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Rumelihisarı (also known as Rumelian Castle and Roumeli Hissar Castle) or Boğazkesen Castle (meaning "Strait-Blocker Castle" or literally "Throat-Cutter Castle") is a medieval fortress located in Istanbul, Turkey, on a series of hills on the European banks of the Bosphorus. The fortress also lends its name to the immediate neighborhood around it in the city's Sarıyer district.
Conceived and built between 1451 and 1452 on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, the complex was commissioned in preparation for a planned Ottoman siege on the then-Byzantine city of Constantinople, with the goal of cutting off maritime military and logistical relief that could potentially come to the Byzantines' aid by way of the Bosphorus Strait, hence the fortress's alternative name, "Boğazkesen", i.e. "Strait-cutter" Castle. Its older sister structure, Anadoluhisari ("Anatolian Fortress"), sits on the opposite banks of the Bosporus, and the two fortresses worked in tandem during the final siege to throttle all naval traffic along the Bosphorus, thus helping the Ottomans achieve their goal of making the city of Constantinople (later renamed Istanbul) their new imperial capital in 1453.
Historic place in the middle of Bosforous Istanbul. Many cafes around . İdeal place to take freash air
Hakki TatarMar 25, 2018
Rumeli Hisari is an Ottoman fortress on the European side of the Bosphorus in the Istanbul district of Sarıyer, opposite the Anadolu Hisarı, which houses a museum. Concerts of famous Turkish musicians are held there every summer. In 1953, the fortress was restored, on the occasion of the 500-year celebration of the taking of Istanbul. Since then the castle has been used as a museum
Ercan DevrimFeb 10, 2018
Very Beautiful fortress, if you like history definitely visit this! Not so expensive enterie fee
Nikola DokicFeb 21, 2018
The Fortress of Rumeli Hisarı, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and in the northernmost district of Istanbul, is a striking monument. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors to this great city follow the long-established tradition of taking a Bosphorus cruise and see the impressive castle from afar. Few of them realise that the building played a role in the Siege and Fall of Constantinople in 1453 and that its very shape and details exemplify the historical developments that led to this world-changing event, the end of the Byzantine Empire after over a thousand years and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire as a major player for five centuries.
MEHMET ABACIJan 8, 2018
If you live castles with high winding stairs. You'll love this Fortress. The views of the Bosphorus are awe-inspiring. Unfortunately most of the winding staircases and ramparts are closed due to Health and Safety. I hope they put fences up before my next visit.
Haloodie FoodieOct 27, 2017
Fantastic place, well worth a visit. Since it is further away from all the other locations of historical importance in Istanbul, many tourists give this location a miss.Those who choose to come here will not be disappointed because it feels empty and pretty much yours for the day. Please know that while you are free to walk around the gardens and walk up some of the stairs to a higher vantage point, you are not allowed inside or on top if any of the remaining towers. Still the feel of the place is amazing and you can spend some time here walking around and looking at the view.
Mustafa EjazApr 14, 2018
As viewed from a ship passing starait The castle is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait at its narrowest point with approximately 660 meters. It is just opposite of Anadolu Castle (Anadolu Hisarı) that is another Ottoman castle Bosphorus strait connects Black Sea with Marmara Sea. Rumeli Castle consists of three large towers, one small tower, and thirteen smaller towers, which all are in very good condition. Located on the shore of the Bosphorus, the easiest way to get to the Rumeli Castle is to take a bus passing by Rumeli Hisarı bus station and to get of at Rumeli Hisarı bus stop. The castle is just next to the bus stop
imran gauriJun 4, 2018
One of the well worth visit places in Istanbul along with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. You will feel the greatness and importance of this fortress for the fall of Constantinople if you visit it. Nearby, there was a nice Corniches with multiple nice-viewing restaurants.
Ali Shams AldeenMay 13, 2018
Its a garrison at that time but now its converted to a museum. You need to buy a ticket in order to get in or you can also skip it and take pictures including the Bosphorus bridge. Its a serene place and beside it are restaurants. This is the first stop of the Bosphorus Tour!
