Audio GuideÇamlıca Tower

Rising above Istanbul’s undulating cityscape, Çamlıca Tower is the city’s tallest landmark—a slender, silvery presence crowning the summit of Little Çamlıca Hill in the Üsküdar district. From its upper terraces, you can take in sweeping views: the Bosphorus stretching between Europe and Asia, Istanbul’s classical domes and minarets gently outlined on the skyline, and the distant seas glistening on the horizon.

Turgay Tunalı

However, the tower is more than just a lofty viewpoint; it also stands as a symbol of modern Turkey, combining respect for tradition with a vision for the future. Its elegant, flowing structure draws inspiration from the tulip—a flower cherished during the Ottoman era as a symbol of beauty and abundance. In Turkish culture, the tulip represents elegance and renewal. The tower’s elongated main section depicts the stem and roots, while the upper restaurant and viewing floors are shaped to resemble a tulip bud about to blossom.

Abdullah Al Esawi

The sweeping glass lifts, travelling up the exterior of the building, are designed to evoke the Bosphorus itself—the iconic strait connecting Istanbul’s European and Asian shores. In this way, the tower echoes the city’s role as a bridge between different worlds.

Shaheen Haroon

Çamlıca Tower was realised through an international architectural competition and years of collaboration. It opened to visitors in late spring—several years after the initial plans were drawn up—merging state-of-the-art technology with cultural heritage. The design comes from Melike Altınışık Architects, led by one of Turkey’s most innovative architects.

In replacing a forest of unsightly aerials, the tower has provided Istanbul’s skyline with a single, elegant focal point. Today it serves as the hub for radio and television broadcasting, and uniquely, it can accommodate more than one hundred channels simultaneously.

The tower has received both praise and criticism—some celebrate it as a striking new landmark, while others feel it disrupts the character of the city’s historic silhouette. Yet, when you visit Çamlıca Tower, you can feel the forward-looking spirit of Istanbul balanced with reverence for its layered history—a modern tulip blossoming in a timeless city.