Dolmabahçe Palace, located in Beşiktaş, is one of the most famous attractions in Istanbul. The palace was opened in 1856 and until 1924 served as a home to Ottoman sultans. With the abolition of the Ottoman monarchy and the birth of the Turkish Republic, it became an administrative center. From 1927 until his death, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the secular and modern Turkish Republic, stayed there during his visits to Istanbul. In Dolmabahçe, all of the clocks are stopped at 09:05, the moment at which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died on 10 November 1938 at this palace.
The changes in Turkey in the 19th and 20th centuries can be clearly seen in this building. While its Baroque, Rococo, and Empire architecture style is very European, there are also some structures which reflect Turkish traditions, such as the harem. This amazing structure includes 285 rooms, 44 living rooms, 6 Turkish baths, and gardens. In addition to its architecture, Dolmabahçe is also famous for its Crystal Staircase and its 4,000 kg chandelier. This chandelier in the royal reception hall was used for ceremonies and is the largest in the world.
There are two tours offered inside the palace: Selamlık and Harem. The Selamlık tour includes the main palace rooms and ceremonial halls. The Harem tour, on the other hand, contains special places where the sultan's family lived and the bedroom of Atatürk where he stayed during his final days.
Hours: Open daily 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (summer), 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (winter). Closed on Mondays and Thursdays.
Admission: Selamlık tour approx 400 TL, Harem tour approx 250 TL, Combined ticket approx 600 TL. Museum Pass Istanbul is accepted (covers Selamlık only).
Important notes: The number of daily visitors is limited. Go early (9:00 AM) to avoid long queues. Photography is allowed for an additional fee (approx 150 TL).
Getting there: Take the tram from Sultanahmet to Kabataş (end stop), then walk about 800 meters along the Bosphorus. Many buses from Taksim and Beşiktaş also stop in front of the palace.
After your visit, you can rest at the cafe in the beautiful gardens right on the Bosphorus and have a drink enjoying the amazing Bosphorus view.
Dolmabahçe Palace on Istanbul Map