Clayton GallemaApr 28, 2018
-Nice castle -Good view of Bosphorus -10 TL entrance fee -A lot of stairs to climb but totally worth it -nice and affordable cafes and restaurants around -traffic is usually a killer to go there and on the way back
Mehrdad AsadiMay 1, 2018
Great view, must see place. Entrance fee 10tl. But you can't go inside, only walk in the garden. Work till 19 in summer
Nata BoJul 20, 2018
10TL entrance fee and museum pass works there. Once you climb to the top you are rewarded with a great view of the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge. We spent about 45mins there. We did it as part of our Bosphorus cruise you can also do it if you are exploring the nearby Bebek area.
Yousef TarekJul 14, 2018
Beautiful and absolutely worth the visit, but keep in mind that all the interiors are closed - you can only visit the garden, absolutely no tower interiors or walk on top of the walls for their breathtaking views. I had the luck to go inside a tower because it was extraordinarily open for twenty minutes by a guardian who had to carry out a repair inside (and forgot the door open) - it's an incredible experience. Shame it was only by chance. In our rush, we have glimpsed at an abandoned exhibition inside the tower: once beautiful in-scale models of Istanbul, of the castle, of the Bosphorus, with historical explanations, now covered by dust and damaged. This is because of the usual Turkish negligence for their heritage: the last full restoration is from 1952. To balance, they have recently spent good money to rebuild a Mosque in the centre of the castle (yes, you read it right). There was a Mosque in the original castle (in the same spot, over the cistern), but it was destroyed over the centuries and, in the 1952 restoration, it was decided transform its spot in a stage and the surrounding area in an open air theatre (thanks, secular Atatürk). Introduce Erdoğan: instead of investing in repairing and reopening the towers and walls, now the theatre stage has a new Mosque on it, which defeats the use of the 1952 theatre stone seats that have been left all around. Pure madness. Therefore, you can only walk in the internal courtyard, but should you have a need of the soul, you are readily served a Mosque. Still, the beauty of the site and its surroundings are well worth a visit, and it's a short distance from Istanbul (by bus, about 25 min from Dolmabahçe Palace).
Alessio LombardiJul 9, 2018
Lovely place at the bank of the sea. Spectacular architecture and a historic place. Must go for beautiful views
Hamid IrfanJul 15, 2018
Historic place in the middle of Bosforous Istanbul. Many cafes around . İdeal place to take freash air
Hakki TatarMar 25, 2018
Rumeli Hisari is an Ottoman fortress on the European side of the Bosphorus in the Istanbul district of Sarıyer, opposite the Anadolu Hisarı, which houses a museum. Concerts of famous Turkish musicians are held there every summer. In 1953, the fortress was restored, on the occasion of the 500-year celebration of the taking of Istanbul. Since then the castle has been used as a museum
Ercan DevrimFeb 10, 2018
Very Beautiful fortress, if you like history definitely visit this! Not so expensive enterie fee
Nikola DokicFeb 21, 2018
The Fortress of Rumeli Hisarı, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and in the northernmost district of Istanbul, is a striking monument. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors to this great city follow the long-established tradition of taking a Bosphorus cruise and see the impressive castle from afar. Few of them realise that the building played a role in the Siege and Fall of Constantinople in 1453 and that its very shape and details exemplify the historical developments that led to this world-changing event, the end of the Byzantine Empire after over a thousand years and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire as a major player for five centuries.
MEHMET ABACIJan 8, 2018
If you live castles with high winding stairs. You'll love this Fortress. The views of the Bosphorus are awe-inspiring. Unfortunately most of the winding staircases and ramparts are closed due to Health and Safety. I hope they put fences up before my next visit.
Haloodie FoodieOct 27, 2017
Fantastic place, well worth a visit. Since it is further away from all the other locations of historical importance in Istanbul, many tourists give this location a miss.Those who choose to come here will not be disappointed because it feels empty and pretty much yours for the day. Please know that while you are free to walk around the gardens and walk up some of the stairs to a higher vantage point, you are not allowed inside or on top if any of the remaining towers. Still the feel of the place is amazing and you can spend some time here walking around and looking at the view.
