkish scientist and journalist Ali Suavi, after whom this street, popularly known as the street of artisans, is named. Be sure to take a photo in front of this monument, perhaps the most recognizable photo in the Kadikoy region.

It is no coincidence that people named this street in honor of artisans; local artists, sculptors and other people of creative professions create and sell their works here right on the street.

Antique street

For everyone who is interested in antiques, old books and simply various unusual things from the past, we suggest paying attention to Tellalzade Street or as it is called Antiquary Street. On this small, narrow street, elderly vendors slowly sell a variety of antiques. Both connoisseurs and simply lovers of ancient art will find something here for themselves.

Read about what to bring from Istanbul besides antiques in this article:

• • • What to bring from Istanbul - souvenirs as a gift

After enjoying the antique items, we go out to the most popular street in the Kadikoy area - Modu. This street primarily attracts tourists with its name, everyone immediately tries to look in dictionaries or with the help of translators what Moda means from Turkish, and so, we hasten to disappoint you, Moda from Turkish is the same as Moda from English. So now let's find out where in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul such a street appeared, with such interesting name- Fashion.

And with the origin of the name, everything turns out to be simple. At one time, this area and street began to gain popularity, that is, in modern terms, they became fashionable.

Fashion District Istanbul is the most prestigious and popular place from local residents, which takes southern part Kadikoy and includes a park, promenade and stunning tea gardens.

Moda District - Istanbul

Fashion Street - Istanbul

Moving along Moda Street, we come out to the embankment and in front of us there is a view of a popular restaurant in the Kadikoy area, which is located on the shore of the pier.

What do we remember most about Kadikoy? Of course, this is the embankment! In the Kadikoy area, the embankment is lined with huge stones, on which young people like to spend time, sitting on them during lunch or a date. We also got involved in this and simply sat on the warm stones and admired the boats sailing along the Bosphorus.

There are many young people and children on the embankment. The larger ones have fun with sports or rollerblading and cycling along the bike path that runs along the shore, and the smaller ones play on the equipped playgrounds.

What else is Kadikoy known for? We go a little deeper and find ourselves in the tea gardens, which stretch along the shore of the Bosphorus. Here you can have a great time with a glass of tea, which is very popular in Turkey and Istanbul in particular. You can meet both old and young people drinking tea.

If you're in Kadikoy, don't miss the opportunity to watch the sunset on the shores of the Bosphorus, an unforgettable experience.

This was one day in one of our favorite areas - Kadikoy, which we visited in the Asian part of Istanbul.

On the map and how to get there

On the map of Kadikoy we have marked several of the most popular streets: Modu, Bahariye, artisans and antique dealers, as well as the attractions of the area.

The easiest way to get to Kadikoy is by water by ferry, or by Havatas minibus if you are coming from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Read more about public transport and the airport here:

• • • Istanbul public transport

…Asian side Uchkudar and Kadikoy.
…We chose the Kadikoy district, where there are practically no attractions, but social life is in full swing on the boulevards.
…Fashion District in Kadikoy... Oh, the Fashion district... The sea, the chic embankment, fish market and restaurants, a little pleasant shopping...
…Visit to Kadikoy market- left unforgettable sensations and indelible impressions. What a market! What's not there! Any fish, any spices, pickles, marinades, olives, nuts, cheese, sausages... Any of the above in many varieties...

There is a very important nuance here.
Asian side is a long coastal Istanbul through the Bosphorus and the Sea of ​​Marmara. It is divided into 2 parts: Uchkudar and Kadikoy.
In the first part of Uchkudar(formerly Chrysopolis - Golden City) - more attractions.
These are the most beautiful mosques of Mimar Sinan (16th century).
This is Mount Bayuk Chamlydzha - the most high point Istanbul "with the best panorama of the city." These are the Selemiye military barracks and the museum of the English nurse Florence Nightingale. And - a huge military cemetery.
In the second part - Kadikoy- There are practically no attractions, but social life is in full swing on the boulevards.
It is unrealistic to count on visiting both conventional parts in one day (as the guidebook suggests). You can, of course, but fatigue will take its toll.

