Romantic Places in Istanbul: 6 Locations for a Perfect Date

Here are some interesting locations for a cozy and romantic mood in the majestic city of the Ottoman Empire. These include observation decks, restaurants in historical buildings, and famous roof tops.

1. Restaurant on the territory of Maiden's Tower (Maiden's Tower)

Maiden's Tower Restaurant is the most romantic place in Istanbul. Every second Turkish woman dreams of getting married here. Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) is a small island in the Bosphorus, on which the tower built by Greeks in the 5th century BC is located. In different historical times this oriental beauty had different functions: it served as a lighthouse, was a medical center, a customs station, even a prison.

An interesting legend is associated with the erection of this landmark. It is said that the tower was erected especially for the sultan's daughter, to whom the clairvoyant predicted death before the age of 18. The sultan, wishing to cheat fate, decided to put his daughter in the tower (which can be reached only by ship) and not to let his daughter out of the small castle. On the day of her 18th birthday, the Sultan had a double celebration: celebrating his daughter's birthday, he rejoiced that the prediction had not come true. As a gift to his daughter, he sent a vase of fruit, into which a snake crawled. The princess died of a poisonous bite, and the sultan fell into eternal ennui, realizing that fate could not be cheated in any way.

A second version of the legend also exists: the legend of a Greek boy named Leander, who died tragically while swimming to meet his beloved. According to this legend, the girl could not bear the bitterness of loss, climbed to the top of a high tower and rushed down.

Many artists depicted this tower on their canvases, but the most famous is the picture painted by Ivan Aivazovsky (it shows a wonderful view of the Bosphorus and the tower of Kiz Kulesi). The canvas is called "View of the Leandra Tower in Constantinople" and was painted by the artist in 1848.

It is best to book a table at the restaurant in advance, especially since the restaurant offers a free boat transfer to the tower.

Address: Salacak, Üsküdar Salacak Mevkii, 34668 Üsküdar/İstanbul

2. Uskudar Waterfront

We won't recommend specific places in this neighborhood, as this entire waterfront in Istanbul is a very romantic place for date nights and sunset meetings. Along the seafront, locals have organized many small cafes with low chairs. Only drinks are on the menu. Be sure to try apple tea or traditional Turkish tea, which is prepared right in front of you (special cauldrons are installed on the seafront, heating water on "live fire").

Also, on the seafront there are many hookah lounges, where sitting on soft cushions you listen to the sound of the sea surf, feed seagulls and sip quality tobacco, transported to a real oriental fairy tale.

3. Del Mare Restaurant

Del Mare is a fish restaurant with stunning panoramic views of the Bosphorus Bridge. The building itself was built in 1800 and was initially used as a barn for elephants! Then, from 1900 onwards, as an alcohol factory. The building then underwent restoration and became a restaurant that was voted the best fish restaurant on the Asian side of Istanbul in 2014, and has been receiving many European awards for the past 4 years.

The restaurant is located in the Asian part of the city, but from the European part you can also reach it from the Kuruchesme pier, from which small shuttle boats start (if you book a table at the restaurant in advance, this transfer is organized free of charge). Be sure to try here marinated sea bass, traditional meze appetizers, grilled octopus.

Address: Çengelköy, Kuleli Cd. 45-1, 34680 Üsküdar/İstanbul

4. Restaurant at the top of Galata Tower

During this visit, you will not only have dinner in the famous restaurant, but also admire the view of Istanbul at night, the panorama of the Golden Horn from the highest tower of the city (Galata Tower is 66 meters high). The restaurant is open until 24.00, and you can get to the observation deck until 20.00 (entrance ticket - 35 liras).

Please note that the attraction is quite interesting and popular, so there are usually a lot of people (it is better to choose the last hours of the restaurant, after 21.00). But if you visit the restaurant in the daytime, you can make beautiful photos from the observation deck and then have a snack in the restaurant, especially since the desserts here are excellent (especially the traditional cake with caramel sauce Trileche)!

A few words about Galata: the tower was built in the V century and was rebuilt several times due to constant earthquakes. It was originally built as a wooden lighthouse, later rebuilt into a stone fortress tower and only got its present form in 1937.

An interesting fact about the history of the tower: in 1632, an engineer-inventor named Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi jumped from the tower on homemade wings, flew across the Bosphorus and landed safely in the Asian part of the city in Usküdar's Doganjilar Square. Hezarfen has gone down in history as one of the pioneers of aviation, and the tower has come to be regarded as the starting point for one of the very first flights.

Address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi Sk., 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul

5. Kubbe Istanbul roof

"Kubbe" means "dome" in Turkish. It is part of the Valide Khan Complex, and the most photogenic roof in the city! Nearby is the Kubbe Gallery complex, where you can enter the gallery and buy original handmade gifts as souvenirs; or visit the library, the exhibition hall with antique carpets, and the co-working room (used by local artists).

Address: Mercan Mahallesi, Paşa Cami Sk. No:38

6. Sapphire skyscraper

A skyscraper with a beautiful oriental name Sapphire. The height of the skyscraper together with the spire is 261 meters, it has 64 floors, 10 of which are located underground, and 54 - above its level. Such dimensions allowed the glass giant to enter the top ten of the tallest buildings in Europe (2011). The observation deck is located on the 52nd floor (height 236 meters). Despite the fact that the entrance ticket is paid (the observation deck - 27 liras, Skyride 4D - 14 liras) there are always a lot of tourists. Especially impressive shots are obtained in the north of the terrace, from where you can see the entire Bosphorus Strait, from the point where it flows into the Black Sea to the point where it joins the Marmara Sea.

To the east, the platform faces the famous Mehmed Fatih Bridge, Istanbul's second bridge, which is more than 1.5 kilometers long. But from the western windows (in addition to the miniature houses) you can see the Ali Sami En sports stadium, one of the largest soccer arenas in Turkey. It is here that the famous soccer club Galatasaray trains, and during matches the stadium is ready to accommodate more than 52 thousand spectators.

But this is not just a roof top with a 360º view. Especially interesting is the virtual reality attraction. Guests can visit the 4D movie theater - feel like a helicopter pilot and see the city in all its glory really from the sky!

Address: Emniyetevleri, Eski Büyükdere Cd. No:1, 34415 Kağıthane/İstanbul