Kadıköy (District)

Kadıköy is a district located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, covering an area of 25.20 km². According to TÜİK 2024 data, the population of Kadıköy is 462,189.^【1】 To the east it borders Maltepe, to the west Üsküdar and Ataşehir, to the south the Sea of Marmara, and to the north Üsküdar. The district has an average elevation of 120 metres and is built on a series of hills extending from northeast to southeast, including Göztepe, Fikirtepe, Acıbadem, Altıyol, Cevizlik (Küçük Moda), and Koşuyolu. Kadıköy has a coastline of approximately 21 km and is supported by active green spaces such as Fenerbahçe Park, Göztepe Park, and Özgürlük Park.

Kadıköy (Subgovernorship of Kadıköy, Republic of Türkiye)

History

Ancient Period

The history of Kadıköy extends back to 675 BCE. One of the earliest known settlements in the area is Harhadon, a trading colony established by the Phoenicians around 1000 BCE in Fikirtepe. Fikirtepe is home to the Fikirtepe culture, the oldest known Neolithic pottery culture in Istanbul.

Near Fikirtepe, another settlement emerged between Moda Cape and Yoğurtçu, known as Chalcedon. Over time, Chalcedon became known for its Temple of Apollo. The Haydarpaşa Meadow began to be used for horse racing.

Roman and Byzantine Period

In 658 BCE, the Byzantines settled on the Seraglio Point and laid the foundations of the city of Byzantium, influenced by the aesthetic beauty of the surrounding landscape. While admiring this attractive settlement site, they regarded the population on the opposite shore (in Kadıköy) as blind and referred to the area as the “Land of the Blind.”

Ottoman Period

Chalcedon suffered various sieges and came largely under Ottoman control between 1352 and 1353. After the conquest of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmet granted Chalcedon to Celalzade Hızır Bey, the first kadı of Istanbul and the grandson of Nasreddin Hoca’s daughter. As a result of this appointment, the settlement’s name was changed to Kadıköy.

During the Ottoman period, Kadıköy retained its importance as a summer retreat and leisure destination for high-ranking officials, as it had been in Roman and Byzantine times. Haydarpaşa, Kuşdili Deresi (Kurbağalıdere), and the slopes of Çamlıca, along with Acıbadem, Koşuyolu, and Fenerbahçe, were used as expansive meadows and recreational areas. Within these areas, pavilions, seaside palaces, and gardens belonging to the sultan and high-ranking Ottoman officials were constructed, while village settlements occupied the interior zones.

In the 18th century, particularly during the Tulip Era, Kadıköy’s significance as a leisure destination increased; Haydarpaşa, Yoğurtçu, Moda, and Kuşdili meadows became popular recreational spots. During this period, the Armenian population also began settling in the area.

In the first half of the 19th century, the general condition of the Ottoman Empire and increasing military activity led Kadıköy, despite its seasonal use, to acquire military importance. In 1869, Kadıköy was incorporated into the administrative structure of Üsküdar Sancağı, a larger settlement unit.

From the second half of the 19th century, Kadıköy entered a phase of rapid development. Construction began on major military facilities such as Selimiye Barracks and Haydarpaşa Military Hospital. Subsequently, urban ferry services were introduced, and the Haydarpaşa–İzmit railway line was opened.

During this period, non-Muslim and Levantine communities settled around Moda, while high-ranking state officials built pavilions in areas such as Göztepe, Erenköy, and Bostancı during the reign of Abdulhamid II (1876–1909). Wealthy Levantines and non-Muslims in the Fenerbahçe area also constructed summer pavilions.

In 1892, the installation of the Hasanpaşa Gasworks initiated gas lighting in Kadıköy. In 1894, the city water supply system became operational. The first president of the newly established Tenth Municipal Department during this period was Osman Hamdi Bey.

Between 1912 and 1914, urban development activities were carried out in Kadıköy under the leadership of Mayor Cemil Topuzlu; roads and infrastructure projects were implemented, and Yoğurtçu Park was constructed along the banks of Kuşdili Deresi. Additionally, the municipal building, still in service today, was built during this period on İskele Square.

