Settlements and history in Kilyos stand for centuries. At the beginning, the village became popular as a small fisherman town. During the era of the Roman Empire, the town showed big development. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Kilyos participated into Byzantium lands. Due to its geographical state, it has been a critical town for the maritime civilizations, i.e. The Genoese.

During the era of the Crusades there has been a big chaos and disorder at the region, and after the Ottoman Empire’s sovereignty, the town found the peace and became a cosmopolite center.

During the era of the Turkish Republic, Kilyos became the district of Sariyer and after 1960s it showed big developments in tourism and became the most popular vacation and activity region for the elite society.

Greek were the first native people of Kilyos. Like all the other villages, Kilyos took migration after the battle of Russia in 1877. And no Greek people left in the village after the treatment of the exchange of the societies.

The first historic place when you enter the town is the Castle built in the 14th century during the era of the Genoese. The castle restored by the Ottoman sultan Mahmud II.

The name of the town “Kilyos” is believed to be came from the Greek word “Kilya” which means, “sand”. Another rumor is that it has come from the word “Kuwaila” which means, “beautiful strait”. During the era of the Turkish Republic, its name changed by “Kumköy” which means, “the village of sand” in Turkish but traditional habit didn’t let it stay so. The town is still called as “Kilyos”.