Dolmabahçe Palace: Skip the Line Ticket with Guided Tour

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Duration 60 Minute

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Live tour guide

English

Pickup optional

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The grand Dolmabahçe Palace was the final residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire (the earlier residence was Topkapı Palace). It has 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets and six hammams (Turkish baths) and is located right on the Bosphorus. There are beautiful furnishings, works of art and other priceless treasures on display but one of the most spectacular is the 4.5 tonne crystal chandelier hanging in the Grand Ceremonial Hall. It's the largest chandelier in the world!

When the Ottoman Empire came to an end and the Turkish Republic was formed, the Palace was used as a State Residence for visiting dignitaries. Later, it became the Presidential Residence of Atatürk in Istanbul. Today, Dolmabahçe Palace has been completely restored and is a very popular museum.

Dolmabahce Palace is a gem located on Istanbul's Bosphorus coastlines. In the latter years of the Ottoman Empire, the sultans lived in the palace, which first opened its doors in 1856. The origins of Dolmabahce Palace begins in the 19th century when Sultan Abdulmecid left the traditional Topkapi Palace. Under the impact of western influence on the Ottoman Empire, a magnificent palace was built on the Bosphorus's banks.

The Dolmabahce Palace is unlike any other Ottoman palace in terms of architecture. Visitors to Topkapi Palace, in particular, will observe the distinction between Classical Ottoman architecture and 19th-century structures.

In Turkish, "Dolma" means "full" or "stuffed," and "Bahce" means "garden." The Dolmabahce Palace was built by filling a little bay on the Bosphorus and giving it the name Dolmabahce. Garabet Balyan, the chief architect, was able to merge Oriental and European elements. Although the lifestyle and customs were Oriental, the architectural design was inspired by European palaces. Balyan also used a variety of architectural styles to create an eclectic design.

Highlights

Visit the largest palace of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire
See the greatest collection of Baccarat and Bohemian chandeliers
Learn about the differences between Dolmabahçe and Topkapı Palaces
Enjoy entrance to the Imperial Harem section (without a guide)

Included

Entrance ticket.
Professional guided tour conducted in English.

Not Included

Imperial Harem.

Location

Know Before You Go

You MUST meet with the guide 20 Minutes BEFORE the tour time. Our guide carries a white flag with the logo of Istanbul Tourist Pass on it.

About

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace was built in the 19th century, and it is one of the world's most opulent palaces in history. Dolmabahce Palace was the house of the last Ottoman Sultans and served as the administrative seat during the late Ottoman period.

During the Ottoman period, the capital city of Turkey was Istanbul. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk shifted all government activities to Ankara once the Turkish Republic was founded, but on his visits to Istanbul, he stayed at the Dolmabahce Palace. He did not only stay there, but also welcomed his many foreign visitors, and turned the palace into a center for national, historical, and linguistic congresses, as well as international conferences. Today, Dolmabahçe Palace is still used for governmental meetings and international congresses.

Sultan Abdul Mecit I ordered the Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) to be constructed in 1843. Dolmabahçe Palace is Turkey's largest monolithic palace. The palace was also Istanbul's first European-style palace, and it was very expensive and big in size. The Dolmabahçe Palace is even covered with gold and crystals all around. The reason why the palace was built is known to be an attempt to cover the predicted financial downfall of the Ottoman Empire.

The Story Behind The Dolmabahçe Palace

Where the Dolmabahçe Palace is currently located was a little bay known as Dolmabahçe, which means filled garden. This bay, at first, was filled with different plants and served as a park from the 18th century forward. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many houses were built on the bay for the Sultans because they loved the bay. This collection of houses and pavilions finally expanded incredibly. Then, Sultan Abdul Mecit ordered that some space would be opened for a palace. He wanted this palace to complete the lack of the Topkapı Palace in terms of modern architecture and luxury.

The real purpose of the construction of the Dolmabahçe Palace, however, was to conceal the Ottoman Empire's downfall. The Sultan, in order to amaze the rest of the world, wanted this new palace to be decorated in a way that symbolizes luxury and modernity. The construction of the Dolmabahçe Palace began in 1843, and it was completed in 1856.

What is inside the Dolmabahce Palace?

Inside the Dolmabahçe Palace are 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets, and 6 baths (hamam). The ceilings are gilded with around 14 tons of gold. The chandeliers inside the Dolmabahçe Palace are Bohemian crystals. If you are wondering how much it must have cost to build the Dolmabahçe Palace, it cost five million Ottoman gold coins. If you convert it to today’s balance, it equals around 35 tons of gold.

Dolmabahçe Palace was built with the order of Sultan Abdul Mecit I. The glamorous palace opened in 1856. While the Topkapı Palace houses the world’s most significant religious artifacts, the Dolmabahçe Palace is the house of the world’s largest collection of Bohemian crystal chandeliers. The amount of gold used in the construction of the Dolmabahçe Palace is worth seeing.

If you are planning a trip to Istanbul and writing down the places you wish to see, you should absolutely add this excessively big, and literally golden palace to your list. Since it is big and is a place that witnessed centuries of historical events, you might want a guide to explain the necessary information to you and help you explore the Dolmabahçe Palace. If this is the case, you should consider booking one of the guided Dolmabahçe Palace tours. With a guided tour of the Dolmabahçe Palace, you will both discover the site with more knowledge and save a lot of time.

Frequently Asked Question

Are there any other attractions near the Dolmabahçe Palace?

There are numerous sights you could visit around the Dolmabahçe Palace. You could also visit the Dolmabahçe Mosque, the Clock Tower, and Istanbul Naval Museum.

Where exactly is the Dolmabahçe Palace located in Istanbul?

Dolmabahçe Palace is located between Beşiktaş and Kabataş.

When is the Dolmabahce Palace Museum open?

The Dolmabahçe Palace opens at 9 am and closes at 6 pm. The palace is open every day except Mondays.

How much does it cost to buy a ticket for a trip to Dolmabahçe Palace?

The ticket price for a visit to Dolmabahce Palace is 150 Turkish Liras per person

How long does it take to visit the Dolmabahçe Palace?

The Dolmabahçe Palace is extremely big in size. So, if you want to visit by yourself, the tour will take very long. Both to save time and understand its history, it is recommended that you take the tour with a guide.