Moda is one of the better neighborhoods to live in Istanbul. It is centrally located yet isolated from crowds, located about 10 minutes walking distance from Kadıköy, the center of the Asian side of Istanbul.
For travelers it offers a glimpse into a silent residential part of Istanbul with spectacular views across the Bosphorus of the Sultanahmet area, the Old Town of Istanbul.
There is a nostalgic tram from Kadıköy, but it is easier and faster to walk. It is a modern, progressive neighborhood and getting more popular among foreigners from Europe and the US.
Moda is where many Turkish intellectuals, poets, and literary figures lived and continue to live.
There are many historic buildings in Moda, from St. Joseph French High School (1870) to many Ottoman-style small houses and Melih Eczanesi on Moda Street — a pharmacy founded in 1902 (originally in another building).
Famous places are the Moda Tea Garden (Moda Çay Bahçesi), Ice Cream of Ali (Ali'nin Dondurması), and the beer garden by the seaside near (not on) the dock — the Moda ferry dock which does not receive regular ferry service anymore. Süreyya Opera House, many movie theaters such as Rexx, restaurants, bars, and pubs in the neighborhood provide easy access to entertainment.
Moda is a nice place to visit in summer.
View larger map of Moda, Istanbul on OpenStreetMap
By boat to Kadıköy and then a 10-15 minute walk. You can either take the seaside route or go inland through Kadıköy market, then up to Moda Street (Moda Caddesi) and walk all the way down to Moda on that same street.
Moda Tea Garden (Moda Çay Bahçesi): Open daily 08:00–23:00 (summer), 09:00–21:00 (winter). Famous for its panoramic Bosphorus views. Order "çay" (Turkish tea) in the traditional curved glass and watch the ferries cross to Europe.
Ali's Ice Cream (Ali'nin Dondurması): Open daily 10:00–22:00. The legendary ice cream shop on Moda Street — known for traditional Maraş ice cream (stretchy, chewy texture). Try the "sade" (plain) or "badem" (almond) flavors.
Moda Seaside Walk: Free, open 24 hours. The 2 km pedestrian path from Kadıköy ferry terminal to Moda Burnu (Moda Point) offers continuous views of the European skyline. Best at sunset (check local time). Benches along the way for resting and people-watching.
Best time to visit: Weekday late afternoons (16:00–18:00) for sunset tea gardens; Sunday mornings for a peaceful seaside walk before the crowds arrive. Summer evenings are lively but very crowded.
Getting there: Take any ferry to Kadıköy from Eminönü, Karaköy, or Beşiktaş (20-30 minutes). From Kadıköy ferry terminal, Moda is a pleasant 10-15 minute walk along the seaside or through the market. Also accessible by M4 metro to Kadıköy station.
St. Joseph French High School (1870): One of Istanbul's oldest educational institutions, still operating. The building's architecture reflects French influence on the Ottoman Empire during the Tanzimat period. (FYI, I am a 1985 graduate of St. Joseph French High School, Mehmet Kurtkaya).
Sarica Mansion: The oldest building in Moda, stone mansion, right across Ali's Ice Cream shop.
Moda Ottoman Houses: Scattered throughout the neighborhood, these 19th-century wooden houses (yali and konak styles) offer glimpses of Ottoman residential architecture. Look for examples on Serasker Caddesi and around Moda Park.
Archaeological artefacts under some buildings Parts of Moda, Bahariye, and Kadikoy center are a SIT area, meaning an archaeological site conservation area. However, most buildings are from the 1950s through the 1980s, so you would ask where the artefacts are when walking around. The answer is under some of the buildings. They are rarely unearthed, except when buildings are reconstructed due to new earthquake regulations. A few of those buildings may have foundations that contain an occasional ancient wall or small artefacts.
Half-day Moda route: Start at Kadıköy ferry terminal (10:00) → walk seaside path to Moda Burnu (15 min) → Moda Tea Garden for tea and view (30 min) → walk back through Moda Park → up to Moda Street (Ali's Ice Cream) → explore side streets for historic houses → lunch at a Moda restaurant → afternoon at Moda Pier or continue to Süreyya Opera House for an evening performance.
