Why visit / Interesting facts:
- A taste of Asia
- Charming district
Time required: 60 minutes
Public transport:
Address:
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: cercamon
Things you need to know:
- Üsküdar is a charming and predominantly residential neighborhood on Istanbul's Asian side. Its difference from the European side surprises most first-time visitors
- Üsküdar has a different style of architecture and a more relaxed atmosphere
- The Greeks founded the settlement, Chrysopolis or 'City of Gold', in the 7th c. BC. It was an important staging point in the Greek-Persian war of 410 BC
- Before Ottomans finally conquered Constantinople in 1453, they had already been ruling Üsküdar for a 100 years
- Üsküdar features a large number of historical mosques such as Mihrimah Sultan Mosque built by Ottoman star architect Sinan in 1548
- Leander's Tower (Kız Kulesi), a tower on tiny island off the coast of Üsküdar was originally built by the Greeks to control the movements of Persian ships. Both Byzantines and Ottomans used, rebuilt and modified the tower
What to do there:
- Explore the streets and some mosques in this quiet neighborhood
- Take a pleasant waterfront walk to see Leander's Tower
Tips & Insights:
- The area behind the ferry dock is a busy shopping district, with many restaurants (including the well-known Kanaat Lokantasi serving Ottoman cuisine) and a number of important Ottoman mosques
- You can take a ferry from the waterfront to get to Leander's Tower