That's why we decided this way. We've already seen enough mosques. We sailed past the Leander Tower on a boat. We have already visited one cemetery in Eyup. I would like to go to the Nurse Nightingall Barracks Museum, but you need to fax copies of documents there in advance, indicate the date and time of your visit, so that you will be issued a pass. Therefore, the scales tipped significantly in favor of simply having a pleasant time on the Asian side.

And we were right (I hope).
Getting to the other side is very easy. From Eminönu, a large ferry boat runs almost every 10-15 minutes to either Üçkudar or Kadikoy. The Eminonu pier berths are located in the following order:(if you stand facing the Galata Bridge - on the right): №1 - Pleasure ships on the Bosphorus, №2 - Eminonu - Kadikoy (Asian side). №3 - Eminonu - Uchkudar (Asian side), №4 - to Sirkeci - Harem (?), №5 - to Sirkeci and the Princes' Islands, №6 - remote berth for cruise ships and large ferries.
Tickets - 1.40TL.

You breathe in the fresh sea breeze, photograph the turquoise of the Bosphorus from the open part, or sip seagulls in the closed part. Doesn't shake at all. And now Europe is already left behind and in 20 minutes you are already in Asia.

Fashion District in Kadikoy... Oh, Fashion District... The sea, a chic promenade, a fish market and restaurants, a small pleasant shopping...

Rows of shoemakers frantically wave their brushes over the already clean shoes of the townspeople. Gypsy, loud-mouthed, colorful traders sell a sea of ​​beautiful bouquets. Bagel carts roll up. Fresh press for sale. People are in no hurry to get somewhere. The morning begins.

And again the nuances. We landed. Where to go? We did not have a map of this side of the Asian part. I had to find a bookstore and buy it - after a long selection and tedious exchange of the initially chosen unnecessary map for the one I needed (ask, read the inscriptions, check - the Kadikoy map is a rarity, since it is not considered a special tourist area).
It turned out that you just had to walk a little straight ahead from the pier along the main street and dive to the right into the side street.
You will recognize the Fashion District by the rows of wonderful shops that have begun - shoes, clothes, sweets, vegetables and fruits, antiques. We went first along Moda street until the end. We just walk and stare. We expose our faces to the gentle January sun. It's a great day. The houses here are very respectable. Everything is Europeanized. No women in burqas, gypsies or coal heating. This is not Fatih and Fener (there will be more about them in the chapter of the same name). We see a cat sleeping on the hood of a red car.

We see a palm tree decorated with huge New Year's toys. We sit down at a transparent plastic table and try dondurma and salep. Tasty. (But still, we tried something better in Anadolu. :))

Finally we reach the embankment. This is absolutely a beauty!
It's kind of three-lane. Next to the sea there is a “curb” of huge stones - you can climb them and walk on them. Then smooth, smooth walking asphalt. Then there is a fine-to-shallow cobblestone bike path. On the spreading slightly wavy surface of the sea the sun is already resting and mirroring the glare directly on us - blissfully scribbling from the blinding gold of the sun.
How clean it is all around. Calmly. And it’s beautiful... Istanbul residents - mostly mothers with babies and the elderly - sit on benches, read, chat with each other - relax.

We should have landed here somewhere in a cafe (there are many open), but we were in a hurry. We decided to visit Baghdad Jaddesi- the street is “a dream for shopping lovers” - and it was our mistake. We spent two or three hours searching for this street, so that later, endlessly stomping along it, we could understand its infinity. We didn’t notice that the numbering of houses here extends beyond number 500. All the shops are concentrated at the end, and we went to the very beginning. The street is dusty and noisy. And most importantly, movement in one direction - towards us, i.e. You can't get there on anything.
The only thing, saw the famous football stadium Fenerbahci, and this compensated my husband for the negative effects of searching and wasting time.