Photography spots: Moda Burnu (point) looking toward Sultanahmet, the nostalgic tram on the Kadıköy waterfront (if you catch it), the park benches along the seaside at golden hour, and the colorful buildings on side streets near Moda Caddesi.
Just next to the Moda Pier (Moda İskelesi), there is a small but lively seaside park that locals love. The park sits right on the water's edge with stunning views of the European side, including the Sultanahmet skyline and the Princes' Islands in the distance.
Weekdays vs Weekends: The park attracts large crowds on weekends — families with children, groups of friends, and couples filling every available patch of grass. On weekdays, however, the park is much quieter and more peaceful. If you prefer a relaxed experience, visit on a weekday morning or early afternoon.
Summer evenings: After business hours (roughly 6:00 PM onward) during summer months, the park gets busy again. Many people stop by on their way home from work to enjoy the sunset. The atmosphere is lively but friendly.
The park has a vibrant, bohemian energy. You will often see:
A cafe with a small coworking space on two floors — serves tea (çay), coffee, soft drinks, cakes, and light snacks.
Within the park, right next to the pier, you will find an ice cream shop and cafe run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). The prices are reasonable, cheaper than private cafes in the area, because the municipality operates it as a public service.
What they serve: Tea (çay), coffee, soft drinks, and light snacks. The ice cream is good quality and much less expensive than the famous Ali's Ice Cream on Moda Street, though both have their charm.
Pro tip: Grab a cone and walk to the end of the pier for the best photos of the European skyline. The pier extends out into the water, giving you an unobstructed view.
There are regular boats from Moda Pier to Bostancı and Princes Islands as well as Kabataş. They are not frequent and usually run in the mornings and late afternoon. The Moda Pier also is a stop for Deniz Taxi, water taxis that run to many piers around Istanbul.
Since boats from Moda Pier are infrequent, it is best to walk to Kadıköy in 10-15 minutes for the ferries to Karaköy, Eminönü, Kabataş and the Princes' Islands. Some are operated by private owners via Turyol, others by Istanbul Şehir Hatları (Istanbul Ferry Lines).
There are only a couple of hotels in Moda proper but many around Kadıköy neighboring Moda, only about 5-10 minutes walking distance from Moda.
Fastest route (30-40 minutes): Walk to Eminönü ferry terminal (15 min walk from Sultanahmet or take Tram T1 to Eminönü stop). Take the ferry to Kadıköy operated by Şehir Hatları (Istanbul Ferry Lines) or Turyol. Ferries run every 20-30 minutes. From Kadıköy ferry terminal, Moda is a 10-15 minute walk along the seaside promenade.
Alternative metro route: Take Tram T1 from Sultanahmet to Yenikapı (10 min), transfer to Marmaray train to Ayrılık Çeşmesi (8 min), then transfer to M4 metro to Kadıköy (3 min). Total about 35-40 minutes.
Ferry route (35-45 minutes): Take the Funicular F1 from Taksim Square to Kabataş (2 minutes). From Kabataş, take the ferry to Kadıköy (25-30 minutes). Ferries run frequently. Then walk 10-15 minutes to Moda along the seaside. There are also boats that go from Kabataş directly to Moda Pier but only a few times per day.
Metro + ferry route: Take the M2 metro from Taksim to Yenikapı (8 minutes), then transfer to Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then M4 to Kadıköy. Total about 40 minutes.
Take the direct ferry from Beşiktaş to Kadıköy (20-25 minutes). Ferries run frequently throughout the day. From Kadıköy, walk 10-15 minutes to Moda along the seaside.
Şehir Hatları (Istanbul Ferry Lines) - Official website: https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en - Check timetables for Eminönü-Kadıköy, Kabataş-Kadıköy, and Beşiktaş-Kadıköy routes.
Turyol (Private ferry operator): https://www.turyol.com/en - More frequent departures, slightly faster crossing times.
Moda, Kadıköy, Üsküdar, and the best Bosphorus ferry routes — plus a self-guided walking map.