Maiden's Tower

Where it is & how to get there

• Boat: Boats to the tower leave from Salacak (Üsküdar) and Karaköy; the crossing takes a few minutes.
• Ferry to Üsküdar: Take a city ferry from Eminönü, Karaköy or Beşiktaş to Üsküdar, then walk 15 minutes along the shore to Salacak.
• Marmaray: The Marmaray train to Üsküdar, then walk.

The story of the Maiden's Tower

A tower has stood on this islet since ancient times, used as a lighthouse, a customs post and a defence point. The present building dates largely from the Ottoman era, restored many times over the centuries.

A favourite legend tells of a sultan who locked his daughter in the tower to protect her from a prophecy that she would die of a snake bite, only for a snake to reach her hidden in a basket of fruit. After a restoration completed in 2023, the tower reopened as a museum.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Watch the sunset from the Üsküdar shore, with tea in hand.
• Even without going in, the Salacak promenade is perfect for tea and the view.
• Combine it with a walk around Üsküdar's mosques and waterfront.

What's around the Maiden's Tower

• Üsküdar waterfrontMosques, cafés and the ferry pier.
• Mihrimah Sultan MosqueA Sinan mosque by the Üsküdar pier.
• Çamlıca MosqueTurkey's largest mosque on a hill above Üsküdar.
• KadıköyLively market district, 20 minutes away.

Questions travellers ask