If I were to use one word to describe what I think about Istanbul from my last visit to the magnificent city, I'd say 'Diverse'. Istanbul is Turkey's cradle of culture, food, and sheer beauty. But I feel pity for most people visiting Istanbul. Why? They visit the European side of Istanbul and call it complete. They entirely overlook a part of the city that's right within view—the lesser-known Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey.
We visited the Asian Side of Istanbul for just 2 days and goodness, the liveliness we still miss. The difference between the European Side Vs. Asian Side Istanbul is vast. But in this article, we'll only be talking about the 10 Must-Know things before visiting the Asian Side of Istanbul in 2025.
You can Travel by Ferry, Bus, Metro or Uber
Yes, it's very easy to switch between the 2 sides and it would take about 1 hour through any of these modes. And the best thing is, unless you're travelling from Uber or BiTaksi, you can use your Istanbulkart to pay for your transport. It would cost around 7TL (less than 1$)
As we had too much baggage from shopping on the European Side, we took an Uber which cost us 440 TL (13$) from Taksim to Kadikoy.
But we were told that the Ferry was the most preferred and scenic option to cross the Bosphorus and reach the Asian Side.
Even within the Asian Side of Istanbul, you can travel by Tram and Bus to reach other neighbourhoods like Uskudur and Moda.
Fewer Hammams Compared to the European Side
We made a mistake on our trip by postponing the hammam bath to our final day in Istanbul which was on the Asian Side as our return flight home was departing from Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
After shopping and strolling around Kadikoy, we tried googling Hammam spots nearby and we found about 3 options which all had mediocre reviews.
Our hotel host mentioned that the Hammam culture—a popular tourist activity—is only found on the European side of Istanbul. Apparently not, cause we did find a spa in Kadikoy offering Hammam baths, but it didn’t feel quite as authentic.
So make sure you get your body scrubbed while on the European Side.
Many Turkish Inspired Western Desserts but Not A lot of Turkish Desserts
Desserts are at the heart of Turkish Cuisine. From the famous Baklava to Turkish Delights, traditional sweets have been an integral part of their food culture since the Ottoman times. And if you take a stroll in the streets of Fatih, you'd see brightly lit dessert stores every 10 feet.
But there aren't many on the Asian Side. You'd find wholesale chains like Makbul in Kadikoy and Umraniye, but if you're looking for artisanal dessert shops you'd be in for a challenge.
As much as food is ample here, traditional desserts really didn't make their way across the strait other than Hafiz Mustafa in Uskudur.
But there are so many Turkish-inspired Western Desserts like Pistachio sponges, mousses, puddings and cakes. We even found a delicious San Sebastian cake at a very affordable price. These would cost twice on the European side.
You're One Of The Locals
The most surprising experience for us travelling on the Asian Side is that we felt very safe from Scams as there were no tourists. Modern Turkish Scams can really drain you out and it's quite a serious problem on the European Side.
Here the majority are locals, and what we see is the life that locals live, the food that they eat and the places they go to. So you'd have fewer or none (in our case) trying to rip you off. We felt super safe the whole time.
The biggest challenge we faced was communication. We did struggle a bit as many locals on the Asian Side don't speak English.
Party and Nightlife on the Asian Side of Istanbul Turkey
The nightlife on the Asian Side is on a whole different level. The European Side as you'd see is slow-paced after sundown - especially the Fatih area where all the main historic locations close after 7 6 p.m. The Beyoglu, Taksim neighbourhood on the other hand is lively at night, but that's high-end shopping and too touristy.
When you visit the Kadikoy area on the Asian side of Istanbul, you'll notice a more relaxed vibe with less focus on display shopping and a more laid-back atmosphere. The area is dotted with casual bars and pubs serving alcohol openly, and you'll often see young locals playing board games on stools outside. It's a favorite spot for locals to unwind after a long workday or catch up with friends.
Not many Tourist Hotels on the Asian Side of Istanbul.
The Asian Side is not a tourist's choice of stay when visiting Istanbul. As it's away from all the hustle and bustle of the Ottoman heart, tourists tend to skip it altogether. Instead, it's the hotspot for Turkish locals.
This is why even today you won't find many hotels on the Asian Side of Istanbul, Turkey like you'd on the European Side.
But you will find a lot of quiet city hotels and apartments.
Affordable Shopping and Variety of Cheap Food
If you're looking to go random shopping in Turkey, Istanbul Asian Side is your go-to. You won't find Bazaars and traditional souvenir shops but you'll come across many street markets to shop for everything else - from fashion to electronics and skincare.
What's most notable is the food. We just loved how soulful the food was. Not only were they priced fairly, but overall, they were much better in terms of flavour and portion size. And the shop owners weren't trying to scam us every minute. Kudos Asian Side, you have our respect!
I particularly found Turkish food on the European Side quite dry. (I prefer my durums to have more sauce). I must say, I was not let down in that department when visiting the Asian side. Even the Islak Burgers were fire! The food is just divine.
"Sorry we don't serve Chai"
To be honest, I didn't like Turkish Chai in the first place. It lacked flavour and richness in depth. I'm more of a Ceylon Tea person, but I was surprised to hear that they don't drink Chai on the Asian Side. Seems like the locals prefer Coffee.
We were at the Agababa Express Restaurant (If you're familiar with the Skibbidy guy who wiggles his stomach at the sight of a large meat platter - this restaurant has a branch in Kadikoy) and wanted to have a Chai and the waiter was dumbfounded.
But don't worry, you'll still find Ayran and a unique Anatolian favourite called Salgam, a pickle drink, to flush down the meat and oil.
I loved Salgam so much that I brought back a few bottles home.
Not Many Activities for Solo Travellers
If you're a solo traveler on a tight schedule and budget, we recommend staying on the European side and visiting the Asian side for just a day—unless you have a clear plan of what to explore there.
There are no special historical sights to see apart from a few in the Uskudur area. You won't find souvenirs or traditional markets and mosques. They've got promenades and eat streets catering to groups of people and you'd surely feel lonely amidst the local crowds.
While the nightlife is pretty lit, we don't recommend hitting the clubs on your own unless you have befriended genuine locals who'd keep you company.
Pick Your Neighbourhood Wisely
Just like you have the Fatih, and Beyogulu neighbourhoods on the European Side, you also have Kadikoy, Moda and Uskudur neighbourhoods on the Asian Side. It's important you pick the right neighbourhood to stay in and travel to other neighbourhoods.
Kadikoy is the choice of stay for many travellers as it's the heart of the Asian Side. This is where we stayed as well. Everything is within reach, and this is where you'll find the famous Bronze Bull Statue. If you're in for the Asian experience, this is the place to stay.
Moda stretches along the Kadikoy Marmara beachfront and is a famous place for high-end restaurants and bars. If you're ready to spend a little extra for the finer experiences, you'll enjoy Moda.
Uskudur is on the northern point overlooking the European Side. Here you'd find some mosques and sights like the beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace. You'd also find some luxury hotels here but this neighbourhood is very similar to Balat City on the European Side. Plus it's somewhat far from the heart of the Asian Side.
So we advise you to plan out what you'll be doing on the Asian Side and book a stay that matches your requirements.
Conclusion
So there you go. Some of the most important things you need to know before you head to Istanbul's Asian Side.
It's a wonderful place to visit and if you're looking for a different experience from the European Side, you'd love it.
Are you planning to head to the Asian Side of Istanbul? Let us know where you'd be visiting in the comments below!
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