Istanbul Asian Side Private Tour: Üsküdar, Kuzguncuk, Kadıköy and Moda

Highlights

1. The ferry across the Bosphorus to Asia
2. The Mihrimah Sultan and Şemsi Pasha mosques by the water in Üsküdar
3. Kuzguncuk, where a mosque, a church and a synagogue stand a few steps apart
4. The view over both continents from Çamlıca Hill
5. The food market of Kadıköy and the sunset in Moda

Program

1. Morning

   The ferry to Üsküdar

   From Eminönü or Karaköy, the public ferry crosses to Üsküdar in about 15 to 25 minutes.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

2. Morning

   Üsküdar

   The mosques of Mihrimah Sultan and Şemsi Pasha by the water, and the Maiden's Tower offshore.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

3. Late morning

   Kuzguncuk

   Wooden houses, a mosque, a church and a synagogue on one street, and a coffee under the trees.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

4. Midday

   Çamlıca Hill

   The widest view of Istanbul, with both bridges and both continents below.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

5. Afternoon

   Kadıköy market

   Fishmongers, pickle shops, coffee roasters and lunch at a restaurant famous for Anatolian dishes.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

6. Sunset

   Moda

   A walk to the tip of Moda for the sunset over the old city.

   Opening hours & dress code ↓

In depth

Ask an Istanbul local where they live, and there is a good chance the answer is on the other side of the water. The Asian side is where millions of people commute from, shop, eat and go out. Yet it is easy to see it only from the deck of a ferry. Our private Istanbul Asian side tour changes that. In one relaxed day, you see Ottoman mosques by the sea, a village on the Bosphorus, a wide view over the city and a lively market.

Crossing to Asia on the Istanbul Asian Side Tour

The day starts the way it does for thousands of commuters: on a public ferry. From Eminönü or Karaköy, it crosses the Bosphorus to Üsküdar in about 15 to 25 minutes. Look back at the skyline of the old city as you go, and watch for the gulls following the boat. In autumn, join our Bosphorus birdwatching tour.

The ferry lands in Üsküdar, the more traditional side of the city. By the pier, the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, built in the 1540s for Suleiman’s daughter, greets the ferries. A short walk along the shore, the little Şemsi Pasha Mosque sits almost in the sea, and offshore, the Maiden’s Tower stands on its rock.

Kuzguncuk and Çamlıca

North along the Bosphorus, Kuzguncuk still feels like a village. Its wooden houses line steep lanes, and by the water a mosque and a church stand side by side, with a synagogue further up the street. Then we stop for coffee under the trees, as the neighbors do.

Next, we drive up to Çamlıca Hill, one of the highest hills of the city. From the top, both Bosphorus bridges, both continents and the whole old city lie below. On clear days, you even see the Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara.

Kadıköy, the Heart of the Istanbul Asian Side Tour

Later, in the afternoon, Kadıköy takes over. All around its market streets, fishmongers call out their catch, pickle shops line up jars of every color, and coffee roasters fill the air with smoke. For lunch, we choose a market restaurant famous for dishes from every corner of Anatolia.

After lunch, your guide also leads you through the bookshops and cafés of the side streets. Then we walk along Bahariye, the main shopping street, toward the sea.

Sunset in Moda

The day ends at the tip of Moda. Here, every evening, Istanbul families and students sit on the grass and rocks by the water to watch the sun go down behind the old city. Across the water, the domes and minarets of Sultanahmet stand in silhouette. For this reason, it is the best place to end any Istanbul Asian side tour.

From our guides

• Çiya SofrasıIn Kadıköy’s market, famous for forgotten dishes from all over Anatolia.
• Tuesday and FridayKadıköy’s big neighborhood bazaar fills the streets on these days.
• Kuzguncuk bakeriesThe small bakeries of the village sell fresh simit and pastries in the morning.
• Ali UstaIn Moda, a classic for ice cream on summer evenings.

Our suggestion Before the ferry back, stop at Baylan in Kadıköy, a Kadıköy patisserie since 1961, and order the Kup Griye, its famous ice cream sundae with caramel sauce.

Make the Istanbul Asian Side Tour Yours

For a shorter day, we visit only Üsküdar and Kadıköy. For more of the Asian shore, add Beylerbeyi Palace under the first bridge. To see the European side, combine this tour with our Golden Horn tour or a private Bosphorus cruise. Kadıköy looks different after dark, and our night tour crosses back to it by ferry for street food and a meyhane.

Before you go

• 

  Eminönü

  Entry

  No ticket needed

• 

  Üsküdar

  Entry

  No ticket needed to explore; mosques open outside prayer times

• 

  Kuzguncuk

  Open

  The streets and the garden are open at all times; churches and the synagogue keep their own hours

  Closed

  Beth Yaakov Synagogue only by prior arrangement through the Chief Rabbinate

  Dress

  Modest clothing for the mosque, churches and synagogue

  Entry

  No ticket needed

• 

  Çamlıca Hill

  Entry

  Public park, no ticket needed; mosque open (modest dress); tower ticketed

• 

  Kadıköy

  Open

  The streets are open at all times; market stalls during the day

  Closed

  Never

  Entry

  No ticket needed

• 

  Moda

  Entry

  Public neighborhood and seaside park; house museum ticketed

Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.

What’s included

Practical

Updated: October 22, 2026

Starts

Around 9:30. You can also choose your own time.

Ends

Moda, or your hotel by ferry or car

Meeting point

Your hotel, or Eminönü pier

Walking

Overall, moderate: hills in Kuzguncuk and Moda, with a vehicle between the far points.

Accessibility

Tell us your needs. The ferries and the Kadıköy waterfront are mostly flat.

Cancellation

If the weather stops the ferries, we cross by car over a bridge or through the tunnel.

Frequently asked questions