Rumelihisarı
Rumeli Hisarı
A strait fortress built in 1452 by Mehmed II in just over four months to help capture Constantinople. Its walls overlook the narrowest point of the Bosphorus.
Rumeli Fortress stands on the European shore at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, about 660 meters wide. Mehmed II built it in 1452 to block the strait and lay siege to Constantinople. It faces the Anadolu Fortress across the water. Its three main towers and walls are well preserved, and you can climb the walls for views over the strait and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. It is now a museum. The entrance fee is about 7 euros, and it is closed on Mondays. The steps are steep, so wear non-slip shoes. Below the fortress, the Bebek and Rumeli Hisarı seafront has many breakfast shops. Getting there: take a coastal bus from Kabataş or Beşiktaş.
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, about 09:00–18:30
Nearby sights
- Emirgan Park
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Ortaköy Mosque
- Grand Çamlıca Mosque
- Bosphorus Strait Cruise
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Maiden's Tower
- İstiklal Avenue & Taksim Square