A visit to the Kadikoy market left an unforgettable feeling and indelible impressions. This market is hidden in the streets of the Moda quarter (you need to go straight from the pier and then turn right). What a market! What's not there! Any fish, any spices, pickles, marinades, olives, nuts, cheese, sausages... Any of the above in many varieties... Everything is fresh. Chicken eggs even lie in wooden boxes on a bed of hay...

Amazing fish... Again, the seller only weighs it for you, and the cashier takes the money. The selected fish will be immediately scaled, gutted if necessary, cut and beautifully packaged. Very clean... The assortment ranges from huge swordfish, octopus, king prawns, devil fish to small sprat... Fish is sold both at small fish counters and in deep street shops with rows of aquariums and refrigerators. The latter contain preserved fish and sauce in tubes. A plastic jar of anchovies was brought as a tasty souvenir.

We also found a fish restaurant here.. We still remember it with tears in our eyes... The entrance to it was behind a translucent plastic curtain behind one of the fish counters. The name is “Canli Nemnet Balik Galeresi”. It’s quite possible that you won’t find it, but not this one - so another one :). Look only in fish aisles. Tasty - to the point of being mind-blowing. Inexpensive. All fish are freshly caught...

Here is a hint-translation of fish from the fish menu:
Hamsi (Turkish) - Anchovy (English) - anchovy, sprat, anchovy (Russian)
Barbon - Red Mullet
Tecir - Goot Fish -
Lüfer - Blue Fish sea ​​fish or "Bosphorus fish")
Çinekop - Small Blue Fish
Dil Baligi - Sole - sole
Uskumru - Grilled
Somon - Salmon - salmon
Levrek - Sea Bass - sea bass, rock perch
Çipura - Gilt Head Bream - golden seabream
Jumbo Karides - Jumbo Shrimp - small shrimps
Fener - Angler Fish - monkfish(very tender meat)
Dügler - Dory - common sunflower (flat predatory fish with very tasty meat)
Mevsimlik Baliklar - Seasonal Fishes - fish of this season

The fish that Istanbul seas and straits offer is excellently written here (Turkish and English names).

On the second day in Istanbul, a day off, it was a little scary to drive towards the main attractions of the Sultanahmet area, due to the large crowd of tourists.

From the very early morning, the entire tourist flow flocks here, including those who arrived on huge cruise ships to the port of Istanbul. To avoid unnecessary fuss and huge queues, on this Sunday it was decided to move to another (as it seemed to us, quieter) part of the city.

Istanbul is geographically unique in that it is located in two parts of the world at once - Europe and Asia, which are separated by the Bosphorus Strait. Istanbul consists of 39 so-called districts (14 of which are located in its Asian part). Thus, about 1/3 of the total population of Istanbul lives in Asia.

Kadikoy District

Among the areas to get acquainted with the Asian side, we chose the Kadıköy district (Kadikoy) - a large transport hub, which can be recognized by the Haydarpasa Station building right next to the pier. The narrow streets of the Fashion and nostalgic tram quarter will probably not leave anyone indifferent.

We lived, for those who don’t remember, in the area between Taksim Square and Kabatash Marina. At 12-20, a ferry departs from this pier to the Kadikoy pier. You can pay either with Istanbul cards or with tokens, which can be purchased right there at the pier - in automatic machines. Don't be afraid of these machines: you just have to approach him and make a questioning grimace, they will immediately come up to you and help you deal with him local residents. A boy of 6-7 years old helped us in one of these machines, for which, of course, he received his reward.

After having breakfast near the pier, we settled on the lower deck of the ferry and sailed towards the Kadikoy area.

Kabatash Marina

As the ferry approaches the Kadikoy pier, to the left of it (the pier) it is impossible not to notice a building somewhat reminiscent of a harsh Teutonic castle. This is famous railway station Haydarpaşa. It is the largest in Turkey.

