Located on a tiny islet on the Bosphorus just off the Salacak coast of Üsküdar, in the middle of the Asian and European continents, Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi in Turkish), also known as the Tower of Leander, is the symbol of Üsküdar. During 2,500 years, it has witnessed the history of Istanbul from Ancient Greeks to the Turkish Republic.
Because of its mystical and historical features, there are many legends about the Maiden's Tower. The most famous one is 'the snake legend'. According to this story, a Byzantine emperor had a daughter. An oracle claimed that the princess would be killed by a snake on her 18th birthday. The emperor built this tower in the middle of the sea in order to protect his daughter from the snake. On the princess's 18th birthday, the emperor gave a basket of fruit to his daughter as a birthday gift. However, a snake was hidden in this basket and killed the princess in accordance with the prophecy of the oracle. Therefore, the tower was named 'Maiden's Tower'.
During the Roman Empire, it housed a mausoleum; during the Byzantine Empire, it was used as a boarding station. During the Ottoman Empire, it turned into a defensive castle and then a lighthouse guiding boats. In recent years, it was restored and now serves as a restaurant and a cafe bar. Reservations are necessary.
To get there, you can take frequent ferries from Ortaköy (from İDO seaport, near the Ortaköy Mosque), from Salacak, Üsküdar, or from Kabataş. Please note that ferries from Kabataş run only after 8 PM.
Transportation fee is approximately 30 TL (updated from older pricing). Round trip tickets are available at the ferry docks.
Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) on Istanbul Map
Restaurant & Cafe Hours: Open daily 09:00–22:00. Restaurant for lunch (12:00–15:00) and dinner (18:00–22:00). Cafe serves drinks and light snacks all day. Reservations strongly recommended for dinner and sunset viewing, book at least a few days in advance.
Ferry Schedule (2026):
• From Salacak (Üsküdar coast): Every 30 minutes 09:00–18:30, then hourly until 21:30
• From Ortaköy: Hourly 10:00–19:00, then 20:00 and 21:00
• From Kabataş: Only after 20:00 — 20:30, 21:30 (dinner service only)
Admission (if not dining): Entry fee approximately 150 TL to visit the tower and museum. Free if you dine at the restaurant (but you must order).
Best time to visit: Sunset (check local time), the tower glows golden while the European skyline lights up behind. For photography, arrive 1 hour before sunset to secure a good spot on the upper deck. Weekday early afternoons are quietest.
Dining budget: Restaurant serves Turkish and international cuisine. Expect 600–1000 TL per person for dinner with drinks. The experience is about the view more than the food, many locals come just for dessert and tea at sunset.
Ancient Greek period: A small customs station controlled maritime trade.
Roman Empire: Converted into a mausoleum and triumphal monument.
Byzantine Empire: Used as a watchtower and chain control point for the Bosphorus. A massive chain was stretched from the tower to the European side to control ship passage.
Ottoman Empire: Fortified as a defensive castle, then converted to a lighthouse in the 19th century. The famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan added some of the existing stonework.
Turkish Republic: Restored multiple times. The current restaurant building dates from the 1990s restoration but respects the original tower structure.
In Greek mythology, this tower is associated with the story of Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, and Leander, a young man from Abydos (on the Asian side). Leander swam across the Hellespont every night to be with Hero, guided by her lamp from the tower. One stormy night, the lamp blew out and Leander drowned. Grief-stricken, Hero threw herself into the sea. Hence the tower's Western name: "Leander's Tower" (Tower of Leandros).