Roof of the City: Climb Aydos

1. 01
   Nature

   Budget for the Entrance Gate

   Start at the Aydos Forest gate on the Kartal side. The area has been privately operated for a long period, and there is an entrance fee at the gates, including for pedestrians, so check the current tariff before you go. The castle and museum inside the forest are free, so the main cost of the day ends here at the gate.

   Aydos Ormanı Kartal giriş kapısı, Istanbul, Turkey
2. 02
   Nature

   Follow the Trail Uphill

   After the gate, the route turns into a dirt trail and keeps climbing. The waymarking is weak and the paths look similar, so having an offline map on your phone makes things much easier. As you gain elevation, the tree cover shifts between oak and pine, and the shade stays almost continuous in many sections.

   Aydos orman patikası ayrım noktası, Istanbul, Turkey
3. 03
   History

   See the Marmara Through the Walls

   At 325 meters, hidden in the forest, stands a Byzantine castle. Its walls date to the 11th and 12th centuries, and it once served as the administrative center of a local lordship. Ottoman sources say it was taken in 1328 in a night raid with help from the lord's daughter from inside. Excavations revealed towers, cisterns, and a church.

   Aydos Kalesi, Sultanbeyli, Istanbul, Turkey
4. 04
   Culture

   Enter the Free Museum

   Next to the castle, the Aydos Castle Museum opened in 2026 and admission is free. Inside, you can see early and middle Byzantine finds uncovered in the excavations, including ceramics, coins, and architectural fragments. After paying at the forest gate, there are no more tickets for the rest of the day.

   Aydos Kalesi Müzesi, Istanbul, Turkey
5. 05
   Photography

   Stand on the True Summit

   At about 537 meters, this is the highest point in Istanbul. The title is often wrongly given to Çamlıca, but Çamlıca is only 268 meters high and is merely the highest point of its own district. The hill's name comes from the Byzantine Aetos, meaning eagle.

   Aydos zirvesi düzlüğü, Istanbul, Turkey
6. 06
   Nature

   Catch Your Breath by the Pond

   On the descent, there is a pond inside the forest. Because it lies well beyond the entrance, crowds rarely make it this far, and the flat area by the water becomes the quietest break of the whole day. In summer, fires and barbecues are banned because of wildfire risk, which helps keep the area genuinely calm.

   Aydos Gölü kıyısındaki düzlük, Istanbul, Turkey

Check opening hours before you go. Hours, access conditions and weather can change.