What makes Baghdad Avenue special ? 

Baghdad Street is one of the most deluxe streets in Istanbul, locals and tourists like to walk there. Taking into consideration, the diversity of the many great cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs, shop at the many famous brands and stores, one can spend such a stunning day in Istanbul. There is place for everyone!

In the Anatolia region of Istanbul, near Kadikoy there is the famous main street which is called Baghdad Caddesi (Avenue). It is 14 kilometres long and runs roughly parallel to the Sea of ​​Marmara in the Maltepe district of Kadikoy. The 6km one-way stretch from Bostanci to Kiziltoprak is as important in terms of glitz and charm as Taksim’s Istiklal Street. You can take a dolmus (minibus) from Taksim directly to Baghdad Street, or you can take the M2 metro line from Taksim Square to the Marmaray train line, leaving and arriving near Bostanci.

History of Baghdad Street

During the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, Baghdad Street was a transportation hub connecting Constantinople and Anatolia. The road was used for commercial and military purposes and was named Baghdad when Sultan Murad IV conquered the city in 1638. During the Ottoman period, fountains and places of worship were built for tourists entering and leaving the city.

After Sultan Abdülhamid II came to power, many pashas, ​​high officials and wealthy businessmen bought plots of land along the road to be closer to the royal palace. Luxury log cabins were built on these sites, many of which still stand today. Before the outbreak of the First World War, the street was paved and the means of transport were automobiles. Until the 1960s, the area around the avenue was used as a tourist resort by the city’s wealthy families. After the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge, these low bungalows were demolished and replaced by tall buildings.

In the current days, Baghdad Avenue starts from Kızıltoprak and continues to Maltepe district. Whereas in this street are the buildings inhabited by many people; Today, businesses and jobs have taken their place, especially in the Suwaydiyeh district of Kadir Bostan.

Many major brands in Turkey and around the world have at least one store on Baghdad Street. Rent is very expensive. Although there were no empty stores under normal circumstances, it was noted that during the 2008 global financial crisis, some of these stores were closed and some were marked as “for rent”. In the process, while rents on Bagdad Street decreased by 3%, the rate in Nişantaşı reached 40%.

Street is now one-way; Traffic goes from Bostanci to Kadikoy. After the Kızıltoprak BP gas station, it becomes a two-way road separated by a barrier. In 2013, the one-year-old intermediate right-of-way was removed from this section and the curbs have been widened. Was popular at the time for its name; in other cities there were also streets called Baghdad Street.

During the Republic Parade organized by Kadikoy Municipality since 1994 On October 29, the street was closed to traffic and people walked along Bagdad Street starting from Suadiye to Goztepe.

When Fenerbahçe Sports Club wins the championship, there are huge celebrations in the streets. In 2005, the municipality of Kadikoy widened sidewalks to provide more comfort for pedestrians.

Where Is the Baghdad Street Located?

Baghdad Street is located in Maltepe, and the name “Baghdad” comes from the Arabic word “Baghdad”. This street is one-way and can be considered the Istiklal Street of Turkey, which is on the European side in terms of importance and quality. The street is usually noisy and full of energy, even on weekdays it is the main street of the exclusive residential area, but weekends are definitely the most fashionable and lively environment.

Although it is urban and modern, the streets are full of old banana trees, beautiful shops selling the world’s most famous brands and some of the best restaurants serving the best food. Luxury car dealers and major banks are also on the way. The avenue is also known as a large open-air mall, so discounts and special offers for shopping lovers.

Places to Eat in Baghdad Street

According to a survey conducted by a French company, Baghdad Street was voted the fourth best shopping street in the world. The neighbourhood around Street is also a wealthy neighbourhood for Istanbul residents. There are also some very nice houses around.

Contains many cafes, restaurants and luxury and new generation shops along the street. Numerous bars, pubs and nightclubs are also good night spots, so visitors can enjoy a lively night in Istanbul.

The first strongly recommended place is Mandela Street Food Bar, known for its tasty and delicious burgers. Their menu is very good and includes everything from delicious avocado toast to omelettes and pancakes, as well as a variety of burgers, tacos and vegan options. The restaurant offers a wide selection of Turkish beer, tea and coffee, as well as a selection of vodkas, wines and lively cocktails. The bar menu is also excellent. Mandela Restaurant is a charming restaurant on Baghdad Street, prices vary according to your needs.

Second, Vapiano is a popular Italian pizzeria with many opportunities for pizza lovers. The menu is extensive with pizzas and other types, and the bar menu is great with red and white wines. A delicious meal and a great combination.

The third restaurant is Happy Moons, about a 15 minute walk down Baghdad street, which is a great place with lots of options (Turkish breakfast, sea view, parking, full bar and outdoor space).

Forth, The Townhouse, Suadiye, On the Anatolian side of Bagdad Street, The Townhouse is a famous place that leads the people to wait in a long queue in front of the door, with delicious food and drinks which make the waiting deserved. Address: Suadiye Mah. Beach Road Street No: 13 Suadiye

Fifth restaurant is Pigalle, one of the best on the Beach Road, is leaning with its cocktail and food menu. As soon as you step inside, a spacious environment welcomes you. Beautiful decoration and a warm atmosphere offer you the opportunity to relieve the tiredness of the day. In the restaurant, which is preferred for dinner, hummus on crispy buckwheat bread and tenderloin with figs, ginger and fresh coriander are among the favourites. Cocktails: Negroni and Soulmate. Address: Suadiye Mah. Beach Road Street No: 13 Suadiye

The last restaurant is The Burrito Shop is such a great place for Mexican food. If you like spicy and different dishes, you can stop by the Burrito Shop, where you will find Mexican dishes. Come here if you want to try Mexican food. The swings used in the decoration are other attractions. The taco shop is worth a visit! Address: Caddebostan Mahallesi, Bagdad Caddesi No: 298, Kadıköy, Istanbul

What One Can Do in Baghdad Avenue?

