Hotel: Suadiye Hotel – Istanbul
Address: Bagdat Caddesi Plajyolu Sokak No:25, 34740 Istanbul, Türkiye
Website: https://www.hotelsuadiye.com/
Ride from airport: 1400 Lira.
My Turkey map list: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ARHHkhSCXbTsMUo7A
February 14
We arrived late at night on February 14. Even after midnight, restaurants were still open in the neighborhood.
February 15
We were visiting Istanbul only February 15. We were lucky that a friend’s father showed us the city.
All public transportation was with a transport pass. More than one person can use the same pass. It can be topped up if necessary.
Breakfast in Beyaz Fırın Bakery & Brasserie.
Suadiye, Plaj Yolu Sk. No:18 D:18, 34740 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye.
The menu was presented as a coffee table book.
We took the Marmaray to Sirkeci railway station. Unfortunately it was under construction. We would have loved to visit the station, built in 1890 by the Oriental Railway as the eastern terminus of the world-famous Orient Express that once operated between Paris and Istanbul in the period between 1883 and 2009.
Tram to the Blue Mosque (entry free).
Walk to Hagia Sophia. No entry to the prayer section. Visitor section: long line, 25 euros. Fast track tickets, can be purchased online: 40 euros. We skipped Hagia Sophia.
Tram to the Tünel funicular.
Walk to Pera Hotel. Coffee.
Walk to Galata Tower. Did not go up as the entrance fee was 30 euros.
Walk to the Neve Shalom Synagogue. Entry 400 lira per person, passport must be presented. Open till 5 pm. Judeo-Spanish tradition: texts sounded Spanish in a funny orthography.
Metro to Taksim Square.
Pide restaurant behind the mosque.
Take modern funicular from Taksim to the landing bridges.
Take ferry back to Asian side.
Return to hotel; walk at the seaside.
February 16
Early in the morning taxi to airport.
Background Notes
Suadiye district
Suadiye is a neighborhood on Istanbul’s Asian side, close to the Sea of Marmara. It sits along Bağdat Avenue, a long shopping and strolling street lined with cafés and everyday city life. The nearby shoreline promenade makes it easy to end a day with a walk by the water.
Marmaray
Marmaray is Istanbul’s rail line that connects the European and Asian sides via an undersea tunnel beneath the Bosporus. For visitors, it’s a practical way to move quickly between districts without relying on road traffic. It also feels like one of the most “modern Istanbul” moments of a day of sightseeing.
Sirkeci Railway Station
Sirkeci Station is one of Istanbul’s classic rail landmarks on the European side, near the historic peninsula. Its late-19th-century architecture reflects the era when long-distance train travel shaped the city’s connections to Europe. Even a brief stop outside can hint at how central this area once was for arrivals and departures.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
The Blue Mosque is an active place of worship and one of Istanbul’s most famous monuments, known for its large courtyard and layered domes and minarets. Visitors can enter outside prayer times, with respectful dress and quiet behavior expected. It’s also a great starting point for exploring the historic center on foot.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s most recognizable buildings, with a massive central dome and a long history of changing roles over centuries. Today it functions as a mosque, which affects which areas visitors can access and when. Even without entering, the exterior and surrounding square give a strong sense of its scale and importance.
Tünel
Tünel is a short underground railway that links the lower waterfront area with the higher streets of Beyoğlu. It’s one of the city’s quickest ways to climb that steep slope and a small piece of Istanbul transport history. Riding it can save time and energy while also adding a fun, local detail to the day.
Funicular
Istanbul’s funicular lines are designed to handle steep hills between major transport hubs. The modern Kabataş–Taksim funicular is especially useful for moving between the waterfront and Taksim quickly. It’s a simple ride, but it neatly stitches together a day that includes ferries, trams, and walking.
Pera Palace Hotel
Pera Palace is a historic hotel in the Beyoğlu area, long associated with travel, literature, and the cosmopolitan feel of old Istanbul. Even a short coffee stop nearby can feel like stepping into a more “grand” version of the city. The surrounding streets are also good for wandering toward Galata.
Galata Tower
Galata Tower rises above the neighborhood streets and is easy to spot from many angles on the European side. The area around it is full of cafés, small shops, and steep lanes that are enjoyable even if you skip the climb. From the outside alone, the tower still works as a clear landmark for navigating the district.
Neve Shalom Synagogue / Jewish Museum area
Neve Shalom is a key site of Istanbul’s Jewish heritage, connected to the city’s long-standing Sephardic traditions. A visit can include security procedures and timed entry, and it often provides cultural context beyond the city’s more commonly visited monuments. Hearing Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) highlights how many languages and histories overlap in Istanbul.
Taksim Square
Taksim Square is a central meeting point on the European side and a major transport hub for moving around the city. It connects easily to nearby pedestrian streets and nightlife areas, and it’s often busy at all hours. For many visitors, it’s less about a single monument and more about the energy of modern Istanbul.
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