Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi)
The tower on a small islet off Üsküdar — a symbol of the Bosphorus, reopened in 2023 as a museum.
There has been a tower on this islet since antiquity; the current building is largely Ottoman, with an eighteenth-century lantern. Legends of a sultan’s daughter and a prophecy gave it its name.
After a long restoration the tower reopened as a museum with exhibitions and a viewing terrace. Boats run from Üsküdar (Salacak) and Karaköy, and the Salacak shore opposite is a favourite sunset spot.
- →Boats operate on a timetable; confirm crossing times for groups.
- →Sunset from the Salacak promenade is a good free alternative for large groups.
Tours visiting this place
Hotels nearby
A practical four-star hotel in Karaköy with Bosphorus views and easy tram access to the Old City.
A landmark luxury hotel on the Karaköy waterfront, created from three historic buildings and a new wing within Galataport.
A luxury waterfront hotel near Dolmabahçe Palace, with elegant Asian-influenced service and dining.
Places nearby
- Dolmabahçe Palace2.0 km
The nineteenth-century waterfront palace of the late Ottoman sultans, with a 4.5-tonne crystal chandelier.
- Topkapı Palace2.0 km
The palace of the Ottoman sultans for almost four centuries, overlooking the meeting point of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
- Taksim Square2.4 km
The hub of modern Istanbul, with the Republic Monument, the Atatürk Cultural Centre and Taksim Mosque.
- Hagia Sophia2.4 km
The sixth-century Byzantine cathedral, later an Ottoman mosque — the defining monument of Istanbul.
- Galata Tower2.6 km
The fourteenth-century Genoese tower above Karaköy, with a 360° balcony over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus.
- Basilica Cistern2.6 km
A sixth-century underground cistern of 336 marble columns, with the famous Medusa heads.