Yedikule Fortress (Castle of the Seven Towers): opening hours and visit

Updated on October 4, 2026

Yedikule, "the seven towers" in Turkish, is a fortress of stone and brick walls at the southern end of Constantinople's land walls, close to the Sea of Marmara. Its core is Byzantine: the Golden Gate, a triumphal arch from the late 4th century, is built into the walls of Theodosius II. After the conquest of 1453, Mehmed II added towers and curtain walls to turn it into an enclosed fortress with seven towers, which served as a treasury, an arsenal and then a state prison. The site is run by the Fatih municipality. It is open every day except Monday, from 9:00 to 17:00 according to the municipality. You can climb onto the ramparts for views of the Sea of Marmara and the rooftops of Samatya: it is a little-visited site, far from the queues of Sultanahmet.

Highlights

The towers and ramparts

Three towers date from the Byzantine period; the other four were built under Mehmed II. Part of the curtain walls can be walked, with narrow stairs: this is the best place to understand how the Theodosian wall met the sea.

The Golden Gate

This former late-Roman triumphal arch, raised at the end of the 4th century, served as the ceremonial entrance to the city for victorious emperors. It is now enclosed within the fortress: look for the walled-up arches on the courtyard side of the façade.

The inner courtyard

It brings together remains from several periods: sections of wall, column bases, the remains of Ottoman buildings. The site sometimes hosts open-air cultural events organised by the municipality.

The dungeons and the Genç Osman tower

The Ottomans made Yedikule a state prison where ambassadors and dignitaries were held. The young sultan Osman II was strangled here in 1622: one of the towers bears his name ("Genç Osman", Osman the Young).

Infos pratiques

Tips

Entry fee for foreign visitors: about 250 TL according to a 2026 survey (residents and students pay far less), not confirmed on an official site; check at the ticket desk. Run by the municipality, the fortress is not necessarily accepted with the Museum Pass Istanbul: check before relying on it. Last entry around 16:30. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours and wear good shoes (uneven stones, narrow stairs); avoid rainy days, when the steps are slippery. As the opening calendar and the weekly closing day can change, check the Fatih municipality page before you go. To continue, the nearby district of Samatya is covered in our guide Kumkapı, Samatya and Yedikule; you can also follow the Theodosian Walls northwards.

How to get there

Yedikule Meydanı Sokak No: 9, Yedikule, 34107 Fatih, Istanbul. By Marmaray suburban train to Kazlıçeşme station, then about a 10 to 15 minute walk; or from Sultanahmet by taxi (a short ride) or by bus. A pleasant walking route links Sultanahmet, Kumkapı, Samatya and then Yedikule in half a day: see our guide Kumkapı, Samatya and Yedikule.