Mustafa EjazApr 14, 2018
As viewed from a ship passing starait The castle is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait at its narrowest point with approximately 660 meters. It is just opposite of Anadolu Castle (Anadolu Hisarı) that is another Ottoman castle Bosphorus strait connects Black Sea with Marmara Sea. Rumeli Castle consists of three large towers, one small tower, and thirteen smaller towers, which all are in very good condition. Located on the shore of the Bosphorus, the easiest way to get to the Rumeli Castle is to take a bus passing by Rumeli Hisarı bus station and to get of at Rumeli Hisarı bus stop. The castle is just next to the bus stop
imran gauriJun 4, 2018
One of the well worth visit places in Istanbul along with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. You will feel the greatness and importance of this fortress for the fall of Constantinople if you visit it. Nearby, there was a nice Corniches with multiple nice-viewing restaurants.
Ali Shams AldeenMay 13, 2018
Its a garrison at that time but now its converted to a museum. You need to buy a ticket in order to get in or you can also skip it and take pictures including the Bosphorus bridge. Its a serene place and beside it are restaurants. This is the first stop of the Bosphorus Tour!
Clayton GallemaApr 28, 2018
-Nice castle -Good view of Bosphorus -10 TL entrance fee -A lot of stairs to climb but totally worth it -nice and affordable cafes and restaurants around -traffic is usually a killer to go there and on the way back
Mehrdad AsadiMay 1, 2018
Great view, must see place. Entrance fee 10tl. But you can't go inside, only walk in the garden. Work till 19 in summer
Nata BoJul 20, 2018
10TL entrance fee and museum pass works there. Once you climb to the top you are rewarded with a great view of the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge. We spent about 45mins there. We did it as part of our Bosphorus cruise you can also do it if you are exploring the nearby Bebek area.
Yousef TarekJul 14, 2018
Beautiful and absolutely worth the visit, but keep in mind that all the interiors are closed - you can only visit the garden, absolutely no tower interiors or walk on top of the walls for their breathtaking views. I had the luck to go inside a tower because it was extraordinarily open for twenty minutes by a guardian who had to carry out a repair inside (and forgot the door open) - it's an incredible experience. Shame it was only by chance. In our rush, we have glimpsed at an abandoned exhibition inside the tower: once beautiful in-scale models of Istanbul, of the castle, of the Bosphorus, with historical explanations, now covered by dust and damaged. This is because of the usual Turkish negligence for their heritage: the last full restoration is from 1952. To balance, they have recently spent good money to rebuild a Mosque in the centre of the castle (yes, you read it right). There was a Mosque in the original castle (in the same spot, over the cistern), but it was destroyed over the centuries and, in the 1952 restoration, it was decided transform its spot in a stage and the surrounding area in an open air theatre (thanks, secular Atatürk). Introduce Erdoğan: instead of investing in repairing and reopening the towers and walls, now the theatre stage has a new Mosque on it, which defeats the use of the 1952 theatre stone seats that have been left all around. Pure madness. Therefore, you can only walk in the internal courtyard, but should you have a need of the soul, you are readily served a Mosque. Still, the beauty of the site and its surroundings are well worth a visit, and it's a short distance from Istanbul (by bus, about 25 min from Dolmabahçe Palace).
Alessio LombardiJul 9, 2018
Lovely place at the bank of the sea. Spectacular architecture and a historic place. Must go for beautiful views
Hamid IrfanJul 15, 2018
Historic place in the middle of Bosforous Istanbul. Many cafes around . İdeal place to take freash air
Hakki TatarMar 25, 2018
Rumeli Hisari is an Ottoman fortress on the European side of the Bosphorus in the Istanbul district of Sarıyer, opposite the Anadolu Hisarı, which houses a museum. Concerts of famous Turkish musicians are held there every summer. In 1953, the fortress was restored, on the occasion of the 500-year celebration of the taking of Istanbul. Since then the castle has been used as a museum
Ercan DevrimFeb 10, 2018
Very Beautiful fortress, if you like history definitely visit this! Not so expensive enterie fee
Nikola DokicFeb 21, 2018
The Fortress of Rumeli Hisarı, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and in the northernmost district of Istanbul, is a striking monument. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors to this great city follow the long-established tradition of taking a Bosphorus cruise and see the impressive castle from afar. Few of them realise that the building played a role in the Siege and Fall of Constantinople in 1453 and that its very shape and details exemplify the historical developments that led to this world-changing event, the end of the Byzantine Empire after over a thousand years and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire as a major player for five centuries.
