Kadıköy & Moda

Istanbul

The lively heart of the Asian side: a famous food market, bars and street art in Kadıköy, and the seafront parks of Moda a short walk south.

Best for Nightlife · Budget

Transport: 3/5
Sights: 1/5
Value: 5/5
Quiet: 3/5
Food: 5/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$95/night · 20 min to Eminönü

See hotels in Kadıköy & Moda

Why stay here

Some of the best food in Istanbul
Lower hotel prices
Ferry rides across the Bosphorus every day

Who should stay here

Food lovers
Return visitors
Travellers who want a local neighbourhood

Not ideal if…

You want to walk to the sights
It's your first short visit
You want a big choice of hotels

What it's like

Kadıköy is where many Istanbulites go out. The streets behind the ferry pier are a food market of fishmongers, delis, pickle shops and small restaurants, and the bars around Kadife Sokak are busy every night. Moda, on the headland to the south, is calmer, with cafés, seafront parks and sunset over the old city.

Hotel choice is thinner than across the water and prices are lower. The 20-minute ferry to Eminönü or Karaköy is one of the best rides in the city, but it does mean every trip to the main sights starts with a boat. Sabiha Gökçen, the second airport, is closer than Istanbul Airport.

Best streets and sub-areas

Kadıköy market
Güneşlibahçe and nearby streets of food shops and eateries.
Kadife Sokak
'Bar Street', busy every night.
Moda Caddesi
Cafés and shops down to the Moda seafront.

Getting around

Nearest stations: Ferries from Kadıköy pier to Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş, the M4 metro east, and Marmaray at Ayrılık Çeşmesi under the Bosphorus.
To Eminönü: About 20 minutes
From Istanbul Airport: About 90 minutes: M11 metro and the M2 to Yenikapı, then Marmaray under the Bosphorus; Sabiha Gökçen is about an hour by Havabus.

Nearby attractions

Kadıköy food market
Graze from stall to stall and stop for a fish sandwich.
Moda seafront
Parks and tea gardens with sunset views of the old city.
Ferry to Eminönü
Twenty minutes across the water, with tea and seagulls.

Where to eat and drink

Çiya Sofrası
Well-known restaurant of regional Anatolian dishes in the market.
Kadife Sokak
Bars and pubs from early evening until late.
Moda tea gardens
Tea by the sea at the end of Moda Caddesi.

Where to stay in Kadıköy & Moda

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Best value

DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul - Moda

Why we like it: Modern hotel between Kadıköy market and Moda.

Typical mid-range rate in Kadıköy & Moda: ~$95/night

Check availability

Luxury pick

Wyndham Grand Istanbul Kalamış Marina

Why we like it: Large hotel by the marina a little south of Moda.

Typical luxury rate in Kadıköy & Moda: ~$180/night