The journey is not long and after 20 minutes we moored at the Kadikoy pier. The crowd from the ferry that had just docked quickly scattered somewhere, and we, looking at every corner of the territory adjacent to the port, walked confusedly “Where our eyes look.”

And here crowds of people were waiting for us: traders and curious tourists. On the way from the pier we even met a group of demonstrators, and a riot police group arrived immediately in their signature uniform - just like in the movies. The demonstrators, fortunately, turned out to be not so aggressive: after standing for a while and making some noise, they moved towards the center, and we slowly moved in the same direction.

After walking quite a bit towards the famous Moda Street, a rather steep uphill climb begins. On the next street there was a very noisy trade process (apparently another small market). At that moment it began to rain and did not seem to stop. We ran into the first coffee shop we came across on the way, without even looking at the sign. As it turned out, this was another fast food chain establishment, but we had no choice. We sat here for an hour and a half (the rain persisted).

And so, by four o'clock in the afternoon the weather began to improve, and the sun came out. We continued our walk. At the first intersection we turned and approached the famous narrow Moda street. In Kadikoy you can see people walking down the street with a cart and shouting something in Turkish. Their profession is “junk dealer”. They walk the streets shouting something like “The rag man is coming” and people who have something unnecessary at home: old household appliances, clothes or some kind of rubbish, they give their goods to such barkers - “junk dealers”, sometimes even receiving money for getting rid of the rubbish. Everything they buy and collect can then be seen in special used goods stores. More often they look like our cluttered garages with a bunch of rubbish, but sometimes quite rare things and antiques fall into their hands, the owners often do not know what they are throwing away. Collectors often visit such stores.

Walking through the narrow streets similar to Moda, you can find many very old beautiful houses. These houses are mostly wooden, they are built very close to each other. Previously, in hot weather, such buildings often caused massive fires; if one house caught fire, then, as a rule, half the area burned out.

Going down, closer to the shore, you can see several cafes with tables under open air- these are tea gardens, they are called so because the menu there only includes tea, coffee and some other drinks. A great place to take a break from your walk around Kadikoy, order a couple of glasses of tea and chat about this and that.

Tea in Turkey is the favorite drink of the locals; they drink it a lot here, often and everywhere. It is served in special glass cups of a special shape, which prevents rapid cooling. This glass is called “tea bardak”, bardak in Turkish means glass, but tea is just tea.

The process of preparing Turkish tea is slightly different from regular brewing and takes approximately 20 minutes. First, the tea leaf is poured into a small teapot and filled with boiling water, then it is placed on a large teapot with water, and then this two-story teapot is put on low heat. Its taste is not particularly refined, and the very quality of Turkish tea leaves, they say, is not the best. The famous Turkish coffee among the locals is inferior in popularity to tea; the locals practically don’t drink it, and I still don’t understand why it’s famous. It tastes an order of magnitude inferior even to our 3-in-1 sachets.

A walk around Kadikoy once again convinced us that Istanbul is a city of contrasts. A completely different atmosphere from a calm, quiet, clean area full of friendly and wonderful people.

I want to come back here again, and more than once, but we crossed the Bosphorus on the same ferry and decided to visit one of the most tall buildings not only in Istanbul, but also in Turkey - the Istanbul Sapphire skyscraper.

Skyscraper Istanbul Sapphire

Of the 64 floors of this skyscraper, 54 are located above ground. Here, at an altitude of 236 meters, is open observation deck. From this terrace you can enjoy impressive panoramic views cities in all directions.