MEHMET ABACIJan 8, 2018
If you live castles with high winding stairs. You'll love this Fortress. The views of the Bosphorus are awe-inspiring. Unfortunately most of the winding staircases and ramparts are closed due to Health and Safety. I hope they put fences up before my next visit.
Haloodie FoodieOct 27, 2017
Fantastic place, well worth a visit. Since it is further away from all the other locations of historical importance in Istanbul, many tourists give this location a miss.Those who choose to come here will not be disappointed because it feels empty and pretty much yours for the day. Please know that while you are free to walk around the gardens and walk up some of the stairs to a higher vantage point, you are not allowed inside or on top if any of the remaining towers. Still the feel of the place is amazing and you can spend some time here walking around and looking at the view.
Mustafa EjazApr 14, 2018
As viewed from a ship passing starait The castle is situated on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait at its narrowest point with approximately 660 meters. It is just opposite of Anadolu Castle (Anadolu Hisarı) that is another Ottoman castle Bosphorus strait connects Black Sea with Marmara Sea. Rumeli Castle consists of three large towers, one small tower, and thirteen smaller towers, which all are in very good condition. Located on the shore of the Bosphorus, the easiest way to get to the Rumeli Castle is to take a bus passing by Rumeli Hisarı bus station and to get of at Rumeli Hisarı bus stop. The castle is just next to the bus stop
imran gauriJun 4, 2018
One of the well worth visit places in Istanbul along with Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. You will feel the greatness and importance of this fortress for the fall of Constantinople if you visit it. Nearby, there was a nice Corniches with multiple nice-viewing restaurants.
Ali Shams AldeenMay 13, 2018
Its a garrison at that time but now its converted to a museum. You need to buy a ticket in order to get in or you can also skip it and take pictures including the Bosphorus bridge. Its a serene place and beside it are restaurants. This is the first stop of the Bosphorus Tour!
Clayton GallemaApr 28, 2018
-Nice castle -Good view of Bosphorus -10 TL entrance fee -A lot of stairs to climb but totally worth it -nice and affordable cafes and restaurants around -traffic is usually a killer to go there and on the way back
Mehrdad AsadiMay 1, 2018
Great view, must see place. Entrance fee 10tl. But you can't go inside, only walk in the garden. Work till 19 in summer
Nata BoJul 20, 2018
10TL entrance fee and museum pass works there. Once you climb to the top you are rewarded with a great view of the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge. We spent about 45mins there. We did it as part of our Bosphorus cruise you can also do it if you are exploring the nearby Bebek area.
Yousef TarekJul 14, 2018
Beautiful and absolutely worth the visit, but keep in mind that all the interiors are closed - you can only visit the garden, absolutely no tower interiors or walk on top of the walls for their breathtaking views. I had the luck to go inside a tower because it was extraordinarily open for twenty minutes by a guardian who had to carry out a repair inside (and forgot the door open) - it's an incredible experience. Shame it was only by chance. In our rush, we have glimpsed at an abandoned exhibition inside the tower: once beautiful in-scale models of Istanbul, of the castle, of the Bosphorus, with historical explanations, now covered by dust and damaged. This is because of the usual Turkish negligence for their heritage: the last full restoration is from 1952. To balance, they have recently spent good money to rebuild a Mosque in the centre of the castle (yes, you read it right). There was a Mosque in the original castle (in the same spot, over the cistern), but it was destroyed over the centuries and, in the 1952 restoration, it was decided transform its spot in a stage and the surrounding area in an open air theatre (thanks, secular Atatürk). Introduce Erdoğan: instead of investing in repairing and reopening the towers and walls, now the theatre stage has a new Mosque on it, which defeats the use of the 1952 theatre stone seats that have been left all around. Pure madness. Therefore, you can only walk in the internal courtyard, but should you have a need of the soul, you are readily served a Mosque. Still, the beauty of the site and its surroundings are well worth a visit, and it's a short distance from Istanbul (by bus, about 25 min from Dolmabahçe Palace).
Alessio LombardiJul 9, 2018
Lovely place at the bank of the sea. Spectacular architecture and a historic place. Must go for beautiful views
Hamid IrfanJul 15, 2018
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
Wander is a travel search engine that allows you to find the perfect travel destination that fits your budget and preferences.