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Karaburun's Lighthouse and Beach on the Black Sea
Cultural

Karaburun's Lighthouse and Beach on the Black Sea

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Karaburun is a coastal neighbourhood on the Black Sea shore of Istanbul's European side. It belongs to the district of Arnavutköy, about 25 kilometres from the district centre, and lies 29 kilometres by sea from the Black Sea entrance of the Bosphorus.

Arnavutköy, İstanbul
Cultural
Radar Editör
September 24, 2026

About Trip

Karaburun is a coastal neighbourhood on the Black Sea shore of Istanbul's European side. It belongs to the district of Arnavutköy, about 25 kilometres from the district centre, and lies 29 kilometres by sea from the Black Sea entrance of the Bosphorus. With its long, wide sandy beach it is counted as the second closest Black Sea beach to the city on the European side, after Kilyos. Radar Türkiye's Kilyos and Rumeli Feneri trips cover the shore near the mouth of the Bosphorus; Karaburun lies further west along the same coast. The writers of the Hürriyet travel piece did Karaburun, Yeniköy and Durusu as a one-day route; this trip focuses on the coastal end of that trio. What makes Karaburun more than a beach is the old lighthouse at the tip of the cape, the harbour full of fishing boats and the small village climbing the slope. The 2024 count put the population at 1,903. The beach gets crowded in summer; out of season the village returns to its own quiet rhythm.

Getting there

İETT line 336K (Yeniköy / Karaburun - Mescid-i Selam) serves the neighbourhood; check the timetable, as coastal lines can be infrequent. By car you come from the Arnavutköy side, either along village roads or via the motorway. The road passes Durusu Lake, better known as Terkos, on its way into Karaburun. Durusu is a slightly brackish lake of lagoon origin, separated from the sea by two kilometres of sand dunes, and holds a large share of the fresh water reserves around Istanbul. The earliest mention of it is by Athenaeus in the 3rd century BC, who calls it Delkos. For a separate day at the lake, see the Terkos trip on Radar Türkiye; this one stays on the coast.

The lighthouse at the tip of the cape

Karaburun means "black cape", and at the tip of the cape stands the Rumeli Karaburun Lighthouse; "Rumeli" distinguishes it from the Anadolu Karaburun Lighthouse listed in Beykoz. According to the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, it stands at the end of the old castle at Karaburun and is served by the Rumeli Karaburun rescue station. A travel article in Hürriyet reports that the lighthouse was built by the French in 1860, that the British then set up a ship rescue service here, and that the site was once a Genoese castle of which nothing remains. The same article notes that the cape was also known as a pirates' lair and that the area has many legends.

This history matches that of lighthouse and rescue services in Turkey. According to the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, the first lighthouses on Turkey's coasts were set up around 1856 under a concession agreed between the Ottoman state and the French, an operation bought out by the state in 1938. The rescue service was founded in 1869 as the Tahlisiye İdaresi; after 1883 it was run for a time by a delegate chosen by the European powers, the British consul in Istanbul. A French-built lighthouse beside a British-founded rescue station at Karaburun is a trace of that period. Even the neighbourhood office stands on Tahlisiye Caddesi, Rescue Street.

The Coastal Safety figures show how powerful it is. The light is produced by gathering the reflections of 24 crystal mirrors on the ceiling and side walls into a central lens, and the lenses are covered during the day so the sun does not damage them. The directorate describes it as the third most powerful lighthouse in the world in luminous intensity, and after Şile the lighthouse with the longest reach in Turkey. It stands 54 metres above the sea on a 12 metre tower, and its white light, flashing every five seconds, is visible from 15 nautical miles.

Up close, small details stand out. The rainwater gutters on the sides of the original copper dome are decorated with lions' heads, and in wet weather the water runs out of their open mouths. The pole in the garden and the long rope stretched from it were used to rescue passengers from ships stranded in the shallows in bad weather: a line fired like a rocket was thrown over the ship and made fast, and passengers were brought ashore in a kind of cable car. The cape once reached further out; rock for the harbour was blasted from it, and the trimmed sections are still visible from the shore. On the seaward slope below the lighthouse, fenced with wire, is the Cemetery of the Nameless, where unidentified people recovered from the sea were buried; pass this corner quietly. The Directorate General of Coastal Safety protects the lighthouse as national heritage.

The building is closed to visitors. The Hürriyet article notes that you can walk past it and look out to sea from the cliff edge in front of it; the small patch of grass between the lighthouse and the cliff is used for short breaks too. Take care at the edge and keep children close.

The beach and the shore

From the lighthouse hill you see small beaches tucked beneath steep cliffs to the left and, to the right, a long straight beach stretching as far as Yeniköy. The Karaburun and Yeniköy beaches, listed separately on Radar Türkiye, form the two ends of this strip. The municipality has built groynes at regular intervals along the sand. You can walk or cycle along the shore. According to the 2021 article there is a coal port at the far end of the beach, and the area was used for mining for many years. The Hürriyet article says local people made their living in one of two ways, mining or fishing.

The sea changes quickly on the Black Sea coast, and the same article notes that it can be rough even in summer. Swim only in areas with lifeguards where swimming is allowed, follow the flags and warning signs, and stay on the beach on windy days with waves.

The harbour and the village

Karaburun harbour is full of fishing boats. The cover photo of this trip shows it from above at sunrise; from the upper part of the slope you can look down on the harbour and its breakwaters. Sitting by it for a while and watching the boats come and go is the easiest way to get to know the village. The Hürriyet article suggests the coffee house on the village square as a first stop to rest and ask locals about the area. From the shore, turn left and climb through the village to the lighthouse; the slope passes streets that keep the village's traditional architecture. Arnavutköy Municipality's page for the neighbourhood, which covers about 7.5 square kilometres, lists Karaburun, Nevbahar and Erguvan parks, a good break for families after the beach.

Season and timing

Summer is when the beach is busiest. For the lighthouse, harbour and village, spring and autumn are more pleasant; on a clear day, watching the Black Sea from the cliff edge towards sunset is the best moment of the day. In spring, look up as well: according to the Hürriyet article the area lies on the storks' spring migration route, and the writers saw a flock of thousands over Durusu Lake. In winter wind and waves can be strong, so keep back from the water's edge on those days.

A suggested walk

Start at the harbour, watch the boats, then climb the slope to the lighthouse. Spend some time around it and at the cliff edge, then walk down and along the beach towards Yeniköy. On the way back, take a look at Durusu Lake as you pass. Karaburun and Yeniköy are about four kilometres apart as the crow flies; if you walk the whole beach, allow for the way back or finish in Yeniköy. This fills half a day comfortably; without a car, find out the time of the return bus in the morning.

Practical notes

  • The lighthouse cannot be entered; it is seen only from outside, from the open area around it.
  • Keep well back from cliff edges without railings.
  • Swim only in permitted areas with lifeguards.
  • Do not light fires on the shore, and take your rubbish home.
  • The wind on the Black Sea coast is cool; bring an extra layer even in summer.
  • According to the 2021 Hürriyet article, the village square has shops such as a bakery and a grocery for basic needs.

Sources

Location - Karaburun's Lighthouse and Beach on the Black Sea

Trip Info
CityArnavutköy, İstanbul
TypeCultural
DateSeptember 24, 2026
SourceRadar Editör
Radar TürkiyeAuthorRadar TürkiyeVisit SourceGet Directions