Maiden's Tower

The Maiden's Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), also known as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros) since the Byzantine period, is a tower on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m (220 yd) from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Turkey. After the naval victory at Cyzicus, in 408 BC the Athenian general Alcibiades probably built a custom station for ships coming from the Black Sea on a small rock called Arcla (small castle) and Damialis (its calf) in front of Chrysopolis (today's Üsküdar). In 1110 Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus built a wooden tower protected by a stone wall. From the tower an iron chain stretched across to another tower erected on the European shore in the Mangana quarter of Constantinople. The islet was then connected to the Asiatic shore through a defence wall whose underwater remains are still visible. During the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the tower held a Byzantine garrison commanded by the Venetian Gabriele Trevisano. Subsequently, the structure was used as a watchtower by the Ottomans during the reign of sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The tower was destroyed during the earthquake of 1509, rebuilt, and then burned down in 1721. Reconstruction was ordered by the grand vizier Damad Ibrahim Pasha and the new building was used as a lighthouse; the surrounding walls were repaired in 1731 and 1734. Then in 1763 the tower was reconstructed in more durable stone. From 1829 it was used as a quarantine station before being restored again by Sultan Mahmud II in 1832. In 1945 it was the turn of the harbour authority to patch it up. Then in 1998 it was restored again, shortly before appearing in the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough. After the 17 August 1999 earthquake and tsunami in the Sea of Marmara steel supports were added to the tower to strengthen it. The interior was converted into a café and restaurant, with views of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital at Sarayburnu. Private boats ply back and forth between the tower and the shore throughout the day. Before the intervention of 2020, the Maiden's Tower showed various structural and material pathologies. In 2021 work began on restoring the tower yet again. The work was completed in 2023, and the tower reopened to the public in May of that year. Being surrounded by seawater and being subject to intense humidity and winds, the structure experienced deterioration. The technical report claims that the most serious damage occurred in the load-bearing walls and foundations. The report shows that consolidating the tower's structural system was one of the most important modifications. Stainless steel tie rods were put in unseen areas to reinforce the stone masonry walls, which had been weakened by material fatigue and salt crystallization. Lighter, structurally sound alternatives were used to replace the concrete floors that had been constructed during earlier repairs.

Visiting the Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul was one of the most memorable experiences of my trip. Standing gracefully on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus, this iconic landmark has witnessed centuries of history and legends. Known as Kız Kulesi in Turkish, the tower dates back to antiquity, with its earliest origins linked to the Athenians in the 5th century BCE. Later, during the Byzantine era, Emperor Alexius Comnenus built a wooden tower here in 1110, which was later reconstructed by the Ottomans after earthquakes and fires. Over time, it served many roles: a customs station, a watchtower, a lighthouse, and even a quarantine hospital during epidemics. Beyond its historical significance, the Maiden’s Tower is surrounded by fascinating legends. One famous tale tells of a king who built the tower to protect his daughter from a prophecy of death by snakebite—yet fate found its way. Another romantic story speaks of Hero and Leandros, whose tragic love gave the tower its alternative name, Leander’s Tower. Today, the tower has been beautifully restored and welcomes visitors with a charming restaurant and museum. The panoramic views of Istanbul from its terrace are breathtaking, offering a perfect blend of history, myth, and modern hospitality. For anyone exploring Istanbul, the Maiden’s Tower is a must‑see destination that captures the soul of the city.

The Girl's Tower in Istanbul is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the city. It is located on a small island in the Bosphorus Strait, and offers stunning views of the city. The history and legend surrounding the tower add special appeal to it. You can enjoy the great views and eat at the restaurant where you are

It was an amazing place. Walking way was well built. There were some beautiful cafes with sea view around. You can visit and eat in Kız Kulesi with feribot. Kız kulesi is Istanbul's fantastic corner.

The tower itself was supposed to be part of the €105 museum pass- however when we went, it was an additional 8€ . This wasn't a deal breaker, but it's poor advertising and affiliation on both the card and the attractions part. The boat was fine~though no signage or communication on frequency- times didn't match online information either. The tower itself was okay, lacked information. A few boards had info on 'possible' uses for the tower, but nothing bedroom be 90 minutes to read. The cafe was nice, and very reasonably priced. Easy climb to the top, only 3 stories. Nice views. We caught the ferry from the Asian side of Istanbul and it was ready to find.

It was absolutely breathtaking! Please beware there is a Scammer boat tour company on the shore trying to offer higher price tours causing difficulty for the people please walk to the Governmental based Istanbul Museum card ticket office further on the pier. We had an amazing time you will not be disappointed!

