Dolmabahçe Palace is a stunning destination that offers a unique blend of European and Ottoman influences. Situated by the sea in Ístanbul, the location itself is picturesque, providing a breathtaking view of the southern side of the city. The palace's interior is truly awe-inspiring, with intricate details that showcase its grandeur. Despite the entry fee, the experience is well worth it.
To make the most of your visit, it is advisable to arrive early in the day, as it can get quite crowded during lunch and afternoon hours. Additionally, please note that photography is strictly prohibited inside the palace, so it is important to adhere to this rule.
While the palace is a beautiful place to explore, it may not be the best choice during the summer months. The lack of air conditioning can make it uncomfortably hot inside, and some areas may still be undergoing renovations. However, it is still a worthwhile destination, being the largest palace in Turkey. The availability of interpretation headphones in multiple languages makes it easy to navigate the palace without a guide.
Visiting Dolmabahçe Palace was an unforgettable experience for me. The architecture is a masterpiece, seamlessly blending European and Ottoman styles. The opulent furnishings, chandeliers, and grand halls left me in awe. The palace also offers a mesmerizing view of the Bosphorus, creating a captivating backdrop for exploration. The meticulously maintained gardens and courtyards provide a tranquil sanctuary amidst the bustling city.
The guided tour is informative and offers insight into Turkey's rich history and the lives of its rulers. The passion and knowledge of the guides are evident, enhancing the overall experience. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply appreciate architectural beauty, a visit to Dolmabahçe Palace is a must. It offers a glimpse into the splendor of the Ottoman Empire, leaving a lasting impression.
For those interested in Ottoman history, Dolmabahçe Palace is a fantastic place to visit. Buying tickets online can help you avoid long lines, and it is recommended to be patient with the crowds. Arriving early in the morning is advised to beat the rush and allow for ample time to explore the palace and the painting museum, which typically takes 2-3 hours. Remember that taking photos inside the buildings is not permitted.
Dolmabahçe Palace is a unique building that is well worth a visit. The various rooms are incredibly interesting, and the exterior is simply stunning, with beautiful gardens and impressive gates. Inside, you can explore the history of the Sultan and his family and even see the room where Atatürk lived and passed away. While photography is not allowed, some rooms are truly astonishing and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.
In my opinion, Dolmabahçe Palace is the most beautiful museum I have ever visited. Some people complain about long wait times, but if you arrive early in the morning when they open, you won't encounter any issues. The staff and security are incredibly helpful, and the weather and scenery are breathtaking. Just remember not to take any photos or videos inside the palace to avoid getting reprimanded.
When visiting Dolmabahçe Palace, it is essential to buy your ticket in advance to avoid long queues. While I didn't have the chance to go inside due to the lengthy wait, the exterior of the palace and its gardens were still impressive. I recommend planning your visit during the summer months, but be sure to wear a hat to protect yourself from the hot and sunny weather in the area. It's also a great spot for capturing Instagram-worthy photos.
Unfortunately, I was unable to visit Dolmabahçe Palace due to the long queues. Both the ticket line and the entry line were excessively long, making it impractical to spend time inside the museum. However, from the outside, the palace appeared well-maintained, and the gardens were beautiful with lovely flowers and trees. I suggest purchasing your tickets in advance to avoid this inconvenience.
Dolmabahçe Palace is a must-see attraction in Istanbul. Although I didn't have the opportunity to go inside due to the long queues, just walking around the exterior was an amazing experience. I plan on returning to explore the interior and spend the entire day there. If you visit during the summer, be prepared for the heat and sun by wearing a hat. In July 2023, I finally got the chance to go inside the palace, and it was well worth the wait. The palace is filled with antiquities and exudes luxury and regency.
Located on the European coast of the Bosporus strait, Dolmabahçe Palace is an impressive example of Ottoman architecture and interior design. It served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for several years. To fully appreciate the palace's beauty, allocate approximately two hours for exploration and consider purchasing tickets in advance to avoid long lines. This destination comes highly recommended for its outstanding architecture, beautiful gardens, and historical significance.
Address:
Dolmabahçe Caddesi
Phone:
+90 212 236 90 00
Comment
30.03.24
Ena
Beautiful palace, price is 1050 tl for foreigners. Unfortunately inside it s not allowed to take pictures. It s worth to see but usually crowded. Recommend to buy ticket online and come earlier.
Cafe was already closed at 5 pm.
21.03.24
George
As a tourist the entrance to enter is a bit pricy but in my opinion it is worth it.
