Explore Uskudar in Istanbul

Gokce Nacar

Feb 15 466 read

Explore Uskudar in Istanbul

Uskudar, located just across Besiktas, offers visitors an exciting opportunity to explore beautiful sights. Sitting between Kadikoy and green Beykoz, Uskudar is underrated and deserves more admiration than it receives now.

Uskudar’s history is very old. There are traces of the first human settlement in the 7th Century BC. After the Ottomans captured the city, Uskudar had a more colorful atmosphere than the other cities at those times. Now, even if it is not the most popular district in Istanbul, it should be visited before leaving Istanbul!

Here is a guide for you to explore Uskudar.

See The Legend of Maiden’s Tower (Kiz Kulesi)

The Maiden’s Tower is a fantastic tower on the sea at the entrance of the Bosphorus. Also known as the Leandros, the tower is one of the most popular landmarks of the city.

The Maiden’s Tower today has a cafe and restaurant that serve during the daytime, however, it used to be a watch-out tower. It also hosts numerous special invitations and organizations. To see the tower closer, you can reach the tower by yacht with a 1-hour cruise along Bosphorus. The ticket price is about 15 Euro. You will not regret it!

Camlica Hill in Kisikli

Camlica Hill, which is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, is an amazing touristic area with a stunning view. The hill is one of the best options to catch best views of Istanbul from 265 meters above sea level. If you are around Uskudar, you should definitely climb Camlica Hill and see the beautiful sight! Plus, there are also several cafes and restaurants that you can relax.

Beautiful Mosques

In Uskudar, there are many historical mosques. We can include Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Semsi Pasha Mosque, Ayazma Mosque, Uskudar Yeni Mosque, and Atik Valide Mosque in these mosques. All of them are valuable and worth seeing before leaving Istanbul because their history is very deep and the architects are very qualified despite the conditions at those times. If you are around Uskudar and you have time, do not skip visiting!

Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, and Cengelkoy

Speaking about the neighborhoods worth visiting in Uskudar, we can count Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, and Cengelkoy.

Kuzguncuk is a peaceful seaside neighborhood located on the north of Uskudar. If you want to enjoy the view of the sea while drinking your tea in a cafe or restaurant, Kuzguncuk is for you! Cinar Cafe is one of the most recommended cafes to rest.

Beylerbeyi is also a beautiful and colorful seaside neighborhood located after Kuzguncuk. Plus, you should see the Beylerbeyi Palace, which is one of the most important landmarks in Istanbul. In Beylerbeyi, there are also many beautiful mosques, boutique hotels, cafes, and restaurants that can be seen.

Lastly, Cengelkoy is also a stunning seaside neighborhood, located after Kuzguncuk and Beylerbeyi. In Cengelkoy, there is also a colorful square called Cengelkoy Square. You should see it whenever you are free!