A Day Itinerary To Explore Istanbul’s Asian Side

When people travel to Istanbul, they tend to stay on the European side. I mean after all, that is where most of the city’s iconic landmarks are. From the Galata Tower to the famous Sultanahmet neighborhood where you’ll find the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Mosque. I mean, the European side covers over two-thirds of Istanbul’s landmass and with a population of over 15 million, there’s a lot to see.

But if you make it over to the Asian side, it’s an entirely different experience with so much to offer. It has some of my favorite neighborhoods in the city such as Kadikoy and Moda, great restaurants and cafes and if you want to shop, you’ll find cool, local shops that don’t have the tourist surcharge.

Getting to the Asian Side

Istanbul has two airports, one on the European side and the other on the Asian side. You can fly into the Asian side and stay there to explore that part of the city if you’d like, but if you decide to stay on the European side. There’s a few options to cross over the Bosphorous, the water channel that divides the city into two continents.

By ferry - my favorite way to cross the water channel and to get the best views of the city!

A ferry ride is a must in Istanbul. It’s hard to believe sometimes that it’s just a part of one’s daily life since it is a huge part of the city’s public transportation system. There’s ferry ports in Karakoy,

By the Marmara - Istanbul’s under water subway system

By bus or by taxi

Now that you’ve made it to the Asian side, here are my go to’s that to explore!

Shopping

Where to eat

What to do

Walk along on the trail with views of the Sea of Marmara

In between the park and Sea of Marmara is a walking trail that gives you views of the city and the sea. You can see Istanbul’s skyline in the distance while enjoying a nice stroll. I love walking here because it is significantly less crowded than other parts of the city and makes you feel like a local.