Housed in a beautiful building built by the politician Süreyya İlmen Pasha in 1927, the Süreyya Opera House is the prime location to catch an opera or a ballet on the Asian side of Istanbul. Due to the fact that its stage remained incomplete, Süreyya functioned as a movie theatre and wedding hall for many years until its restoration in 2007, when it was finally re-opened to fulfill its original purpose. Nostalgia gleams from the walls of this building and its art deco foyer, which was modeled after the Champs-Elysées Theatre in Paris.
Located on the Marmara Sea coast on the Asian Side of town, the Kadıköy district and its Moda neighbourhood in particular have soared in popularity over the past few years, leading us to name it one of the 50 coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Hundreds of new bars, cafés, restaurants and shops have opened here, making the area a must-see for those really wanting to get a feel of how the city hangs out these days. While it may be the apple of the eye for an ever-increasing number of Istanbulites, Kadıköy still features a more relaxed vibe than the bustling European side, a fact quite evident upon first visit. If you’re still not convinced, taking a ferry there might just be the best way to soak up Istanbul's inimitable views.