It's worth a visit for the history but only really if you have the Istanbul or Türkiye museum card as the ticket price is far too much for what is, maximum, a half an hour visit! Still, there are good views across the Bosporus from the top.

Maiden’s Tower Kız Kulesi Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) * vibe: main-character energy. Romantic, mysterious, slightly dramatic (in a good way). * location: literally standing in the Bosphorus like it owns the place. Short boat ride from Üsküdar = instant mood upgrade. * crowd: tourists, couples, content creators chasing sunsets. Busy at golden hour but manageable. * views: insane 360° Istanbul skyline — bridges, ferries, Europe + Asia flexing together. * food/drinks: café prices are tourist-level but sipping tea here just feels elite. * best time: sunset for photos, morning for peace. * insta score: 11/10, no bad angles. Pro tip: check ferry timings or you’ll be stranded living your Cast Away arc 😅 Sonunda: Çayını iç, manzaraya bak, hayat güzel… 🌊☕🇹🇷

As we took our tour of the Bosphorus, we passed by the Maiden's Tower, we had seen it before during our earlier trip and we had enjoyed its sights from the Asian side coast several times. It is an iconic landmark in Istanbul. All the way back in 408 BC the Athenian general Alcibiades probably built a custom station for ships coming from the Black Sea, that was the first document of what is the Maiden's tower today. In the early millenia after Christ, the tower was used as a watch tower for troops defending the city. It had also been used as a lighthouse, quarantine station and as a site for several modern movies and TV series seen worldwide. Today, the interior is now a café and restaurant, with private boats taking visitors from the mainland to this small rock formation.

The Maiden's Tower was built by an ancient Athenian general In 408 BC to control the movements of the Persian ships along the Bosphorus. Back then the tower was located between the ancient cities of Byzantion and Chrysopolis. It was used as a lighthouse for centuries, the interior of the tower has been transformed into a popular café and restaurant, with an excellent view of the former Roman, Byzantine & Ottoman capital. Private boats make trips to the tower several times a day.

A wonderful place for a romantic date. You can take the kiz kulesi from the Asian or European side of Istanbul. You should make reservations for dinner, however we noticed it wasn't too busy. There was also a bar at the top of the tower where some choose to spend their time waiting for the ferry to return us back to Istanbul. The ferry is free if you have a meal at the maiden tower. They have a small menu where you choose a 4 course meal. This includes a cold appetizer, hot appetizer, entree and dessert. The meal was mediocre for a fancy place honestly. The place is really all about the view and environment. Staff was really great and helpful. They suggest for you to take a tour to the top of the tower after the entree as they prepare your dessert. On the way to the top of the tower, there is many historical facts and legends posted.

Great spot for a different viewpoint of Istanbul and to do something a little different. If you're a tourist, odds are you're staying on the European side of the city, so you have to take a water taxi over to the Usukudar. Once you're there, it's 20TL to get from the shore to the Maiden Tower island. The boats leave every 15 minutes. There is a cafe and restaurant inside of the tower, but it's a bit steep for me. I was more interested in the sights and the bit of history I learned from my visit. It used to be a toll center for he Bosporus strait during the Byzantine Empire, then changed to a lighthouse later on. There are binoculars for 1 lira on top if you'd like to look around. I found the sights to be splendid and unmatched! I was happy I went!

I agree with Ken S. Maybe we were both there at the same time?! This is a nice little excursion that will still leave most of the rest of your day free to sight-see elsewhere or do whatever else it is you like to do with your life. It costs 20TL to ride across from Uskudar. There was a small discount for students (16TL I think). There were signs on the island for a Kabitas departure, but there were no boats running to Kabitas on a Saturday afternoon in February. Once on the island, you basically enter the tower and walk up a winding staircase. There are little historical facts and stories to read along the way. It was great that the signs were all posted in both Turkish and English. When you reach the top you exit to a 360 degree exterior balcony with great views. The tower has a cafe and a restaurant. I ordered a cup of çay in the cafe...it was 5TL. Almost as outrageous as when they tried to charge me 10TL for a bottle of water at Topkapi Palace.

Very nice location in the middle of the river! The view from the top is amazing. The venue is very romantic, great live music and friendly staff. They even called our tour guide to ask whether someone is vegetarian. So I got a vegetarian plate.. That was very attentive. Since I'm very sophisticated when it comes to food the grilled vegetables were just too greasy for my taste. Should have mentioned no oil when they called. My husband loved the salmon on the starter plate.