FORTRESS OF EUROPE (RUMELI HISARI)

Fortress of Europe also called The fortress of Europe. Rumeli means Roman which Ottomans called European side of city with this name. The fortress is situated at the narrowest point of Bosphorus which is 660 meters. The fortress was built by the order of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1452, just one year before he conquered Constantinople. It completed in a short period, four months and the aim was to control the sea traffic in Bosporus from the north. During the siege of Constantinople in 1453, it played a strategic role for the Ottoman army. Since it is the narrowest point of Bosporus it was really easy to control and block sea way.

The three great towers of the fortress were named after the three viziers (ministers) of Mehmed II, Sadrazam Çandarlı Halil Pasha, Zağanos Pasha and Sarıca Pasha.
It is standing against great Bosphorus as a one of the symbol of the city.

Practical Information
*It is half an hour bus driving from Kabatas along the Bosphorus shore.
*It is serving open air museum, open everyday expect wednesday 09.00 am to 05.00 pm.
* Entrance fee 3 Turkish liras.

Book the tour for FORTRESS OF EUROPE (RUMELI HISARI)

BASILICA CISTERN	DOLMABAHCE PALACE	SPICE BAZAAR
BLUE MOSQUE	EMINONU SQUARE	SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
BOSPHORUS	GALATA TOWER	PRINCES ISLAND
CAMLICA HILL	GRAND BAAZAR	TOPKAPI PALACE
CHORA MUSEUM	HAGIA SOPHIA	WOODEN SUMMER HOUSES
ANADOLU KAVAGI	BEYLERBEYI PALACE	LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA
PAMMAKARISTOS CHURCH	POYRAZKOY	RUMELI FORTRESS
HIPODROME	GOLDEN HORN and PIERRE LOTI HILL	ORTAKOY
MAIDEN TOWER	TAKSIM SQUARE & ISTIKLAL STREET

Historical Treasuries

Hippodrome
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Grand Bazaar
Topkapı Palace
Little Hagia Sophia Mosque

Highlights of Istanbul

Cruise tour with private boat in Golden Horn and Bosporus
Drive along the Golden Horn to Pierre Loti Hill
Short cable car experience
Dolmabahçe Palace
Drive over the Bosporus Bridge
Step to the Asian part, the highest point in the city with full view of Istanbul

Cruise in Bosphorus

Cruise in Bosphorus, passing under two Bosporus Bridges
See both sides of the city (Asia and Europe) from the sea
Come alongside of the Asian side of the city
Have a small break in a nice suburb of Asian side called Kanlica

Cruise in the Bosphorus and the Black Sea coast

Drive from the old city to the pier of Kabatas to start the cruise
Stop in Ortakoy to visit the district and feel its cosmopolitan ambience
Cross to the Asian side of the city to visit the summer palace called "Beylerbeyi"
The fortress of Europe
Anadolu Kavagi

Princes' Islands Tour

Sail from the city to the Sea of Marmara
Visit to Kinali and Heybeli Islands
Have a stop in Buyukada (Great Island)
Have lunch on the boat and swimming break in the secret bay of the island