Moda, 1900 (Kadıköy Municipality)

Republican Period

Istanbul and Kadıköy were liberated from occupation forces on 6 October 1923 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Kadıköy, which had long remained a settlement unit subordinate to Üsküdar, gained district status on 1 September 1930 under Law No. 1612 dated 15 May 1930.^【2】 At that time, Kadıköy consisted of two sub-districts: Kızıltoprak and Erenköy.

Electricity service reached the district in 1928. The tramway line, operated by a company established in 1927, began service between Üsküdar and Kısıklı in 1928 and was extended to Kadıköy in 1929.

Between 1938 and 1949, under the administration of Governor and Mayor Dr. Lütfi Kırdar, who led Istanbul’s third urban development program, various urban projects were carried out in Kadıköy. During this period, a bridge was constructed connecting the Haydarpaşa section of the Kadıköy–Üsküdar road to the railway, and Bağdat Avenue was asphalted as far as Kartal. The Kadıköy Halkevi was also built. A new water reservoir was constructed in Kozyatağı. The operator of the Kadıköy Gasworks in Hasanpaşa, Havagazı Şirketi, was incorporated into the Istanbul Electricity, Tramway and Tunnel Enterprise (İETT) in 1945. Bus operations began in 1947 to support the tramway network.

1950s and Beyond

In the 1950s, infrastructure and transportation projects continued in Kadıköy. The construction of Haydarpaşa Port, begun in 1953, included additional piers and warehouses. The dual-carriageway road from Haydarpaşa to Pendik, initiated in 1954 and completed between 1957 and 1958 (formerly E-5, now D-100), was one of the most prominent projects of this era. Additionally, the new Ankara Road, constructed north of Kadıköy in place of Bağdat Avenue, diverted intercity traffic away from residential areas.

Kadıköy, 1950 (Subgovernorship of Kadıköy, Republic of Türkiye)

In the 1950s, detached houses with gardens remained the dominant form of development around Kadıköy. However, this structural transformation accelerated significantly in the 1960s. With the growth of commerce and service sectors in Kadıköy after 1960, the district emerged as a second-tier metropolitan sub-center, following Sirkeci, Eminönü, Karaköy, and Beyoğlu as one of Istanbul’s primary urban centers. During this period, Kadıköy gradually moved away from its traditional neighborhood center functions.

The opening of the first Bosphorus Bridge in the 1970s diminished the importance of sea travel, diverting the majority of traffic to the bridge. However, accelerated migration in the 1980s and the establishment of the Metropolitan Municipality once again made Kadıköy a prominent settlement area through new urban planning. The urban plans implemented during this period, along with successive building amnesty permits and land allocation certificates, increased building density while reducing social infrastructure areas.

Comprehensive projects were carried out in Kadıköy during the 1980s. The filling of Haydarpaşa Bay expanded the square; coastal reclamation between Dalyan and Bostancı enabled the construction of a seaside road; marinas were built in Kalamış Bay and Fenerbahçe; landfill works between İskele and Mühürdar expanded the square and created new green spaces. As a result of these landfill operations, over 900,000 square meters of new land were reclaimed from the sea, on which a coastline exceeding five kilometers was developed.

During the same period, various modifications were made to Kadıköy Square. The old market building was allocated for conservatory use, and the area between the pier and the market building was closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrianized. New public transport stops were arranged on the landfill area toward Haydarpaşa; pedestrian zones were introduced in some streets within the market. The park beside the pier was renovated and reorganized.

Kadıköy from the 1990s to the Present

During the 1990s, various urban developments affected Kadıköy’s physical structure. The completion of the Second Circular Road and the opening of Kozyatağı connections led to the emergence of sub-centers with concentrated office use around Kozyatağı and Söğütlüçeşme. Simultaneously, the extension of the coastal road beyond Bostancı through land reclamation, the creation of a new landfill area at Moda Cape, and the pedestrianization of Bahariye Avenue in 1993 were defining steps in the district’s transformation. Today, Kadıköy is counted among Istanbul’s leading districts in terms of population density, economic vitality, and building characteristics.

