Bagdat Avenue in Istanbul

Bagdad Avenue located on the Asian side of Istanbul, is a popular street that captures the essence of daily life in the city. While places like Kadıköy and Moda are often recognized for their charm, Bagdad Avenue presents its own character and appeal.

This street has become a destination for locals and visitors alike, lined with cafes, shops, and boutiques that reflect the culture and energy of Istanbul. Its pedestrian-friendly layout, with spacious walkways and bike paths, makes it a welcoming place for families and friends to enjoy.

My Istanbul will tell you about what one of the most fashionable streets of Istanbul and why you have to come here.

Bagdad Avenue in Istanbul: why to come here?

Where Exactly Is Bagdad Avenue Situated?

Bagdad Avenue is located on Istanbul’s Asian side, stretching approximately through several neighborhoods, including Kadıköy, Suadiye, and Bostancı. This iconic street runs parallel to the Marmara Sea, providing easy access to scenic coastal areas and leisure spots.

The avenue is easily accessible by public transportation, making it a convenient destination for both locals and visitors. It is well-connected to Istanbul’s transportation network, with bus routes and the Marmaray railway line nearby. Major access points include Suadiye Station and Bostancı Pier, which also serves as a gateway to the Princes’ Islands.

Bagdad Avenue is more than a single street; it weaves through vibrant residential and commercial districts, linking historic sites with contemporary spaces. Its location along the coast provides opportunities for visitors to explore not only the street itself but also nearby parks, beaches, and waterfront areas. Whether arriving by car, public transit, or even by ferry, Bagdad Avenue is a central destination on Istanbul’s Asian side, known for its history, culture, and modern appeal.

Historical Background: Origins

Bagdad Avenue, now a prominent Istanbul shopping street, was once known as Bagdad Road and dates back to the Ottoman period. This historic route connected Constantinople, the empire’s capital, to Anatolia, serving as a primary pathway for trade, military expeditions, and travel. Its strategic importance made it a key link between towns and regions, facilitating the movement of people and goods.

The road was frequently used by merchants transporting valuable goods, soldiers on campaigns, and travelers going between cities. Over time, settlements began to develop along its length, including what is now known as Bagdad Avenue, creating centers for commerce and interaction. These bustling areas became hubs for the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture, contributing to the route’s growing prominence in Ottoman history.

Over time, Bagdad Avenue became a symbol of connection, influencing the development of the regions it traversed. Its legacy continues to be felt, as it remains a part of Istanbul’s rich history.

Bagdad Avenue Attractions

As noted earlier, the area near the Baghdad Road was used for the construction of summer mansions and villas, many of which have survived to our time, although not in perfect condition. Nevertheless, even today, in the neighborhoods of Bagdads Street, we can observe these sights — villas, summer houses and mansions.

Caddebostan Embankment

Going down from Bagdad Street towards the sea, we get to the Сaddebostan embankment, which stretches for 4.5 kilometers from Fenerbahce to Bostanji. There is a pedestrian zone, a bike lane and small park areas where you can sit in the shade of trees or play sports on equipped playgrounds.

Along the embankment there are not only municipal cafes (BelTur), but also several municipal beaches where you can rent a chaise longue and umbrella, or just bask on the sand.

Caddebostan Beach: Historically a favorite leisure spot for city dwellers, now transformed into a scenic promenade for walks and relaxation.

Cemil Topuzlu mansion

The mansion belonged to Cemil Topuzlu, who was the head of the municipality from 1912-14 and 1919-1920. The villa he lived in was designed by the French architect Alexandre Vallory in the Art Nouveau style in 1900. Vedat Tekin continued construction of the mansion.

The mansion was located 165 meters from the sea. The four-storey building featured an interesting tower, doors with multicolored glass inserts, parquet floors imported from France, elegant sculptures and a well-tended garden with ornamental trees.

Snake motifs on the double-leafed iron gates of the mansion symbolized the direct attitude of the owner of the house to medicine — Cemil Topuzlu Pasha was a doctor.

Mansions of Ragip Sarıca Pasha (Ragip Sarıca Paşa köşkü)

The villas built by Mabeyinci Ragip Pasha in the Caddebostan area were designed by the architect August Karl Friedrich Jasmund from Prussia, who designed the Sirkeci railway station. About 40 thousand gold pieces were spent on the construction.

The mansions were completed by 1906 and consist of two pavilions and a one-story welcome room (selamlyk).

