Şile Lighthouse

Overview

Şile Lighthouse stands on the cliffs of Şile, a town on Istanbul's Black Sea coast. It was built in 1859 as a guiding light for ships sailing this shore. Today, it is the largest lighthouse in Türkiye. Its black and white bands make it easy to spot by day, and at night it still flashes over the sea.

Where Şile Lighthouse stands

The lighthouse rises at the edge of the town, on rocks 60 m (about 200 ft) above the sea. Around it, the old houses of Şile line the high rocks over the water. Below, a castle stands on a small island in the harbor.

Quick facts

• Good for: sea views, maritime history, a walk on the cliffs
• Best combined with: Ağva, Polonezköy

History of Şile Lighthouse

A light for the Black Sea

In Ottoman times, the state granted French operators the right to run its lighthouses. Under that concession, the Lighthouse Administration built the Şile light in 1859. During the Crimean War, ships needed a way to find the mouth of the Bosphorus from the Black Sea. So after the Anadolu Lighthouse of 1856 at the strait, Şile became the next light on this route. Turkish builders raised its stone tower, while the metal parts and lenses came from France.

Lamps, lenses and clockwork

The octagonal tower is 19 m (62 ft) tall, with stone walls 110 cm (43 in) thick. At first, a paraffin lamp with wicks gave the light. Later, gas lamps with mantles replaced it, and today a 1,000-watt electric lamp burns inside. Around the lamp, eight glass panels turn on a platform that floats on a bath of mercury. That is why the light flashes every 15 seconds. Even now, the glass crystals are the original ones.

In the past, a clockwork moved the panels. Weights hung on steel wires, and as they sank, the clock turned. So the keepers had to wind it up again with a crank, much like a wall clock at home. Today, an electric motor and a light sensor do that work. The old machine and the lenses are protected, and so are the tower and the keeper's house, as national heritage.

Around Şile Lighthouse

The castle on Ocaklı Ada

From the cliff top, you look down on Şile Castle, on the small island of Ocaklı Ada in the harbor. It dates from Byzantine times, stands 12 m (39 ft) high and measures about 10 by 10 m (33 by 33 ft) at its base. Its builders cut the limestone from the island itself. Rather than a fortress for attack, it served as a watchtower. Inside, four floors held a store at the bottom and room for about 20 soldiers above. Later, both the Byzantines and the Ottomans repaired it.

The sea cave below the cliffs

Under the lighthouse, at the place locals call Feneraltı, a sea cave opens in the rock. You can reach it only by boat, and it even holds a tiny beach. It takes its name from the singer Zeki Müren, who often sang there because of its sound.

Şile town and its cloth

Şile is known for Şile cloth, a light cotton fabric woven on hand looms. Every July, the town holds a festival for it over a few days. On Fridays, villagers from the area sell their produce at the weekly market. In the town center, the old lifesaving station of 1866 has been restored, with its boathouse.

Visiting Şile Lighthouse

Getting to Şile Lighthouse

The lighthouse is still a working light, kept by the state lighthouse service. Its beam still guides ships along this shore. Beside it, the municipal Fener Cafe serves tea, coffee and meals, with seats facing the sea and the sunset. The light belongs to the state lighthouse service, and we pair it with lunch in Ağva.

Before you go

On our Black Sea day from Istanbul, Şile comes first. Your driver takes you up to the lighthouse, and then you look down on the castle. The lighthouse is a working one, so we check whether its grounds are open on your date. Next, you drive east along the coast to the river village of Ağva for lunch. For more ideas, see our guide to day trips from Istanbul, or spend a day in the forest village of Polonezköy. For the city itself, start with our Istanbul guide.

Updated: October 26, 2026.

Seeing Şile Lighthouse with Us

Would you like to see Istanbul's own Black Sea coast? Our Şile and Ağva day trip starts at Şile Lighthouse and the castle below it. After that, you have lunch by the river in Ağva. Lunch by the river in Ağva follows the lighthouse; choose the day and we will drive you out from Istanbul.