Geographical Structure

Kadıköy is situated on a series of hills extending from northeast to southwest. The main elevations in the district include Göztepe, Fikirtepe, Acıbadem, Altıyol, Cevizlik (Küçük Moda), and Koşuyolu hills.

The district has a coastline of approximately 21 kilometers and is surrounded by the Sea of Marmara. Green spaces within the district include Fenerbahçe Park, Göztepe Park, and Özgürlük Park.

Kalamış Marina ()

Kadıköy contains 21 neighborhoods:

• 19 Mayıs
• Acıbadem
• Bostancı
• Caferağa
• Caddebostan
• Dumlupınar
• Eğitim
• Erenköy
• Fenerbahçe
• Feneryolu
• Fikirtepe
• Göztepe
• Hasanpaşa
• Koşuyolu
• Kozyatağı
• Merdivenköy
• Osmanağa
• Rasimpaşa
• Sahrayıcedit
• Suadiye
• Zühtüpaşa

Transportation

Kadıköy is a district on Istanbul’s Anatolian side with an integrated transportation infrastructure encompassing road, sea, and rail systems.

Metro Lines

• M4 Kadıköy – Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro Line: A 33.5-kilometer-long metro line with 23 stations, extending from Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
• M8 Bostancı – Parseller Metro Line: A significant rail system line within Kadıköy’s boundaries that facilitates transportation in the eastern part of the district. Opened in 2023, the line includes the stations of Bostancı, Ayşekadın, Emin Ali Paşa, and Kozyatağı in Kadıköy, with Kozyatağı station providing a connection to the M4 metro line.

Metro Map (Metro İstanbul)

Tramway Lines

• T3 Kadıköy–Moda Tramway Line: A 2.6-kilometer-long tramway line connecting Kadıköy Square and Moda. Opened in 2003, the line has 11 stops.

Metrobus Lines

The metrobus line serves the stations of Söğütlüçeşme, Fikirtepe, and Acıbadem within Kadıköy. Söğütlüçeşme functions as the first and last station on the Anatolian side for the following metrobus routes:

• Avcılar – Söğütlüçeşme
• Beylikdüzü – Söğütlüçeşme
• Zincirlikuyu – Söğütlüçeşme

Marmaray

Marmaray stations in Kadıköy include Bostancı, Suadiye, Erenköy, Göztepe, Feneryolu, Söğütlüçeşme, and Ayrılık Çeşmesi.

Bus Routes

İETT provides bus transportation services across various routes in Kadıköy.

Maritime Transport

City Lines ferry services, operated by Şehir Hatları, form essential transportation links connecting Kadıköy with other districts.

İstanbul city ferry routes departing from Kadıköy are:

• Kadıköy – Kabataş
• Kadıköy – Karaköy – Beşiktaş
• Kadıköy – Beşiktaş
• Kadıköy – Karaköy – Eminönü
• Kadıköy – Kasımpaşa – Fener – Hasköy – Sütlüce – Eyüpsultan
• Bostancı – Moda – Karaköy – Kabataş

Bosphorus routes:

• Kadıköy – Sarıyer
• Ortaköy – Üsküdar – Kadıköy

Princes’ Islands routes:

• Bostancı – Princes’ Islands Ring Route

Historical and Cultural Heritage Sites in Kadıköy

Kadıköy Bull Statue

The Bull Statue in Kadıköy’s Altıyol was commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz and created in 1864 in Paris by P. Rouillard and Thiebaut. Produced at a time when sculpture art was not yet widespread in the Ottoman Empire, the statue was displayed in palace gardens and various private properties. Between 1950 and 1969 it was located in Harbiye, and in 1969 it stood before the Kadıköy Municipality building. In 1987, it was relocated to its current location at Altıyol Square.^【3】

Kadıköy Bull Statue (Voylera)

Istanbul Toy Museum

The Istanbul Toy Museum was established on 23 April 2005 by poet and writer Sunay Akın and his wife Belgin Akın. The collection, spanning from the 1700s to the present, is displayed in a historic mansion open to visitors. The museum offers a nostalgic experience for all age groups.^【4】