During the reign of II Abdul Hamid, Raghip Pasha, being a trusted member of the Yildiz Palace, besides the civil service, was also engaged in trading activities. It was on his initiative that the Anatolian Khan, Rumeli Khan, and African Khan were built in Beyoglu, and the Umurca Raki factory was founded.

In 1908, when the parliament was established and the padishah was exiled to Selanik, Ragip Pasha was also exiled to Rhodes. After illness and treatment, he returned to Istanbul, where he later died in his own mansion in 1920.

Tevhide Hanım Mansion

The large white mansion that many people see walking along the Caddebostan embankment is the house of his daughter, Tevhide Khanim, adjacent to the mansion of Ragip Pasha. During the years of its construction, the mansion occupied an area of 18 thousand square meters, surrounded by trees, and its territory ended at the sea.

Over time, when the Caddebostan began to be improved, the mansion lost part of the territory extending to the sea, due to the filling in of this part, for the subsequent formation of the embankment. In particular, the marina belonging to the mansion was cleaned.

At the moment, part of the former territory of the mansion is occupied by apartment buildings that are across the street from it. But before, the villa also included a large swimming pool, garden and outbuildings.

Theron Damon Mansion (former Zanzibar Restaurant) — Theron Damon köşkü

If you walk around the territory of the white mansion of Tevhide Khanim on the left and go deeper, up from the embankment, you can see another historical building on the left. The history of the construction of this building is not entirely clear, but it is known that the American Theron Damon lived here. In the summer, the building was used as a summer camp by students of the American College of Uskudar.

For some time, the building housed a Zanzibar restaurant-cafe, but in recent years, the building has not been used in any way.

The Mihra Efendi mansion (Mihra Efendi Yalısı)

The exact date of construction, as well as the name of the architect of the mansion, has not been preserved, but it is known that the building belonged to a printer from Kayseri, Mihra Efendi. A two-story wooden mansion with a square tower, a veranda, a tent-style roof and an open balcony was built near the sea. The columns supporting the balcony above the veranda are decorated with wood carvings.

Vakko mansion

If you walk along Baghdad Street towards Suadiye, on the right side you will see a beautiful white mansion, one of the most attractive and well-preserved in the entire area. Its original name is the mansion of Mehmet Küçükdeveci. Once upon a time, vineyards grew near the villa, and in 1936, Ihsan Sami Garan Bey bought this land and built himself a house next to the mansion.

Since 1996, the mansion has been used as a Vakko store, and it is this building that has become the subject of numerous New Year’s photos, with its luxuriously decorated facade and courtyard.

Bostancı

Bostancı, once a transit point for ferries to the Princes’ Islands, became a bustling residential and commercial area. It features:

Bostancı Pier: A historically important ferry terminal connecting the Asian side to the islands and surrounding areas.

Bostancı Mansions: A few surviving wooden mansions from the Ottoman period, providing glimpses into the area’s architectural past.

Shopping at Bagdat street

Bagdad Avenue reflects historical roots with a contemporary atmosphere, offering a space where tradition meets the pulse of a thriving city. From tea houses to open spaces for leisure, it reflects the lifestyle found on Istanbul’s Asian side.

In fact, Bagdad Street is the epitome of wealth, affluence and a separate world, where there is no crisis and instability. Every meter of the avenue includes expensive shops, countless cafes and restaurants, personalized salons and hairdressers, ateliers and workshops, ice cream parlors and snack bars, in short, everything you can imagine. This is one of the most popular streets on the Asian side of the city. By the way, this is where the famous Kızılkayalar wet burger joint is located.

Why you should take a walk here?

First, the street is really beautiful, with pastry and coffee shops at every turn, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee under the shade of trees. Secondly, along the way you will come across both mass-market and premium segment stores. That is, in terms of combining walking and shopping, this is an ideal place.

Some shops here are entire palaces — the multi-storey Zara and Mango, the multi-brand Beymen and Boyner, the Vakko mansion, textiles and home accessories in Çakra, ceramics and kitchen utensils in Paşabahçe. The huge transparent windows of the Apple branded store attract the attention of walkers.

