The Maiden's Tower is the small white lighthouse that rises out of the Bosphorus off Üsküdar, about 200 metres from the Asian shore. In Turkish it's Kız Kulesi, and together with the Galata Tower it's the silhouette that sums up the city. You see it from the ferries, from the viewpoints and from half of Istanbul, and since 2023, after a long restoration, you can once again go inside.
What many people don't know is that the best way to enjoy it costs nothing: from the Salacak waterfront, with a glass of tea in hand, at sunset, when the sun goes down behind Hagia Sophia and the tower's lights come on.
A little history
The islet was already fortified in Byzantine times, around the 12th century, to control shipping through the strait with a chain. The Ottomans rebuilt the tower several times after fires and earthquakes; its present form, with the dome and the mast, dates from the 19th century. Over the centuries it has been a lighthouse, a customs post, a quarantine station and a signal tower.
The legend behind its name tells of a king who was warned that his daughter would die from a snake bite, so he shut her away in a tower in the middle of the water. The snake reached her all the same, hidden in a basket of fruit. Greek tradition links the tower with Leander, who swam across the strait to his beloved Hero, although that story belongs to the Dardanelles. After years of closure, the tower reopened in 2023 as a museum.
What to see at the Maiden's Tower
The boat trip
The crossing from Salacak takes five minutes and is the best part: the tower looms larger as you approach, the European shore opens up and cargo ships pass close by. Boats also leave from the European shore, which makes a slightly longer crossing.
Inside the tower
Since the restoration, the rooms tell the story of the islet with scale models and projections, and a staircase takes you up to the viewing platform under the dome. It's small and there isn't a great deal to see, but the 360-degree view over the mouth of the Bosphorus, with Sultanahmet on one side and the Bosphorus Bridge on the other, makes up for it.
The Salacak waterfront
A kilometre of shoreline with benches, cafés and tea sellers. It's where couples come for their wedding photos and where Istanbulites spend their Sunday afternoons. The seagulls, the ferries and the mosques on the skyline do the rest.
Tips for your visit
A visit inside takes about an hour, including the boat; looking at it from the shore takes as long as you like. The stairs in the tower are narrow.
- To go inside, the morning is best: shorter queues for the boat and good light on the European shore.
- For photos, go at sunset to Salacak and look towards Sultanahmet. A glass of tea from one of the stalls on the waterfront costs very little and keeps your spot.
- In strong wind the boats stop running, so have a plan B in Üsküdar, such as the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque and the market.
- For travellers with reduced mobility, the boat and the narrow stairs can be difficult; the Salacak waterfront is flat and accessible.
Tickets and prices
The official 2027 rate for a visit inside is €30, boat included (published at the time of writing, 2026; prices change, so check before you go). Watching it from the Salacak waterfront is free, and that's how we see it on most of my tours; if you'd like to go inside, I'll arrange it in advance.
Where it is and how to get there
The tower stands off the Üsküdar district, on the Asian shore. From Eminönü or Karaköy, the ferry to Üsküdar takes 20 minutes, and the Salacak landing stage is a 15-minute walk south along the shore. There are also boats from the European shore; check the current departure pier before you go.
How we visit it on my tours
It's a stop on the Asian Istanbul tour, along with Üsküdar, Kuzguncuk and Kadıköy, and you see it from the water on a Bosphorus cruise, which passes right by the islet. If you'd like the sunset, I plan the day so that we're at Salacak when the sun goes down.
If you'd rather spend an afternoon on the Asian side at your own pace, message me through the tailor-made trip form.