Bağdat Caddesi & Caddebostan: Istanbul's Asian-Side Boulevard
Often called the 'Champs-Élysées of the Asian side,' Bağdat Caddesi is Istanbul's glossiest shopping avenue, lined with plane trees, boutiques and cafés. Where it meets the sea at Caddebostan, a long coastal promenade opens onto the Marmara — making this the elegant, breezy heart of eastern Kadıköy.
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Quick facts
- LocationEast of Kadıköy centre, Caddebostan / Suadiye
- CostFree to stroll; shopping and cafés vary
- From the ferry pier~10–15 min by taxi, or bus along the coast
- Best timeWeekend afternoons for the shopping and sea air
An avenue with a very long history
Bağdat Avenue began as an ancient road linking Constantinople to Anatolia, used for trade and military marches in Byzantine and Ottoman times. It took its name after Sultan Murad IV's recapture of Baghdad in 1638 — the army set out along this very route.
Under Sultan Abdülhamid II, pashas and wealthy merchants built grand wooden chalets here, and until the 1960s the Caddebostan coast was a summer resort for Istanbul's well-to-do. After the first Bosphorus Bridge opened in 1973 the old summer houses gave way to apartments, and the avenue became the fashionable boulevard it is today.
Shopping, dining and the Caddebostan shore
Running roughly 14 km from Kadıköy toward Maltepe, Bağdat Caddesi is one-way and famously lined with old plane trees, flagship fashion stores, cafés, restaurants and luxury car showrooms. The busiest, most stylish stretch sits between Caddebostan and Suadiye.
A block toward the water, the Caddebostan coast — reclaimed and opened to the public in 1985 — is a wide seaside promenade for walking, cycling and people-watching.
What to see nearby
- Fenerbahçe & Kalamış — The marina and lighthouse peninsula just west along the coast.
- Moda — Kadıköy's laid-back seaside neighbourhood toward the ferry pier.
- Kadıköy Çarşı — The market and food streets in the centre of Kadıköy.
- Süreyya Opera House — The historic opera house near the Kadıköy market.
How to get to Bağdat Caddesi & Caddebostan
From Europe, take the ferry from Eminönü or Karaköy to Kadıköy, then it's a short taxi (around 10–15 minutes) or a coastal bus east to Caddebostan. You can also ride the Marmaray from Sirkeci to Ayrılık Çeşmesi and connect by metro or taxi. A direct taxi from Sultanahmet is roughly 450–600 TL in daytime traffic — convenient if you're heading straight to the shops; just ask us and we'll set up a transfer to the avenue.