There are rows of retail outlets and cafes on both sides of the street, so you can alternate shopping with drinking coffee and snacking on desserts 🙂
And in more detail, then:

• Fans of the Zara brand should take a look at the three-story store with a fairly wide assortment. You can buy clothes for the whole family, but mostly women’s clothes.
• The Mango store is also not far behind — there are several floors, although compared to Zara, the choice is slightly smaller.
• Family shopping can be arranged in a large H&M brand building — the store is located on the opposite side of the street from Mango and Zara
• Another building for family shopping is the Marks&Spencer store. It can be seen quite well, as it is located at the crossroad and attracts attention.
• A huge house with various brands of sport and casual shoes is the House of SuperStep. It is impossible to pass by — it is quite difficult not to hear the music and not notice the building itself. The store will appeal to fans of variations of sports and casual shoes on sale.
• Of course, you can’t pass by the Turkish brand Vakko, which occupies a beautiful white mansion. Here you can find things for everyday wear, as well as a large selection of classic items (not a mass market).
• Those who are interested in global brands should take a look at the large building of the Beymen store, located after the Zara store, on the opposite side of the street.

The History: The road from Baghdad

Bagdad Avenue carries a long history, intertwined with the rhythm of everyday life. Once a key route of the Ottoman Empire, it connected Constantinople to Anatolia, supporting merchants, soldiers, and travelers along its path. Today, it remains a significant part of Istanbul’s Asian side, reflecting its heritage through architecture and cultural traditions.

The avenue highlights the changes over centuries. Wooden mansions from the Ottoman period still stand as reminders of earlier eras, while cafes, shops, and events capture its present character. Each section of Bagdad Avenue offers a glimpse into its history, showing how the area has adapted while holding onto its identity.

Walking along Bagdad Avenue provides a unique perspective on Istanbul, combining its cultural richness with a lively atmosphere. The avenue continues to connect people with its story, inviting visitors to experience both its history and its charm.

In the past, the historical road that connected Constantinople with other parts of Anatolia was called the Bagdad Road. It was actively used during the Ottoman period, but it began its existence in the Roman period.

This route was used by military, merchant caravans, or other passengers traveling between cities. Along this long route there were small and large settlements, various summer buildings and villas.

The road started from Uskyudar (Khrysopolis), went past Kadikoy (Khalkedon) and continued parallel to the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara (Propontis). Next, the path went past Сaddebostan (Ruphinianus), where the summer palace used to be, and then past Bostanсi (Poleatikon). Next, the road passed near the Primate’s Palace (presumably, it was the Sotiros monastery), moving in turn to the districts of Kartal (Kartalimen), Pendik (Panteikhion), Kaynarca (Kosilaos) and Tuzla (Akritas).

Approaching this section of the road, we could see three fortifications that ensured the safety of movement and guarded the way: Bayramoğlu (Philokrene), Darıca (Ritzion) and Eskihisar (presumably Niketiaton), and near the sea part — Gebze (Dakibyza).

Further to the east was the town of Libissa, near which the port was located. After him, there was a settlement with fortified walls of Khereke (Kharaks), then Yarımca (Brunga) and after that travelers got to Izmit (Nikomedia).

After Nicomedia, the road branched into several directions.

During the Ottoman period, Murat IV set off straight for Baghdad and returned victorious from this campaign, after which this road became known as the «Baghdad Road».

Houses have been quietly appearing here since about the 1800s. If we talk about when active settlement began in the area of the then Baghdad road, then it should be noted in 1872, when the railway tracks were laid from Haidarpasha station to the Pendik district.

Baghdad received the status of a «prestigious» street during the time of Padishah Abdulhamit II. Those with high status in the service (pasha), rich merchants and other wealthy citizens, wishing to be closer to the Padishah’s palace, built villas and houses in Kadikoy, and, in fact, these were among the first houses in the Baghdad Street area. When I say villas, I mean Turkish keshk — beautiful wooden houses, mansions. By the way, you can still see them walking down the street. The most famous of them today is occupied by the Vakko store.

Before the First World War, this road was paved with stone, and later, it was paved. Along with the establishment of the Turkish Republic, a tram was launched in the middle of the street, but later it was decided to remove it.

In 1918, the Istanbul Municipality designated Bagdad Street as originating from Kızıltoprak and ending in Kurbağalıdere district. And already in 1934, it was designated from Kyzyltoprak to Pendik.

In the 1950s, multi-storey construction began in the area of the street, but these were houses with a height of three floors. Later, the height of houses in this area was increased and it was already possible to build four and five-storey houses.

By the 1960s, Bagdad Street had gained fame and was becoming increasingly popular with Kadikoy residents. The reason for the increasing popularity was both the external attractiveness of the area — beautiful villas, orderly buildings, lots of greenery and the proximity of the embankment, but also a long history.

