The palace is located in Beylerbeyi, 5 minutes from Üsküdar, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, slightly to the north and facing Dolmabahçe Palace across the sea, right under the first bridge which connects Asia and Europe.
This small palace was designed as a summer residence by Sarkis Balyan, one of the most famous architects in the Ottoman Empire, at the order of Sultan Abdulaziz. The construction of the palace took 2 years and was completed in 1865. In addition to the Sultan's family, many important historic figures were guests in this palace, such as Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and King Edward VIII.
The palace consists of 3 entrance halls, 6 living rooms, and 26 rooms. Inside the palace, there are two main parts: Harem (for women only) and Selamlık (for men only). A mix of Western and Eastern architecture can be seen inside the palace. The dining room, the room of the sultan, and the reception room are the main sections for visitors.
As you go out, a walk around the garden of the palace located right on the Bosphorus is as pleasurable as visiting the palace itself. The gardens outside the palace are arranged set by set. There are beautiful mansions, trees, pools, and sculptures in these gardens. In addition, there is a tunnel under these gardens. It was built to enable the connection between the gardens and the outside walls.
Hours: Open daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (summer), 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (winter). Closed on Mondays and Thursdays.
Admission: Approximately 300 TL. Separate fee for photography, if allowed. Museum Pass Istanbul is accepted.
Best time to visit: Early morning (9-10 AM) or late afternoon (3-4 PM) to avoid crowds. The gardens are particularly beautiful in spring when flowers are in bloom.
The easiest way to reach the palace is by ferry. You can take a ferry from Eminönü to Üsküdar, then from Üsküdar take bus No. 15C and get off at the Çayırbaşı stop.
In the past, Beylerbeyi was a summer and guest residence; today it serves as a museum and is one of the highlights of Istanbul!