The skyscraper is located on the European side of Istanbul (4Levent metro station). At the Kabatash pier we go down to the Tünel, also known as a funicular. There is only one stage in Tunel, that is, we get off at the next stop. Further along the passage to the Taksim metro station. By metro to stop 4 Levent (be careful, we can easily pass the Levent stop, we don’t need it - our goal further is 4 Levent). At the stop, all the passengers quickly scatter somewhere, we look around, figure out where to go. We don't go outside. We need an entrance to Istanbul Sapphire. There is a sign on the wall, but we didn't notice it. If you don’t see it either, ask someone, they will tell you. Entrance from the metro directly to Istanbul Sapphire.

At the entrance to the skyscraper there is an employee on duty from whom you can borrow a wheelchair, which we did, you just need to leave your passport as a deposit. Then we go through the entire first floor to the elevators, and this is where the fun begins. With our technical education and knowledge automated systems We still haven't figured out the buttons in the elevator. After exploring the floors enough, we decided to ask an employee for help. He desperately explained something to us, but it was in vain. In the end, having pressed some combination in the elevator, the employee wished us “Bon Voyage” and left the elevator, but it was as if we were flying up hundreds of meters on a rocket.

It turned out that this was not the whole climb: after getting out of the elevator and getting lost a little more, we found the ticket office with the help of passers-by. Entrance cost 15 liras. After purchasing tickets, we go to another elevator, here the employee himself enters the elevator and goes up with you.

Here, at a bird's eye view, there is a restaurant, a 5D cinema with panoramas of Istanbul, and along the perimeter there is a view of the metropolis from a great height.

The feeling of the opening view cannot be put into words or described in any way, you just have to see it and feel it for yourself.

As you can see from the photographs, the observation deck is fenced with glass (probably not easy). There are tables here where you can sit and have tea and enjoy all the beauties of evening Istanbul.

Opposite the elevator there is a door that leads to the roof. It is necessary to overcome 2-3 flights of stairs, and we find ourselves at the very top of the skyscraper - on its roof. I don’t know why, but there’s practically no one here: maybe not everyone knows, or maybe they’re afraid to come up here. There are no longer any fences here. Be careful, especially with cameras. Istanbul is all at your fingertips from here. We recommend everyone to first climb up and exclaim: “I saw the whole of Istanbul from above,” and then climb here, onto the roof of the skyscraper and make sure that Istanbul has no outskirts and what is visible from the Galata Tower is a small part of it .

The time was approaching sunset, the view of which from here is simply amazing. It’s impossible to tear yourself away from it; you want to enjoy it endlessly. Not a single painting or photograph will convey the emotions of the person who was present here that evening.

Sunset from the Sapphire skyscraper

Having had enough of a walk at the heights, we went down to the first floor of the skyscraper. The time was approaching night; it was still necessary to have dinner after such impressions. There is an excellent cafe here on the ground floor, right next to the metro exit. Here we sat down to rest. The waiters kindly showed us everything, explained it, and fed us delicious food.

At the exit, we handed over the stroller, received a passport and, happy and well-fed, headed towards the metro.

We got off at Taksim Square station. The elevator from the carriage itself to the exit to the square took us up in a matter of seconds, and after a few minutes we were already walking along the busy Istiklal Street (I wanted to show Andrey yesterday’s crowds). We didn't have enough for long. After wandering among the crowd for 20-30 minutes, it was decided to go home.

You can certainly count the day as an asset. Despite the rain for an hour and a half, we still managed to walk along the Asian side and see Istanbul, as they say, from three sides: from land, from water and from the air. This is not the end of our adventures in this metropolis; there are still 4 days ahead.

The Asian side of Istanbul is an excellent alternative to the European side, where, as is commonly believed, the best attractions of the city are located. Tourists pay much less attention to the Asian part, although there is something to see there too. Quiet and mostly prestigious districts, which are separated by the Bosphorus Strait, allow you to see Istanbul in a completely different way, without crowds and constant chaos.

