Maiden's Tower
Maiden's Tower, also called Leander's Tower, is built on a small islet surrounded by waters of Bosphorus off the Ãsküdar coast where you can have breakfast before noon a standard breakfast costs 35 TL pp, have drinks during day or dine mid-expensive inside the tower itself. The Tower is accessible by boats both from Salacak very frequent intervals four seasons or from KabataÅ in European Side, on the Bosphorus waterfront at the end of the funicular line from Taksim Square about once every two hours, summers only. Story has it that a powerful emperor built the tower in the middle of the sea to protect his beloved daughter from death after hearing a prophecy told by a fortuneteller, but a snake had found its way to the tower inside a basket of fruits and, as you have already guessed, had bitten and killed the princess, although in reality it is far more likely that the place was built as a lighthouse to warn the ships entering the Bosphorus about the rocky islet the tower was built on. There is also a viewing area on the coast directly opposite the Tower where you can buy tea and sit down to enjoy the beauty of Bosphorus while listening to traditional Turkish music—much cheaper than the Tower itself. It is recommended to visit right at sunset, when the sun is reflecting off the water and the Tower's lights are turning on. Also at the viewing area, there are 2-person gondola rides.
BaÄdat Caddesi
Baghdad Avenue, lying parallel with but a short dinstance away from the Marmara coast between a few km east of Kadıköy and Bostancı to the east, has nothing to do with Baghdad, Iraq except that, during the Ottoman period, it was the beginning part of the road which connected the capital city, Istanbul with Baghdad, another important city of the empire then.This avenue had it's name because an Ottoman Sultan,Murat the IVth went to Baghdad from that avenue. In fact, with its sidewalk cafés, BaÄdat Caddesi is usually considered as one of the most European-flavored street of Istanbul nowadays, ironically located on Asia. This street is not completely pedestrianized like the Istiklal Street of the European Side, but its broad sidewalks shaded with trees offer a pleasant walk. The restaurants and cafés on the avenue are mainly upscale, but there are also some quite affordable ones scattered around occasionally. Shopping opportunities also abound. From Kadıköy, take âBostancıâ dolmuÅ they depart from near that big yellow balloon or public bus #4 its stop is also near the balloon, but separate from dolmuÅ stop.
Toy Museum
Dedicated to toys, this is a museum which adults can enjoy as much as kids. Founded by poet Sunay Akın, the museum is housed in a historical mansion in Göztepe neighbourhood east of Kadıköy. Among the 2,000 pieces of toys from around the world that are in exhibition, the oldest ones are a violin made in France in 1817 and a doll made in the United States in 1820.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Lying under the legs of the Bosphorus Bridge, this beautiful palace located amidst an attractive garden was built between 1861-1865 by Sultan Abdulaziz. Strangely, one of the highligts of the palace is the restroom on its second floor, which has a large window with a full view of Bosphorus—it is possibly the restroom with the most beautiful view in the world! Joining guided tours in major spoken languages which starts every half an hour or whenever there are enough people waiting is the only way to visit the palace no additional fee for tours other than the entry admission.
Ãamlica Hill
One of the highest hills of Istanbul 268 metres high and almost all major broadcasting antennas are located on this hill, since the hill dominates a great part of the city. On the top of the hill, a public park with cafes remind the visitors of an Ottoman atmosphere. Thıs public park is sponsored by the government so expect lower prices on food and drink than usual. The cafe located in a building at the top of the hill is moderately expensive, don't worry about it though because you'll get excellent food and service.
As aforementioned, HaydarpaÅa Station, built in a turn of 20th century in German style is well worth a look and can be easily walked to from Kadıköy. Further to the north of HaydarpaÅa station and a little difficult to find it is surrounded on three sides by Turkish military barracks is the British cemetary with an obelisk commemorating the Crimean war and many Crimean war, Victorian era and later graves as well as a modern British and Commonwealth war graves cemetary.
Anadolu Citadel
A medieval citadel a little older and much smaller than its European counterpart, situated on the meadow where tranquil Göksu River empties into the Bosphorus, surrounded by picturesque wooden traditional houses.