Asian Side Tour

Nakkastepe Park's Bosphorus Views

The Asian Side Tour opens at Nakkastepe Park, a green hillside spot known for its open views over the Bosphorus and the skyline of the European side across the water. Because the tour runs in a private vehicle, guests can spend as much time here as they like, walking the park's paths or simply taking in the view before continuing. This opening stop sets a calmer, more residential tone than the busier tourist areas on the other side of the strait, giving visitors an early sense of how Istanbul's Asian side differs in pace and atmosphere from the historic peninsula.

Camlica Mosque's Scale and Setting

From Nakkastepe, the private vehicle continues to Camlica Mosque, one of Istanbul's largest, set on a hilltop with sweeping views across both sides of the city. Guests can walk through its courtyards and take in the scale of the complex, built to serve large numbers of worshippers and visitors alike. Because the Asian Side Tour is arranged around a private schedule, there is no need to move on quickly, and guests travelling with older relatives or young children can take the visit at whatever pace suits them before the tour continues toward Emaar Square Mall.

A Break at Emaar Square Mall

For those who want it, the tour can include a stop at Emaar Square Mall, a modern shopping centre that offers a break from outdoor sightseeing with shops, cafes and air-conditioned space. This stop suits guests who want a rest partway through the day, or families looking for a change of pace between the hilltop views of Camlica and the street life of Kadikoy that follows. As with every stop on the Asian Side Tour, the private driver can shorten or skip this visit depending on how the group prefers to spend its ten hours.

The Lively Lanes of Kadikoy

Kadikoy street brings a different atmosphere to the Asian Side Tour, its lanes filled with shops, markets and a more local, everyday feel than the sightseeing stops earlier in the day. Guests can walk at their own pace here, browsing stalls or simply taking in the neighbourhood's character, one of the areas where residents rather than tour groups set the rhythm of the street. This stop works well for travellers who want a sense of how Istanbul's Asian side lives day to day, alongside the more formal visits to Camlica Mosque and Nakkastepe Park earlier on.

Kiz Kulesi from the Kadikoy Shoreline

From the waterfront near Kadikoy, guests can see Kiz Kulesi, the tower that sits just offshore in the strait between the European and Asian sides, its silhouette visible from the shoreline promenade. This viewpoint gives a good sense of the tower's setting without requiring a crossing, suiting guests who would rather stay on land and enjoy the walk along the water. It also sets up the next optional stage of the Asian Side Tour, for anyone who wants to see the tower closer up by boat instead of from the shore.

An Optional Boat Ride to Kiz Kulesi

For guests who want a closer look, a boat ride out to Kiz Kulesi is available as an optional addition from the Kadikoy area. This suits travellers keen to see the tower up close rather than only from the shoreline, and it adds a short stretch of time on the water to a day otherwise spent on land. Because the Asian Side Tour runs privately, this option can be built into the schedule or left out entirely, depending on how much time the group wants to spend around Kadikoy before moving on.

İBB Çubuklu Silolar's New Viewpoint

As a further option, the Asian Side Tour can include a visit to İBB Çubuklu Silolar, a newer waterfront spot known for its striking views, offering a more contemporary counterpart to the older sights visited earlier in the day. It suits guests interested in Istanbul's newer developments as well as its historic mosques and parks, and works well as one of the day's later stops when added to the itinerary. Like every optional stop on this private tour, its inclusion and the time spent there are arranged around the group's own interests.

Who This Asian Side Tour Suits

The Asian Side Tour suits travellers who want to see Istanbul's less-visited Asian side without joining a shared group schedule, from families needing flexibility around younger children to couples or older travellers who prefer a slower, more adjustable pace. It also appeals to repeat visitors who have already covered the historic peninsula and want to explore neighbourhoods such as Kadikoy and newer spots such as İBB Çubuklu Silolar instead. Because every stop from Camlica Mosque to Emaar Square Mall is optional or adjustable, the day can lean toward shopping, nature, religious sites or local street life as preferred.

Building Your Own Route

Since the Asian Side Tour is private throughout, guests can work with the driver to decide the order of stops, how long to spend at Nakkastepe Park or Kadikoy, and whether to prioritise Camlica Mosque, Emaar Square Mall or the newer İBB Çubuklu Silolar. This flexibility means two families booking the same tour on different days can end up with noticeably different routes, shaped entirely by their own interests and pace. Guests are encouraged to mention any particular priorities, such as shopping time or photography stops, when booking so the day can be planned around them from the start.

Ten Hours With a Private Driver

A professional driver stays with your party for up to ten hours on this route, and the price already covers hotel pickup and drop-off along with fuel, parking and any road tolls along the way. This makes it straightforward to move between Nakkastepe Park, Camlica Mosque, Kadikoy and the other stops without arranging separate transport for each one. Because the schedule is private, Haqqi Tours confirms preferred stops and priorities with each guest in advance, whether that means more time at Emaar Square Mall or a longer stop at İBB Çubuklu Silolar, so the day matches what the group actually wants to see.