Büyük Çamlica Off

Lonely Planet review

A hilltop park with a crown of pine trees, Büyük Çamlıca is the highest point in the city and can be seen from miles away. It's beloved by İstanbullus, who flock here to relax, picnic in the pretty gardens, eat at the Çamlıca Restaurant and gaze upon their fine city. From the terraces you'll see the minaret-filled skyline of Old İstanbul, as well as the Bosphorus winding its way to the Black Sea.

Once favoured by Sultan Mahmut II (r 1808-39), by the late 1970s the park was a muddy and unkempt car park threatened by illegal and unplanned construction. In 1980 the municipal government leased the land to the Turing group, which landscaped the hilltop and built a restaurant such as Mahmut might have enjoyed. The municipal government took over management of the park in 1995.

To reach the hilltop from Üsküdar's main square, you can take a taxi (around YTL9 ) all the way to the summit, or a dolmuş most of the way. For the latter, walk to the dolmuş ranks near the ferry terminal, take a dolmuş headed for Ümraniye and ask for Büyük Çamlıca. The dolmuş will pass the entrance to Küçük Çamlıca and drop you off shortly thereafter in a district called Kısıklı. The walk uphill (pleasant but no great views) following the signs to the summit takes around 30-40 minutes.