Üsküdar is one of the most central districts on the Asian side of Istanbul, very easily accessible via ferry and subway from the European side in 10-20 mins depending on the type of transport, full of history, is geographically inside the Bosphorus, thus is home to some of the best aerial views of Istanbul, should definitely be on your list of places to visit when traveling to Istanbul.
Best Places to visit in Üsküdar
Related: How Do I Go To Üsküdar?
The Maiden Tower
The Maiden Tower, or “Kız Kulesi” in Turkish, is one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul and it is only accessible from Üsküdar. One of the rare rock formations inside the Bosphorus, this tiny isle has been utilized for different reasons since the 5th century BC. Numerous structures were built on top of it by the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. At different times, it was a lighthouse, a customs station, a quarantine station, a telecommunication station, and more recently a restaurant. Many people visit the Maiden’s Tower to take romantic pictures of the Bosphorus and experience its ancient history. The Maiden’s Tower can be accessed with little row boats from the Üsküdar seaside.
Book a Bosphorus tour and see the Maiden’s Tower from the sea
Üsküdar Center (Çarşı)
Üsküdar, being one of the liveliest neighborhoods on the Asian side for hundreds of years, has a great marketplace where locals buy their groceries, excellent seaside restaurants with a Bosphorus view, plenty of historical sites such as Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Sultan Ahmet III fountain, Yeni Valide Mosque, Şemsi Ahmet Paşa Mosque and more.
Click here to book a tour two continents tour with stop-over at Üsküdar
Kuzguncuk
An old, historical neighborhood with its history dating back to the 6th century Byzantine Empire period, Kuzguncuk is known for its colorful wooden mansions on its narrow cobblestone paved streets, multiethnic background with hundreds of years old Greek churches, and synagogs.
Located right on the Bosphorus with an exceptional view, Kuzguncuk offers a calm, visually pleasing, and alternative experience on the Asian side of Istanbul. Many people go on casual walks in this interesting neighborhood, visit its artisan bakeries
and boutique cafes, take amazing pictures with its colorful apartments in the background and make aerial shots of the Bosphorus from its hilly streets.
Beylerbeyi & Beylerbeyi Palace
One of the latest Ottoman palaces, Beylerbeyi Palace is a spectacular seaside palace built in the late 19th century and was used as a summer palace by Ottoman sultans. It’s located in a perfect location, right below the Bosphorus bridge in the center of the Bosphorus with an exceptional view, Beylerbeyi Palace is truly an impressive palace to visit, and unlike most other historical sites and palaces in Istanbul, it tends to be less crowded and easily accessible without long waiting lines even in season.
Right outside of the palace is the Beylerbeyi neighborhood, which is also a very nice place to be, has plenty of quality restaurants and cafes by the Bosphorus with a great view. A great choice for an alternative ambiance on the Asian side.
Nakkaştepe National Park
Nakkaştepe National Park (Nakkaştepe Millet Bahçesi) is a large-scale public park located next to the Bosphorus bridge in the Üsküdar district. This big park is built on a natural hill by the Bosphorus and has plenty to offer. There are playgrounds for kids, activity areas, a zipline, a lot of picnic areas, restaurants, cafes, a man-made pool with a refreshing waterfall, a panorama terrace between the trees, and balconies, and a second terrace at its top with a very grand view of the Bosphorus and the city from above. Definitely worth visiting, but be aware its a lot of hill climbing on foot.
Read our list of Top 10 Aerial Views of Istanbul
Çamlıca Hill of Üsküdar
One of the highest hills of Istanbul, Çamlıca Hill is 268 meters from sea level, and it is famous for being one of the best places to get an aerial shot of Istanbul. The view is so large, that you can almost see the entire Bosphorus from one end to another, and from one side you see the Bosphorus and the European side, on the other side you see the urban view of the Asian side and it is truly one of the best places to see how big Istanbul truly is. Çamlıca Hill has a restaurant, cafe, panoramic terrace and even binoculars for a close-up view of the city from above.
Read our list of Top 10 Aerial Views of Istanbul
Çamlıca Tower of Üsküdar
The highest building in all of Turkey, the Çamlıca Tower has a total height of 587 meters and 49 floors. There are aerial views from four of its floors height ranging from 366 to 398 meters. Going up to Çamlıca Tower requires a ticket and is bookable online. This is the biggest aerial view of Istanbul you can have and also you can have lunch or dinner during your visit.
Read our list of Top 10 Aerial Views of Istanbul
Click here to book a ticket to Çamlıca Tower.
Çamlıca Mosque
The largest mosque in all of Turkey, and one of the 4 mosques in Turkey to have six minarets, Çamlıca Mosque, also known as “the White Mosque” or “Büyük Çamlıca Camii” in Turkish, is more than just a large mosque. This spectacular complex has a very impressive and comprehensive museum, the “Museum of Islamic Civilizations”, a very large and rich library, art gallery, conference hall, calligraphy workshop, cafe, panoramic terrace and garden. You can easily spend half a day in this complex. We can easily say that the Çamlıca Camii is one of the best places to visit in Uskudar