Ayia Efimia Greek Orthodox Church

Located in the Osmanağa neighborhood of Kadıköy, Istanbul, the church was constructed in 1694 with the permission of Metropolitan Gavril and restored in 1830 using funds collected from Russia, acquiring its present form.^【5】

Haydarpaşa Terminal

Haydarpaşa Terminal was constructed between 1906 and 1908 as the starting station of the Istanbul–Baghdad Railway and opened for service in 1908. It is named after Haydar Paşa, who contributed to the construction of Selimiye Barracks. Designed in a neoclassical style by two German architects, the building has five floors and is clad in light pink granite stone.

During the Ottoman period, the terminal served freight and passenger transport and gained increasing importance as the railway network expanded into the depths of Anatolia. It became the departure point for express trains extending into Anatolia. In 2010, a fire severely damaged much of the roof, and restoration works are ongoing.^【6】

Haydarpaşa Terminal (Flickr)

Moda Pier

Designed by architect Vedat Tek during the reign of Sultan Mehmed Reşat, the pier was constructed between 1916 and 1919. Damaged by a severe storm in the 1930s, the structure became unusable in 1986 due to declining passenger numbers. Restoration work began in 2000, and after being halted for a time, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality completed the restoration and reopened the pier to service in 2015.^【7】

Kazım Karabekir Paşa Museum

The pavilion was commissioned by Münif Tahir Paşa during the reign of Abdulhamid II from Italian architect Rozette. After remaining vacant for a long time, the pavilion was purchased in 1930 by Kazım Karabekir Paşa, who began living there with his family. The paşa established a small museum within the pavilion displaying family belongings.

The pavilion was closed in 1984 and restored by the Kazım Karabekir Foundation established in 2002, reopening as a museum in 2005. The museum presents the paşa’s and his family’s personal belongings and original rooms to visitors.^【8】

Müze Gazhane

The Hasanpaşa Gasworks opened in 1892 and supplied Istanbul with lighting and fuel for 101 years. It was closed in 1993 due to technological obsolescence and environmental health concerns. After being used for a time as an İETT garage, the abandoned building was restored after prolonged efforts. Müze Gazhane is a structure of significant local historical and public function value.^【9】

Fenerbahçe Museum

The museum displays trophies, documents, and visual materials related to the club’s history. Opened in 2005 within the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, it is free for visitors.^【10】

Galip Paşa Mosque

Galip Paşa Mosque was constructed in Erenköy between 1898 and 1899 by Abdullah Galip Paşa. The building is an example of late 19th-century Ottoman eclectic architecture.^【11】

Ragıp Paşa Pavilion

Commissioned by Ragıp Paşa in 1906 from architect Jasmund in Caddebostan, the pavilion is three stories above ground level with a total enclosed area of 2,700 square meters. It reflects late Ottoman architecture and is known for its ceiling decorations. Ragıp Paşa died here in 1920. Over time, the pavilion passed into the hands of different owners.^【12】

Culture and Art

Various cultural centers and art venues operate in Kadıköy:

• Süreyya Opera House
• Caddebostan Cultural Center
• Alan Kadıköy
• Yeldeğirmeni Sanat
• Caricature House
• Halis Kurtça Children’s Cultural Center
• Youth Art Center
• Barış Manço Cultural Center
• Kozyatağı Cultural Center
• Sinematek/Cinema House
• History, Literature and Art Library (TESAK)

Süreyya Opera House (Subgovernorship of Kadıköy, Republic of Türkiye)

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, officially known as the Chobani Stadium Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, is the venue where Fenerbahçe Sports Club plays its matches. With a capacity of 47,834 spectators, it is Turkey’s fourth-largest stadium. Located on the eastern bank of Kurbağalı Dere where it flows into Kalamış Bay, on land historically known as Papazın Çayırı, the stadium is named after Şükrü Saracoğlu, who served as club president from 1934 to 1950 and secured the land for Fenerbahçe.

The structure has undergone various renovation phases. Most recently, between 1999 and 2006, it was gradually demolished and rebuilt as a modern facility.

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium ()