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Süreyya Opera House

Bahariye Caddesi 29, Kadıköy, 34710 Istanbul

Box office open 10–6. Tickets on sale from one month prior to performance.

The opera house is easily reached by boat and tram (or boat and foot) from Kabataş or Eminönü, on the European side of Istanbul. Dine afterwards at the grand old meyhane Koço, overlooking the bay of Moda.


The Süreyya Opera House in Bahariye Caddesi (now renamed ‘General Asım Gündüz Caddesi’), Kadıköy, was built in 1927. It has some pleasing retro features such as painted murals showing ladies in flouncy dresses blowing hunting horns.

Nearest metro stations: Söğütlüçeşme (on the Marmaray line) and Kadıköy (on the M4 metro line). Additionally, Söğütlüçeşme is a terminus of the metrobus route, and Kadıköy is accessible via boat from Eminönü, Kabataş and Beşiktaş. From Söğütlüçeşme, walk up the hill (following Söğütlüçeşme Caddesi) towards Kadıköy, then turn left – following the tram lines – at the crossroads where the statue of a bull is situated. From Kadıköy, walk up the hill (Söğütlüçeşme Caddesi) and turn right at the bull statue, again following the tramlines.

Established by Süreyya İlmen Pasha in 1927, the Süreyya Opera House was the first musical theatre on the Asian side of Istanbul. It was known then as the Süreyya Operetta. During the ten-year closure of the Atatürk Cultural Centre in Taksim, Kadıköy assumed the mantle of home of the Istanbul Opera and Ballet, and what had become the Süreyya Cinema was given a thorough makeover, reopening in 2007. Tickets are phenomenally hard to get hold of, so always book asap.


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