Rumeli Fortress

History of Rumeli Fortress

Rumeli Fortress was built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) in 1452. The construction started on March 31, 1452 and was completed on August 31, 1452, in a short period of only 4 months. The purpose of the Rumeli Fortress was to control the Bosphorus and prevent aid to the Byzantine Empire from the Black Sea. Today, the Rumeli Fortress serves as a museum and offers visitors information about the military architecture and conquest strategies of the Ottoman Empire. Rumeli Fortress is also used for concerts and cultural events, and outdoor events are organized, especially in the summer months.

Rumeli Fortress Architecture

The Rumeli Fortress was built on the narrowest part of the Bosphorus and consists of three large towers and many smaller towers. Saruca Pasha Tower is located in the north of Rumeli Fortress and is the largest tower. Zağanos Pasha Tower is located to the south of Rumeli Fortress. Halil Pasha Tower is the tower to the east of Rumeli Fortress, overlooking the Bosphorus. The fortification walls of Rumeli Fortress are approximately 250 meters long and 7 meters thick. Rumeli Fortress has three main gates: Hisarpeçe, Dizdar and Sel gates.

How to get to Rumeli Fortress

There are a few different transportation options to get to Rumeli Fortress:

Metro

You can go to Hacıosman station by using the M2 Metro Line (Yenikapı-Hacıosman). From Hacıosman, you can take buses numbered 42T, 40T or 25T and get off at Rumeli Hisarı stop.

Bus

You can reach the Rumeli Hisarı stop by buses departing from Beşiktaş, Taksim or Sarıyer. It is possible to reach Rumeli Hisarı directly by 22, 25E, 40T and 42T buses from IETT bus lines.

Private Car

If you are on the European side, you can reach Rumeli Fortress by following the coastal road from Beşiktaş. After proceeding along the coastal road parallel to the Bosphorus, Rumeli Fortress will be on your right. If you are coming from the Anatolian side, you can reach Rumeli Fortress by following the coastal road after crossing the FSM Bridge to the European Side.

Steamship

During the Bosphorus tours organized in Istanbul, you pass near the Rumeli Fortress. However, there is no direct pier. After getting off from Beşiktaş or Sarıyer by ferries operating on the Bosphorus line, you can reach Rumeli Fortress with a short bus ride.

Yacht Charter

Yacht charter on the Bosphorus to go to Rumeli Fortress will be a pleasant and luxurious experience on the Bosphorus. Many yacht charter companies in Istanbul organize Bosphorus cruises and offer you private yacht charter services. For more than 15 years, Bogaz Cocugu has been providing hourly and daily yacht charter services to its guests throughout the year. You can request a yacht charter by using the yatkiralama.net/en page to take a Bosphorus tour or celebrate your special days to have a pleasant day. When your yacht charter activity is combined with the magnificent view of Rumeli Fortress, you can immortalize these moments by taking lots of photos.

Address: Yahya Kemal St, No:42, 34470 Sariyer/Istanbul, Turkiye