Rumeli Fortress

Cool history, unfortunately the upper level was closed for renovations, so we just explored the courtyard. Lots of walking needs - stairs, inclines, etc. Nice view of the Boğaz from the upper courtyard. Bought our Museum passes here which have come in handy for other sites.

At about 6 euro entry, but also included with the muze card, it's a realistic price for a site like this. However, the whole fortress is being restored, so you can not access any part of the walls , towers, and Ramparts. So, while the conservation works are ongoing, I wouldn't bother coming here. When open fully, I would definitely return. As of now, you'll spend more time getting there from the city centre than actually being there

Awesome views. If you're a local or student, very cheap, only 50 lira for students as of August 2025. Beautiful, breathtaking views. Can't walk on the walls for now because of renovations but most of the castle is visitable. There's also Ottoman and Byzantine artifacts on display in the fortress grounds. Very underrated spot also, not many tourists here, mainly locals. Worth coming by via ferry.

Unfortunately the place is under renovation, you only have access to the garden of many levels. I still loved this place and to imagine how powerful the Ottomans were at that time, with all the cannons, beautiful landscape and view of the Bosporus.

Most of it was closed. Do not go until it's all opened up.. not worth thr 6 euros now as only the lower gardens were open and not in very clean state.

A mighty silhouette of Ottoman strength—best seen from the water. We passed Rumeli Hisarı during our sunset Bosphorus tour, and the view was nothing short of dramatic. Perched high above the strait, this massive fortress still commands the coastline, just as it did centuries ago when the Ottomans built it in record time to prepare for the conquest of Constantinople. Seeing it from the boat gave us a true sense of its scale and strategic power. Tarihi iliklerinize kadar hissediyorsunuz—you feel the history in your bones. Whether you’re a history lover or just admiring the skyline, it’s a stunning part of the Bosphorus journey. Kesinlikle görülmeye değer.

Beautiful views of the Bosphorus and the castle itself is very impressive. It’s not as engaging as the Topkapi Palace but definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful site. Was being restored when we visited so could only walk around the garden. But for 6 Euros it was a great place to be in a bit of nature and escape the busy city.

If you take the Bosporus cruise, you will see the Rumeli Hisarı Fortress on the European side. Don't miss visiting this fortress because there are great views and there is so much history in this place! In 1453, after a thousand years, the Byzantine Empire came to an end with the Fall of Constantinople. For the next 500 years the Ottoman Empire ruled the area. Rumeli Hisarı means 'Fortress in the land of the Romans.' It was built in 1452 by the order of the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II. You can take Bus 25E (Kabataş--Sarıyer) to reach the fortress. Get out at the Rumeli Hisarı stop.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June, we got to Rumeli Hisari fortress. It was kind of an ordeal, because the bus that normally heads there leaves from the still-blocked Taksim Square route, so we hopped in an expensive taxi, leaving me cranky. This is off the beaten path for sure, and that probably explains why so few people were visiting this COMPLETELY AMAZING FORTRESS. I understand there's a lot to see in Istanbul, but if you want an attraction that will leave you feeling like you've actually experienced a part of history, this is where you should go. Here are some great things about Rumeli Hisari. - It's at the narrowest point of the strait separating Europe and Asia, which means that it's situated in a beautiful part of Istanbul that most people don't go to. I liked the walk to and from the grounds better than the view at the Galata Tower. - It's 5 TL to get in. That's about US $2.50. To climb all over a 700-year-old fortress. - You get to climb all over it. No, seriously, you get to climb. ALL. over it. When you see the turrets and guard towers of the fortress, you will already be blown away by how cool-looking they are. Now imagine your surprise mixed with happiness and terror when you realize that there are a bunch of incredibly horrifying narrow stone steps with no guardrail or alterations of any kind, and you can take them all the way up to the turrets and towers at 3-4 different points in the grounds. I am not particularly scared of heights, but I'm still scared of general dying, so I made my boyfriend hold my hand on the way up the part that went near a deep hole I can only assume was a death pit. The view from the top is phenomenal and was worth my consternation. - You will not see anything else like it in Istanbul. I know it's not near your hotel in Sultanahmet. But go anyway, because you will thank yourself for being an adventurous soul who gets to see amazing historical things. A couple cautions, that didn't affect my review but might affect your experience: - Don't bring your children. The steps are really terrifying. - A downside of the hands-off approach is that while there's a short guide in English to the fortress, I would have loved more information about what different parts of the fortress were used for. Plaques and guiding signs are largely absent.

It's an impressive fort in an impressive location. You can have breathtaking views of the Bosphorus from the top of this 15th-century Ottoman fortress. Today it's a museum, you can pay for the ticket and visit inside. Unfortunately the huge towers are closed to visitors nowadays due to the risk of falling therefore you can't go above the walls, but you can still get some nice shots if you go to the upper locations of the fortress. Many years ago they used to organize music concerts inside the fort, but not anymore.

I'm glad I made a trip down to Rumeli Hisari Museum. It is a little far from all the main attractions, but sure is worth the trip. You can either take a taxi or the bus from Kabatas (T1 tram stop) to Rumeli Hisari bus stop, which is right by the museum. Give yourself plenty of time when visiting the fortress because the traffic is absolutely horrendous. You can, however, take the bus or taxi to Ortakoy first (it's on the way), spend some time there, grab a baked potato, and then head over to Rumeli Hisari. There are lots of nice restaurants and cafes looking over the Bosphorus river. You can even walk alongside the river to avoid the traffic; it's a long walk so wear comfortable shoes. The fortress itself is incredible, and the view from top of the fortress is just amazing. Try avoid going on a rainy day; there aren't any railings, so it's a bit scary, specially on the rainy days!