Kadıköy Square (İskele Meydanı)
Kadıköy Square is the main transport hub and meeting point on the Asian side. It's a busy, open area in front of the ferry terminal, surrounded by shops and cafes.
“To feel the everyday pulse of the Asian side and start exploring Kadıköy from its main hub.”
See the exact spot on the map at right. The highlighted pin clearly marks this stop.
Known locally as İskele Meydanı, this square is the functional heart of Kadıköy. It's where the ferries from the European side arrive and where buses, minibuses, and taxis converge, making it a constant swirl of activity. The square itself is a large, paved open space, perfect for people-watching and getting your bearings.
It's not a manicured park or a historic site, but a genuine, working public square. The surrounding streets are packed with everything from bakeries and fishmongers to bookshops and coffee chains. It's the starting point for exploring the rest of Kadıköy's famous market streets and neighborhoods.
For a better coffee than the chains, walk two minutes into the market streets behind the square.
The main square area is flat and paved, but it's often very crowded, which can be challenging for navigation.
Keep going in Kadıköy
A few places that pair well with this stop on the same day.
Bahariye Avenue
Bahariye Avenue is the main pedestrian street in Kadıköy, lined with shops, cafes, and historic theaters. It's the neighborhood's central artery, always full of life.
Kadıköy Bull Statue
A large bronze bull statue in the heart of Kadıköy's main square. It's a popular meeting point and a symbol of the neighborhood.
