The Küçüksu Pavilion (Küçüksu Kasrı) stands on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, in the Beykoz district, at the mouth of the Göksu stream, between the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and the fortress of Anadolu Hisarı. Sultan Abdülmecid had it built in 1856-1857 to replace a wooden kiosk of 1751-1752, and his successor Abdülaziz enriched its façades. It was not a residence but a resting pavilion for day trips: the Göksu valley had been a very popular place for strolls and picnics since the 18th century. The building has three storeys above a basement and is small: allow about half an hour for the visit. It has been open to the public as a palace-museum since 1983. Its appeal lies above all in its carved façade, standing right at the water's edge, and in its setting, a few minutes' walk from the Küçüksu ferry stop.
Highlights
The Rococo façade
The arched windows, the balconies with openwork balustrades and the carved decoration covering the walls make this pavilion one of the most refined examples of Tanzimat-era architecture on the Bosphorus. The white railing around it on the sea side is part of the ensemble.
The pavilion seen from the water
The best viewpoint is the Bosphorus itself: the pale little palace appears among the greenery, with its quay. You can see it on the Bosphorus cruise, from the deck, on the Asian side.
The interior rooms
Inside, the visit takes you through the rooms of the pavilion, furnished and decorated in the spirit of the 19th century. The rules on photography are those of the national palaces: ask at the entrance.
The Göksu garden and the fountain
In front of the pavilion, the small Küçüksu fountain, in 18th-century Ottoman Rococo style, and the lawn by the stream recall the Göksu picnics of old. The garden is visited with a separate ticket (see Astuces).
Infos pratiques
Tips
Prices for foreign visitors, according to the official website of the National Palaces (Milli Saraylar), consulted in October 2026: pavilion 300 TL; reduced rate 60 TL for students aged 7 to 25 with their card; picnic area (garden) 500 TL; free from age 0 to 6. Prices are revised several times a year: check them on the official website before you go. A combined ticket for the palaces and pavilions of the Asian shore exists; see the entry for Beylerbeyi Palace, further south on the same shore, for its price. To continue, the fortress of Anadolu Hisarı is a few hundred metres away, and our guide to the Ottoman palaces of Istanbul helps you choose between all the palaces.
How to get there
Göksu Mahallesi, Küçüksu Caddesi No:12, Küçüksu, Beykoz, Istanbul. Get to Üsküdar by ferry from Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş, or by Marmaray, then take bus 15 (Üsküdar–Beykoz), which runs along the Bosphorus to the Küçüksu stop. From the pavilion, you can walk to the fortress of Anadolu Hisarı along the seafront road.
Opening hours
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