Maiden's Tower — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maiden's Tower in Istanbul?
The Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi in Turkish, historically Leander's Tower) is a small stone tower standing on an islet about 200 metres off the Üsküdar shore, at the point where the Bosphorus opens into the Sea of Marmara. Over roughly 2,500 years it has served as a toll and watch station, a lighthouse, a quarantine hospital and a restaurant; since its 2023 restoration it is open as a museum, reached by a short boat crossing from Salacak.
Why is it called the Maiden's Tower?
The name comes from the legend of a princess whose father locked her in the tower to cheat a prophecy that she would die of a snakebite — the snake reached her anyway, hidden in a basket of fruit. Europeans long called it Leander's Tower after the Greek myth of Hero and Leander, and its Turkish name, Kız Kulesi, simply means "Maiden's Tower".
How do you get to the Maiden's Tower?
Small passenger boats shuttle to the islet from the Salacak waterfront in Üsküdar, on the Asian side — the crossing takes about five minutes, and admission includes the boat ride. In season, boats also run from Kabataş on the European side. Üsküdar itself is an easy ferry or Marmaray ride from the historic centre.
Is the Maiden's Tower open to visitors?
Yes. After a full restoration between 2021 and 2023, the tower reopened in May 2023 as a museum. It welcomes visitors daily from about 09:00 to 18:00, with a café service on the islet; evening dining is run separately by the tower's restaurant operation. Hours can shift with weather and season, so check before you go.
Can you take photos at the Maiden's Tower?
Yes — photography is welcome everywhere on the visit: the boat, the museum floors, the lantern gallery and the terrace. Drones over the strait are a different matter (the Bosphorus is controlled airspace) — keep them grounded. For the classic shot of the tower itself, shoot from the Salacak shoreline rather than the islet.
How long is the boat ride to the Maiden's Tower?
About five minutes each way from the Salacak pier — the islet sits roughly 200 metres offshore. Boats shuttle continuously during museum hours, so there is no timetable to plan around; you board the next departure in each direction.
Is the Maiden's Tower visit suitable for children and for visitors with limited mobility?
Children usually love it — a boat, a small island and a lighthouse is a strong pitch. For limited mobility, the two hurdles are stepping between gangway and boat, and the tower's historic spiral stairs: the terrace and café at sea level are manageable with assistance, but the upper museum floors and lantern gallery are stairs-only.
Can you propose or hold a wedding at the Maiden's Tower?
Yes — proposals, anniversary dinners and small ceremonies are a speciality of the tower's evening restaurant operation, arranged directly with the restaurant's own official channels. The staff handle the choreography discreetly. The free alternative: golden hour on the Salacak rocks, with the tower as witness.
What happens if the weather turns bad on the day of your visit?
The crossing is short but respectful of the strait: in genuinely rough seas or poor visibility the boats pause until conditions settle, which can suspend islet visits for a few hours. On stormy days check before heading to Salacak — and keep the shoreline viewpoint and Üsküdar's waterfront as your fallback plan.
Which Maiden's Tower is this — aren't there several?
Several cities have one: Baku's Maiden Tower, the Maiden's Tower at Leeds Castle in England, and Tallinn's among them. This site covers only the Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) in Istanbul, Türkiye — the small tower on an islet off the Üsküdar shore where the Bosphorus meets the Sea of Marmara.
Looking for more depth? Start with planning your visit, read the legend and the history, see how to get there, or check how the restaurant and café work.