In the 1970s, the street and its surroundings began to change noticeably. More and more often, new houses began to appear on or near the old mansions, and the embankment began to acquire a more modern look. Thus, an asphalt promenade for walking began to appear next to or directly opposite the historic wooden villas.

By the 90s, the most popular section of the street had already been identified — it was the segment from Şaşkınbakkal to Caddebostan. It can be said that he remains like this to this day.

By the 2000s, the street began to take on a form that is close to its present one. Even then, along the street itself, and in the quarter as a whole, there were many pastry shops, tea shops, bakeries and various cafes.

In 2005, Kadikoy Municipality expanded the pedestrian zones and brought the street to the appearance that we see now.

Nowadays, Bagdat Caddesi Street is a wide one-way street with pedestrian sidewalks and a huge number of cafes and shops on the sides.

Architectural Influence and Urban Layout

Bagdad Avenue, once a key route between Constantinople and Anatolia, carries a legacy of architectural transformations. During the late Ottoman period, wealthy residents constructed wooden mansions along the road. These homes, characterized by intricate designs and spacious gardens, were a hallmark of the time. While many of these structures have been replaced, a few continue to stand, offering glimpses into the area’s historical character.

In recent decades, the avenue has undergone substantial redevelopment. Taller buildings and streamlined storefronts now define much of the landscape. Among these is the Apple Store, which features a glass exterior and a tree-lined plaza, merging modern design with an inviting public space.

Cultural Transitions and Fashionable District

Bagdad Avenue has grown from a quiet residential street into a thriving area for shopping, dining, and entertainment. It is home to a variety of luxury boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, attracting both residents and visitors. Its prominence as a shopping destination has drawn comparisons to Paris’s Champs-Élysées, cementing its place among Istanbul’s most well-known streets.

The avenue is also a gathering place for community events and celebrations. Each year, on October 29, it becomes a centerpiece for the Republic Day Parade, commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic. The event brings colorful displays and public participation, creating a festive atmosphere. Additionally, Bagdad Avenue holds special significance for fans of Fenerbahçe SK, who celebrate major victories here, filling the street with team colors and enthusiastic cheers.

Present-Day Bagdad Avenue

Bagdad Avenue Istanbul stretch serves as a central area for shopping, dining, and leisure activities, offering both of local and international influences. Some of the most popular things include:

Shopping and Dining

The avenue features a variety of shopping options, from global brands to local favorites. Vakko Suadiye, located in a historic mansion, stands out with its luxury goods and festive seasonal displays, particularly around the New Year. Just a short walk away, Beymen presents a collection of high-end designer fashion, drawing those looking for premium choices.

For dining, Bagdad Avenue caters to diverse tastes. Divan Brasserie is a well-loved spot, offering a wide range of dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. Those looking for traditional flavors often visit Saray Muhallebicisi, where Turkish desserts and tea provide a connection to the area’s culinary heritage. Street-side cafes and bakeries also add to the avenue’s appeal, offering spaces for casual stops throughout the day.

Events and Activities on Bagdad Avenue

Bagdad Avenue is more than just a thoroughfare; it is a place where people come together for celebrations, gatherings, and shared experiences. Throughout the year, the avenue hosts a variety of events that highlight its importance as a social and cultural space. From national parades to sports celebrations, the street reflects the collective spirit of the community.

Republic Day Parade (October 29)

Every year on October 29, Bagdad Avenue Istanbul becomes a focal point for Republic Day celebrations. The street fills with people commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The parade features colorful displays, music, and community participation, creating an atmosphere of unity and pride. It’s a day when the avenue transforms into a space of national celebration, drawing locals and visitors alike.

Fenerbahçe SK Celebrations

Bagdad Avenue is a well-known gathering point for fans of Fenerbahçe SK, one of Turkey’s most popular football clubs. When the team achieves a championship or a significant win, supporters flood the avenue with flags, chants, and celebratory energy. The street becomes a sea of yellow and blue, with fans expressing their joy in a spontaneous and vibrant display of loyalty.

Red Bull Flugtag

In August 2022, Caddebostan Beach, located near Bagdad Avenue, hosted the Red Bull Flugtag, an event that brought creativity and humor to the Marmara Sea. Participants constructed handmade flying machines, launching them off a platform into the water. The spectacle attracted large crowds, adding a playful and engaging event to the area’s calendar. This competition was a testament to the diverse activities that can be enjoyed in spaces surrounding the avenue.

Over time, Bagdad Avenue became a symbol of connection, influencing the development of the regions it traversed. Its legacy continues to be felt, as it remains a part of Istanbul’s rich history.