Many visitors try to combine a visit to the Asian part of the city with a Bosphorus cruise or a day trip to Beylerbey Sarai, summer palace Sultanov. But there are many more attractions there, worthy of attention travelers. For those who have a limited amount of time, we can advise visiting the main areas - Kadikoy and Uskudar. Located in Üsküdar greatest number architectural gems this part of Istanbul, including beautiful mosques, several monuments and synagogues. Kadikoy has a noisy shopping mall, bazaar, Opera House and some of best restaurants cities.

And so, to the list the most famous sights of this coast Istanbul includes:

• Kadikoy market,
• Baghdad street,

Kadikoy district and the market of the same name
The best way to start exploring Asian Istanbul is to take the ferry to Kadikoy and visit the open-air market. This great place, to spend some incredibly interesting hours browsing and shopping. There are many good pastry shops, bookstores and cafes where you can take a break from shopping. On Tuesday the market is the busiest, but on any other day of the week closer to the pier there is also active trading. True, it will be a little less exciting.

Once you visit Kadikoy, you should not miss the opportunity ride a nostalgic tram, which runs between Kadikoy and Moda districts. This type of public transport allows you to explore the surroundings of the most beautiful areas of the Asian part of Istanbul. At the Moda İskele Pier you can relax in a nice cafe or restaurant, enjoy local coffee, listening to the splashing of the Sea of ​​Marmara. In the southwest of Kadikoy district, you will find piers:

• Kalamysh
• and Fenerbahce.

To get there, just drive parallel to the sea from Moda until you see the Fenerbahce football stadium. Then you need to go to Kalamış Park, it will be on your right, and then there will be a marina. If you continue in the same direction, you won't be able to see the sea right away, but don't worry. After you pass Kalamis Kiosk, you will see Fener Kalamış Street on the right. Turn there and keep driving until you come to Fenerbahce Park. There's a lot there good cafes, green area overlooking the Sea of ​​Marmara.

Haydarpasa Station
If you take the ferry to Kadikoy, the first stop on the Asian side is opposite the huge, magnificent building of the current terminal of Istanbul Haydarpasa Station. Built between 1906 and 1908 in neoclassical style, the station was a gift to the Turkish Sultan from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and was located on the Istanbul-Baghdad and Istanbul-Damascus-Medina railway lines.

Baghdad Caddesi
Bağdat Caddesi is the most famous street in the Asian side of Istanbul and is easily accessible by any minibus heading to Bostanci. It is surrounded by fashionable residential areas, but the street itself is like a large open-air shopping mall, known for its chic brand stores, department stores, restaurants, cafes and bars. The atmosphere is relaxed, there is a sense of style almost everywhere and most shops are open every day. Baghdad Caddesi has a length of 3.7 km from Bostancı to Kızıltoprak, running almost parallel to the coastline.

Uskudar District
As for Usküdar, the history of its creation is no less interesting than the main attractions located there. It was founded as a Greek colony in the 7th century BC. BC, the area grew outside the city walls of Byzantine Constantinople and was densely populated by Turks during its existence Ottoman Empire. Today there are many beautiful mosques, fountains, hydraulic structures and palaces.

The main attractions of this area modern Istanbul are:

• Ostrorog house,
• Edib Efendi mansion,
• Beylerbey Mosque,
• Yeni Valide Mosque,
• and the Ahmet III fountain on Üsküdar Square.

There are also many large ancient cemeteries in the area, including Jewish and Orthodox (Christian) cemeteries, Karacaahmet Mezarlığı (one of the largest cemeteries in Istanbul). You can get to Üsküdare Square by taking a ferry from Eminönü and Besiktas or taking a taxi from Kadikoy.

Maiden Tower
It is located on the top of a small island, which is located two hundred meters from the shore of Usküdare. It appeared in the medieval Byzantine period, but opened its doors to the mass public only in 2000. Today the tower has become a symbol of Turkey and can be seen in many drawings and paintings. In the James Bond film The World Is Enough, it is introduced as the secret hideout of the villainess Elektra.

