Rumeli Hisarı

Rumeli Hisarı (the Rumelian Fortress) is the Ottoman castle built on the narrowest stretch of the Bosphorus in the Sarıyer district, facing the smaller Anadolu Hisarı on the Asian shore. Its walls climb the hillside, so a visit means slopes and a lot of steps, repaid with one of the best views along the strait. After a long restoration it is open to visitors as part of the Hisarlar Museum.

The route begins at the gate on the waterfront and works uphill through gardens and paths inside the walls. The three great towers are named after the viziers who were responsible for building them: Saruca Pasha, Çandarlı Halil Pasha and Zağanos Pasha. In the grounds you will find Ottoman cannons, stone cannonballs and a section of the chain once stretched across the Golden Horn. Viewing terraces on the walls look out over the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the Asian side. Some towers and wall sections may be closed for ongoing work. Plan on an hour to an hour and a half.

The steps are high and uneven, so wear proper shoes and keep an eye on small children. Bring a hat on sunny days, as parts of the terraces have no shade. The fortress is on the coast road north of Beşiktaş; a pleasant way to arrive is to walk along the water from Bebek. Afterwards, the breakfast cafés of Rumelihisarı village and the Bebek waterfront are right there. Check the hours on the museum page.