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Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce palace (Dolmabahce Palace or Dolmabahçe Sarayı) - one of the most visited by tourists and beautiful palaces in Istanbul and in all of Turkey. It is the former residence of the Ottoman sultans of the late XIX century, today it works as a museum. Along with Topkapi Palace you can safely include it in the mandatory program of a hike to local attractions.
Visiting the palace during the day is limited to no more than 3000 tourists, so in order to get inside, it is better to come in the morning, especially during the high season (spring and autumn). When buying a ticket, we recommend that you get an audio guide, including Russian. It is issued free of charge, but you need to leave a passport or $ 100 as a deposit. Visiting the Palace will take 2-3 hours. At the entrance, after buying a ticket, groups of visitors of 50 people are gathered, who are led around the palace by an English-speaking guide. It is forbidden to take photos inside the palace, photos can only be taken on the territory.
🌐 Website: https://www.millisaraylar.gov.tr/
🕐 Working hours: 9:00-16:00, Monday is a day off.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 300 lire entrance to the palace (9.24 USD, see Turkish currency and exchange rate).
🚶 How to get there: located in Besiktas district just one and a half kilometers from Taksim squares and the end of Istiklal Street (Palace on the map. You can walk in 20 minutes, or take the F1 funicular down to kabatas Marina and walk along the shore.
From other districts and Sultanahmet, the easiest way is to take the T1 tram to the terminus near kabatas Marina and walk a little, or to Taksim metro station near the square. Read more about Istanbul transport or see Istanbul transport lines on the map.
Panorama of Dolmabahce palace
Dolmabahce palace was built in 1842-1853 by Sultan Abdul-Majid I to replace the Topkapi Palace. The Old Palace did not meet the requirements of the ruler, and he wished to live in a more modern palace of the European Baroque style. The idea was a success, and it turned out one of the most beautiful palaces in Turkey, and very modern at that time. It is said that 14 tons of gold were used to decorate the interior!!! Also, the interior is decorated with a Bohemian glass chandelier donated by Queen Victoria, 40 paintings by Aivazovsky, written by the artist especially for the Sultan.
You will be able to explore the courtyard of the complex and the richly decorated interior (this part of the palace is called Selamlyk / Selamlık, or the official part), as well as for an additional fee the harem (Harem, the seed part of the palace). Also on the territory there is a mill, a stable, a poultry yard, a confectionery shop, kitchens, baths and other life-supporting outbuildings, and there are Clock museums, an art gallery, and a museum of musical instruments. Everywhere you can see the luxury and feel the history of this place, because some of the exhibits were part of the life of the rulers of the Empire, were their personal belongings. Near the main entrance for tourists, next to the ticket offices, an honor guard is serving, solemnly changing every hour.
And to make the trip to sights of Istanbul more interesting, you can choose a group or individual tour from local guides in Russian on one of these proven sites:
- Excursions from the tour operator TezTour (in Russian)
- Excursions from Sputnik8 (in Russian)
- Trips from Tripster (in Russian)