Besides the fact that Kız Kulesi is a real historical value, there is a bar, cafe and restaurant. One of the best views in the city. The Maiden Tower can be reached by boat from Üsküdare Salacak, or from Ortakoy and Kabatas pier on the European side.

Princes' Islands
In addition, the Princes' Islands are located 1.5 miles from the Asian side of Istanbul. If you have time, be sure to go there and enjoy beach holiday in an ecologically clean area.

In those distant times, when Byzantium was founded on the site of the modern Fatih region, with a difference of ten years, the Greeks created the polis of Chalcedon on the Asian side. Byzantium was destined to be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and bear the name Constantinople, and then to become Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Chalcedon was not destined for such a brilliant fate. It became the Kadikoy (Kadikoy) district of Istanbul.

There are different versions about the origin of this name: either it is the word Chalcedon distorted into Turkish, or the name comes from two Turkish words “key” - “village” and “judge” - “kadi”, since the conqueror of Constantinople Sultan Mehmed II bestowed this land to his first qadi...

4 interesting things to do in Kadikoy and where the real Europe is

Kadikoy is the very center of the Asian part of Istanbul. But this fact alone is not enough to make you want to go there. Right? So we were plagued by doubts: is it worth going there, is there anything interesting there? Therefore, right away: if you want to see some special archaeological or historical sights here, then this is not here. Behind them - to the European component of the metropolis. But there is something interesting here:

1. There are few tourists here, but there are many good and different shops, plenty of shopping opportunities. Go to Kadikoy for clothes, shoes, books, antiques.
2. Lots of great bars, cafes and restaurants. There are those specializing in fish dishes made from the freshest fish fresh from the Bosphorus. Lots of delicious fast food. Eat!
3. Houses and streets unlike any other. Another Nostalgia tram route.
4. Silence, greenery, cozy streets and parks, beautiful embankment It's nice to walk here. Magnificent views of the strait, the Sea of ​​Marmara, and old Istanbul.

The Turks say that the European half of the former capital is for business, and the Asian half is for life. The local joke goes like this: “The real Europe is here in Asia!” So, welcome to Kadikoy!

Haydarpasa Station

As the ferry approaches the Kadikoy pier, it is impossible not to notice a building to the left of it, somewhat reminiscent of a stern Teutonic castle. This is the famous Haydarpasa train station. It is the largest in Turkey. Do you see how it juts out into the sea? This is because it sits on a man-made peninsula and on a foundation of hundreds of wooden piles driven into the seabed. It was completed in 1908 and was built according to a German design, since at that time the German Empire had some plans for influence in this region.

The Haydarpaşa building, covered with textured sandstone, with marble staircases and stained glass windows, is considered a national treasure and a symbol of the Asian part of the city. In 2010, when scheduled restoration work was being carried out, a fire suddenly broke out. The fire was extinguished for several hours using fire boats and water cannons. Fortunately, no one was killed, but most of the roof and the entire fourth floor were damaged. To the delight of Istanbul residents, the historical Haydarpasa building is now in perfect order. Near the station final stop all buses. But we don’t get off here, but, having admired Haydarpasa, we go to the next stop - the Kadikoy terminal.

Kadikoy balloon - why people don’t fly

On the right side of the pier you can see a huge hot air balloon - Turk balon. In the photographs of this balloon in Kadikoy that are found on the Internet, the balloon is of different colors. This is surprising and confusing. What is this – the result of processing a picture with Photoshop? Another cylinder? The riddle can be explained very simply. The original color of the balloon was yellow, but then it was repainted white, decorated with motifs of the Turkish flag. This one is a tethered charlier, with a balloon filled with helium. Held by a steel cable, it can soar to a maximum height of 200 meters. With him, he lifts a basket to a height that can accommodate up to 30 people. The time of the celestial excursion is short, the balloon is in the air for a short time, about ten minutes.

