Viewpoints in Istanbul: Üsküdar

Maiden Tower & Old Town View from Üsküdar, Istanbul
Üsküdar provides one of the nicest viewpoints in Istanbul, even though it does not provide a view from above. But therefore it is one of the best spots to see the sun going down over the historical district of Sultanahmet with the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Haiga Sophia. And of course the Maiden´s Tower, another one of Istanbul's famous landmarks, prominently situated some hundred meters off the Üsküdar shore. The most renowned sad legend says an emperor had a much beloved daughter and an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a snake on her 18th birthday. The emperor, to keep his daughter away from land, had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect his daughter until her 18th birthday. On the 18th birthday of the princess, the emperor brought her a basket of exotic sumptuous fruits as a birthday gift, delighted that he was able to prevent the prophecy. Upon reaching into the basket, however, a snake that had been hiding among the fruit bit the young princess and she died, just as the oracle had predicted. Hence the name Maiden´s Tower.

Today, there is a restaurant in the first floor and a café at the top of the tower, providing a great view over the Bosphorus and Istanbul, reachable with private boats from the Üsküdar shore.
Enjoying Cay & Simit at Üsküdar Shore

Sunset at the shore of Üsküdar

Nevertheless the best place to watch the sunset is the shore facing the old town of Istanbul with the Maiden´s Tower in the foreground. Around there are a lot of seats, mainly cushions on three rows of stones, which make it easy to enjoy the view together with some cay - turkish tea - and your favourite turkish sweet or salty dish, like simit.  

DIRECTIONS
Take a ferry from Besiktas or Eminönü to Üsküdar, alternatively the Marmary Rail to Üsküdar or a ferry to Kadiköy and change there to the Metro to go to Üsküdar.


Way from the ferry landing in Üsküdar (Üsküdar Iskelesi) to the viewpoint:
Location: Istanbul, Türkei

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