Topkapı Palace
The sultans’ palace on Sarayburnu: courtyards, the Imperial Council, the treasury and the terraces over the water. Dated entry, sold online on its own site.
Maiden's Tower
The tower on a rocky islet off Üsküdar, where the Bosphorus meets the Marmara Sea, reached by a short boat ride from Karaköy or Salacak.
About the museum
The Maiden's Tower stands on a natural rock in the water between the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus, only about 200 metres from the Salacak shore of Üsküdar. From here the view takes in the Bosphorus to the north, the Marmara to the south and the mouth of the Golden Horn to the west, which explains why the rock was long used to watch sea traffic.
Many structures have stood on this rock over the centuries. Earthquakes, harsh weather and the sea wore them down faster than usual, so they were repeatedly rebuilt and repaired. Most of what you see today dates from the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, in 1832 and 1833.
In that period the tower became a quarantine hospital to keep the cholera epidemic out of the city, and during the plague of 1836 and 1837 some patients were isolated here. Today the trip itself is part of the experience: a short crossing with the skyline of Istanbul behind you.
Tips
- Boats run from both Karaköy (the pier in front of Ziraat Bank) and Salacak on the Üsküdar side; schedules can change with the weather.
- Children under 18 must visit accompanied by a parent. Museum Card is valid for Turkish citizens.
Questions
When is Maiden's Tower open?
According to the Ministry’s listing it opens at 09:00 and closes at 21:00 (last entry 20:00). Open every day.
Can I buy tickets for Maiden's Tower on this site?
No. This site sells no tickets. Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Dolmabahçe Palace are sold on our sister sites; for Maiden's Tower, buy at the ticket office or on the Ministry’s official e-ticket system.
Where is Maiden's Tower?
Maiden's Tower is in Istanbul, Türkiye — Salacak İskele: Salacak mah. Harem Sahil Yolu cd. No:26/1 Üsküdar/İstanbul.
Istanbul tickets online
Four Istanbul landmarks, each sold on its own site by the agency behind this guide — dated entry and free cancellation up to 24 hours.
Basilica Cistern
Justinian’s great underground reservoir: 336 columns in still water and the two Medusa heads. Fast-track entry with a digital audio guide.
Hagia Sophia
Justinian’s cathedral, the sultans’ mosque and a working mosque again today. The ticket admits you to the upper visitor gallery.
Dolmabahçe Palace
A nineteenth-century palace on the water’s edge: the Selamlık, the Ceremonial Hall under its chandelier, the crystal staircase and the Harem.