Can you imagine what a view it has of the city blocks and the Bosphorus Strait, what a magnificent view! What a picturesque panorama! It was made by the same company Aerophile, which was the manufacturer of the one on which we ascended to the sky at Angkor Wat! This is where we experienced a sea of ​​emotions!

Unfortunately, the balloon is not rising now: due to the winds constantly blowing on the Bosphorus, the authorities considered this entertainment unsafe.

But under balloon, although those sitting now are having fun, there is a cafe. Here, sitting at a table with friends, it’s great to look at the waters of the port and watch the ferries come and go.

But while preparing this article, I suddenly came across a message that the balloon would now never take off. Kadikoy authorities dismantled it and took it away. Now they are looking for a worthy replacement for this area landmark. And it seems that the municipality decided that such an object would be a giant Ferris wheel, like in London. Now it’s up to the opinion of the residents of Istanbul and especially the residents of the Kadikoy district.

Istanbul Marinas

Now we already remember by heart the three-sources-three-component-parts of Istanbul:

• European old town
• European new city what's beyond the Golden Horn
• Asian part

They are all connected by routes water transport. Each part of the metropolis has several regular piers and one main one. For the old city, this is the Eminonu piers; in the new city, the main flow of passengers goes through Besiktas and Karakoy, and in the Asian part, the center of ferry life is located in Kadikoy.

At every pier in Istanbul there is a board indicating flights. Payment through the token system or Istanbulkart, with a valid system of discounts for transfers.

The rules for boarding the ferry are simple: first, arriving passengers disembark, then the doors of the waiting room open and citizens waiting to board board. In practice, this happens with much more expression than is written: the crowd rushes at full speed, overwhelmed by the desire to occupy best places! Are you seated? Then you are seven feet under the keel!

Kadikoy Marina

The Kadikoy district originates from the pier of the same name. The crowded terminals are in full swing as ships dock and depart one after another. Sea transportation all year round, without holidays and weekends, is provided by 4 companies:

1. IDO Company (abbreviation Istanbul Deniz Otobusleri)
2. Sehir Hatları Traditional Ferries Company (vapurs)
3. TurYol association, working in parallel with IDO. The ships of this company are more modern and they go closer to the shore for better viewing.
4. Dentur Avrasya Group is engaged in passenger transportation on numerous routes up the Bosphorus in Istanbul, sometimes duplicating the routes of the TurYol and Sehir Hatları ferries.

Each of them has its own schedule and its own pier. Let's remember a useful word - iskele, which refers to the piers of Istanbul.

Our ferry approaches the pier, our little trip, now the mooring lines are deftly thrown onto the bollards, we go ashore. And - here it is, Asia! Somewhere here Vasilisa, our guide, meets us.

We warn you right away: do not be fooled by first impressions. Standing on the pier and glancing left and right, you may again think that there is nothing interesting here after all. But don't rush. This part of the area is the least attractive. And here you, an inquisitive tourist, have your first local attraction - the building of a historical theater named after the Turkish playwright Haldun Taner. But we pass by, Vasilisa leads us further.

Another Monument to Ataturk and about the transition to the Latin alphabet

If you stand with your back to the ferry, then a little to the right of the pier you can find interesting monument the first President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, teaching children the Latin alphabet. Turkish children simply love to take pictures in the square next to this statue. There is a cult of Ataturk among children and adults in the country.

The transition to the Latin alphabet instead of the Arabic alphabet was one of his very first reforms. Currently, all Turkish words are written using the Latin alphabet and six additional characters. And every word sounds as it is written.

And during the period of the Ottoman Empire, few people knew how to write; Arabic letters did not fit well Turkish language, and after the introduction of the Latin alphabet, the quality of education improved. It also allowed the country to better integrate into the world and move closer to Europe.

Now the alphabets of many countries - almost 80% of the countries of the entire planet - are based on the Latin alphabet. Our close neighbors Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan write on this graph, and by 2025 Kazakhstan will switch to it.