Istanbul straddles two continents- Europe and Asia which is super unique and visiting the Asian side of Istanbul from the European side is something you should do in the city!
How to Visit the Asian Side of Istanbul!
The neighbourhood of Kadikoy on the Asian side along with Uskudar are the best 2 places to head to on a boatfrom the European side to the Asian side of Istanbul so in this guide, I’ll tell you how to do it!
Boat from Karakoy to Kadikoy
I was staying in the Karakoy neighbourhood of Istanbul so I went down to the pier nearby and there was a ticket booth which had KADIKOY written on it with a boat waiting so I used my Istanbulkart (the card you need to get to use all transport in Istanbul) to get through the barriers where it deducted a meer 2.15TL/£0.50 off the card and I got onto the boat… nice and easy!
The boat journey from Karakoy to Kadikoy took about 20 minutes and there were great views all around!
GETTING TO ISTANBUL CITY CENTRE
If you’re flying into Sabia Airport, read how to get from Sabia Airport to the city here!
WHERE TO STAY IN ISTANBUL?
Still not booked accommodation? Here are the best neighbourhoods to stay in Istanbul!
WHAT TO DO IN ISTANBUL?
Read my guide to all the things to do in Istanbul and follow my 4 day and 3 day Istanbul itinerary!
UNIQUE IDEAS FOR ISTANBUL
Been to Istanbul before? Want to get off the tourist trail? Here are my suggested Hidden Gems in Istanbul and the Best cafes in Istanbul that locals go to too!
Things to do in Kadikoy
On arriving at Kadikoy port I realised I didn’t quite know where to go from here, however, I checked the map on my phone and headed straight on from the port, across the road and from here I could see plenty of shops and restaurants and once I walked up the road I saw the infamous Bull statue that I had read about in some blog posts and then saw lots of coloured boulders.
It seemed like a good idea to follow them and they did, in fact, lead me to a good part of the Kadikoy neighbourhood.
It’s a shopping street and mainly a walking street with the exception of the tram and a few cars and it felt like Istiklal Street which is on the European side of Istanbul but not on as many steroids!
It was quite cute really especially with all the coloured posts and between the main street where the tram went there were plenty of places to eat and shops to look at and I didn’t feel like I was being hassled as much here as I have been on the other side of Istanbul.
After walking around this area I headed to Moda by foot, another neighbourhood which I had read about and I was able to walk right along the ocean and enjoy the many parks they had.
How to get to Uskudar By Boat
Boat is the most obvious way of how to get to Uskudar because it’s likely you’ll be on one of the European sides and therefore need to cross the Bosporus to the Asian side.
If you’re on the European Side near Karakoy, Taksim, Galata Tower and Cihangar, which are popular places to stay in Istanbul, then I suggest you get the tram or bus to Kabatas Ferry Terminal and on arrival, you’ll see a very clear departure sign for Uskudar!
The other way you can get a boat is from Eminonu Ferry Terminal next to the Galata Bridge but on the same side as Hagia Sophia etc so if you are around this area, head to Eminonu, there is a tram stop outside the ferry terminal.
How to get to Uskudar By Metro
The other option is by metro, because yes, there is a metro line that runs right under the Bosporus and connects Europe to Asia! This is called the Marmaray and the Marmaray from Yenikapi Station goes to Uskudar Marmaray Station in just a few minutes!
Things to do in Uskudar
See my guide my top 10 favourite things to do in Uskudar here!
One of them includes visiting the biggest mosque in Turkey, Camilla Mosque, I have a full guide on how to visit the mosque here!
I really love the Asian side of Istanbul. Some people decide to base themselves this side of the city and I think this is a great option for a second or third trip to Istanbul. For a first trip to Istanbul, I think it’s best to stay on the European side as there’s more going on and it’s more iconic, and then day trip to the Asian side of Istanbul to Kadikoy or Uskudar as explained in this post.
- For more of my Turkey posts see:
- 3 Day Istanbul Itinerary
- 36 BEST Things To Do In Istanbul With Insider Tips!
- What To Wear In Istanbul As a Woman To Feel Comfortable Exploring!
- Istanbul 4 Day Itinerary! What To See in Istanbul in 4 Days!
- 10 Istanbul Hidden Gems To Visit For Unique Things To Do in Istanbul!
- GUIDE For Where to Stay in Istanbul! 10 BEST Neighbourhoods in Istanbul to Stay in!
- Where To Stay in Istanbul Taksim Or Sultanahmet? Which is BEST?
- Balat Istanbul Guide. The Colourful Houses in Balat & More!
- A 3 Day Istanbul Itinerary! Things To Do in Istanbul in 3 Days!
- How to Travel From Istanbul to Cappadocia.
- How Much Does a Trip to Cappadocia Cost?
Istanbul is one of the top cities on my must-do list, but I rarely see much about the Asian side, so thanks for this!
I love that the cat is drinking outside of a shop with a window full of little cats, btw!
That’s good to hear. When I was looking for posts on the Asian side I couldn’t see much which is a reason I wrote this!
I know the cats are so cute and well looked after!
I hope you make it to Istanbul soon crystal! X
Thanks for this post. I am travelling to Istanbul with my husband and two girls (8 and 6) next month. We decided to experience both European and Asian side but you right, there isn’t much written about the Asian side.
Thanks again
That’s interesting to hear especially as I visited and wrote this a few years ago. I’m glad you’re going to see both sides. I’m going back to Istanbul next month too actually but not sure if I’ll have time to make it back to the Asian side.
Enjoy your time there 🙂