It’s almost impossible to get to Baghdad Street, on the Anatolia side, without going to the Maltepe coast. The coast is only 7 minutes from Bagdad Street where you can walk and watch the sunset while having a refreshment! In addition, there is the Maltepe Park Shopping Center, which is a very large shopping center with 240 brand stores, a catering area with a capacity of 2,000 people, 36 restaurants and cafes, a very large Carrefour hypermarket, a cinema and a big freeway in The Park has capacity for around 3,500 cars.

At Maltepe Park AVM, there are events such as children’s theatre every Saturday and an entertainment and food festival for children every Sunday. So maybe go to the big mall first, park your car there and find a restaurant on Bagdad Street where you can enjoy walking and eating good quality food.

Bagdad Street has everything you need, from famous brands and various shops to famous cafes and restaurants. Baghdad Street is one of the most famous streets in Istanbul, full of big names and one of the most prosperous places in Kadikoy.

Many domestic and foreign tourists who want to buy usually visit this point and visit the brand through this address. Bagdad Street is connected to the Kadikoy district of Kadikoy, giving you the opportunity to taste different flavours and enjoy shopping with the famous chain of restaurants, cafes, restaurants and shopping malls that double their population in the summer.

On the other side of the street you can find shops of almost all famous brands such as Zara, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger or Barbour. In the stretch between Erenkoy-Suadiye, dozens of well-known clothing, jewellery and cosmetics shops have been set up one after the other.

Although there are not as many “high fashion” shops here as in Nişantaşı, except for a few near Erenkoy. Multi-story stores like Boyner’s and YKM and dozens of convenience stores selling a variety of foreign imports still draw hundreds of thousands of people to the area. If you’re looking for street shops, you’ll find endless shopping options for almost any budget on Baghdad Street.

For chilling after hours of shopping, you can take a break at one of the dozens of cafes or classic restaurants located along the street, such as Starbucks, Divan and Kırıntı. If you plan to visit Bagdad Street and spend hours shopping, you should look for hotels nearby when planning your trip to Istanbul.

There are also many cafes and bars for those who want a more relaxed atmosphere. Most of the shops on Bagdad Street are open almost every day, allowing tourists and satisfied customers to expand their shopping options. Even on Sunday afternoon, when most shops are closed, some shops and stores will be open. Baghdad Street is 6 kilometres long and runs almost parallel to the coast of the Sea of ​​Marmara. Easy access to public transport even after a short paving around the road.

Transportation:

• The most convenient way to get to Baghdad Street is to take the Marmaray train.
• The nearest train station is Suedia. From Taksim, take the Yenikapi-Taksim-Haciosman metro line M2, get off at Yenikapi station, then take the Marmaray train.
• Take the Bagcilar-Kabata tram (T1 line), get off at Sirkeci station, then take the Marmaray train.
• From Yenikapi, take the Marmaray train.
• From Mecidiyekoy, take metro line 34 AS, get off at Sogutlucesme station, then take the Marmaray train.
• From Kadikoy, take the Kadikoy-Tavsantepe metro line M4 get off at Ayrilikcesmesi station, then take the Marmaray train.

Bus Lines:

• 4 Maltepe Beach – Kadıköy
• 16 Pendik – Kadikoy
• 16D Altkaynarca/Pendik – Kadıköy
• 17 Pendik – Kadikoy
• 17S Uğur Mumcu – Bostanci
• 133F Acarlar Sitesi/Maltepe – Walnut
• 133G Gülensu District – Kartal
• 133N Maltepe University/Maltepe Metro – Kartal
• 133T Naval Academy – Maltepe
• 134YK Uğur Mumcu/Yakacık – Kartal
• 252 Eagle – Sisli
• KM42 Başıbüyük/Sürreyapaşa Hospital – Maltepe
• KM43 Maltepe University/Zümrütevler – Maltepe
• KM44 Maltepe University/Sites – Maltepe

Minibus Lines:

• Kadikoy – Bostanci
• Bostanci – Söğütlüçeşme Metrobus
• Maltepe – Fındıklı District
• Kadikoy – Kartal
• Kadikoy – Pendik
• Küçükyalı – Aydınevler – Fındıklı
• Kadikoy – Ugur Mumcu
• Maltepe – Buyukbakkalkoy

Conclusion:

The length of the street gives it a special position in commerce. Includes different products. This street is famous for selling wedding dresses with many shops offer competitive prices. Baghdad Street is also a meeting place for the most famous Turkish designers and lovers of Turkish brands.

Baghdad Street has become more popular street for tourist attraction as it was called “Fashion Street” that because of the most famous shops selling shoes, accessories, souvenirs, handicrafts and delicious Turkish food. There is seating places to relax and enjoy a better shopping experience.

The street in Baghdad is full of tourists, especially in the summer season because is multipurpose street. If you want to shop, there are some of the most popular Turkish and international fashion brands such as Nine West, Marks and Spencer, Zara, Cap, Bershka and Mango, etc..

It is worth to be mentioned that Baghdad Street is a real stage for watching sporting events, especially the Turkish leagues. The interactive atmosphere was unprecedented for anyone in the arena. In addition to that most events in the world, such as New Year’s Eve and national holidays, have a special place in Baghdad Street in terms of celebrations and decorations, as I it mentioned above there is something for everyone in Baghdad Street.