The tour takes around 2 hours and you are offered free audio guide too.
Also they are very well organized and you see a lot of the different areas of the palace and y.. Read more »ou get a taste of how the sultan used to live.
Recommended!
21.03.24
Kaloyan
This palace is built in a completely different style than the usual Oriental architecture, so you're in for a surprise. It's a good one of course - even the radiators are an work of art. You can easily spend a day here, if you read every wr.. Read more »iting and spend some time looking at the details of the rooms and the exhibits.
You can get an audio guide (works like a phone, there's a loud enough sound coming out you can listen to without troubling the people around you, or use your own 3.5 mm jack headphones). They don't offer headphones since Covid. You will need to leave a document (ID, passport, driving license) at the reception or cache money as deposit.
The garden is a work of art. I haven't been to many palaces, especially the ones in France should count as the exhibit A as far as palaces and gardens are concerned, but this one comes pretty close. It's not gigantic either, but there's a lot to unpack.
There's a very good cafeteria once you are done with the main Palace (between it, the Harem and the painting museum), where you can have Sweets, drinks, or club sandwich style of food.
20.03.24
Leonie
Absolutely amazing Palace and so worth the price! We came around 3:30 on Saturday and found out it in fact was open until 6 do we had a good 2.5 hours there, but could've stayed longer because there's so much to see! Has a cute cafe in the .. Read more »middle and plenty of pic opportunities. Really fantastic place.
10.02.24
K
It’s a tourist destination that you could not miss. The architectures are beautiful but the interior is a little shabby. You have to bring your passport or ID to get a free audio. The ticket price for foreigners is ten times the price for Turki.. Read more »sh citizens. However, you are not permitted to take even a photo of the interior. I don’t think it’s worth the ticket price.
28.08.23
Keffin
Great place to visit! Not only is the location itself pretty, next to the see with view on the southern side of Ístanbul, the palace from the inside is just breath taking! The details, amazing. The entry price is totally worth it.
I recommend.. Read more » you visit in the early hours, around lunch and afternoon it can be quite busy.
Be aware: there is a strict no photographs policy inside the palace. Please follow these instructions :)
23.08.23
fatima
the place is nice but not recommended to go in summer as there is no ac’s inside and it’s pretty hot. some of the spaces are still under renovations.
however, it’s a very nice palace to visit! the biggest in turkey and also has inte.. Read more »rpretation headphones in many languages which was very helpful. so you don’t really need a guide there.
23.08.23
Anastasia
I had the privilege of visiting Dolmabahçe Palace, and it was truly a magnificent experience. This palace is a masterpiece of architecture, seamlessly blending European and Ottoman influences. The grandeur of its halls, chandeliers, and opulen.. Read more »t furnishings left me in awe.
The breathtaking Bosphorus view from the palace is unparalleled, offering a mesmerizing backdrop for exploration. The meticulously maintained gardens and courtyards are a serene oasis in the heart of Istanbul.
The informative guided tour provided a fascinating glimpse into Turkey's rich history and the lives of its rulers. The guides' knowledge and passion for the palace's heritage were evident.
Dolmabahçe Palace is a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture admirers, and anyone seeking a glimpse into the splendor of the Ottoman Empire.
I can't recommend it enough – an unforgettable experience that will leave you with lasting memories.
06.08.23
Adel
Great place to visit to learn about the later part of 660+ years of Ottoman history. Try to buy the tickets online to avoid the ticket line. You need to be patient with the crowd. Try to come early in the morning to avoid the rush. You’ll need .. Read more »between 2-3 hours to go through the palace and the painting museum. Taking photos is not allowed inside the buildings.
01.08.23
zauri
This Unique Building is worth to see. here is a lot of interesting rooms.. outside is also created perfect. beautiful flowers, gardens, amazing gates. inside of this building is rooms where is history of Sultan and his family. here is also room where.. Read more » was living Ataturk and died .. when clock stopped also stopped his life.
take a picture is forbidden at this way here is nothing to see from my pic, I was starving to take it but they are looking attention what you will have not make a photo but some rooms is astonishing and you can not come out without any pic
08.07.23
Aryan
The most beautiful museum I’ve been to so far 🤓 you’ll see people complaining about the “wait time being too long” but if you actually wake up early enough and visit this beautiful place when they open, you will not have ANY i.. Read more »ssues waiting at all.
I like to visit museums early to avoid people. I just simply don’t like people 🤣
In my experience, I got there right when they opened **super helpful staff and security** and I didn’t have to wait in line at all. Beautiful weather and beautiful scenery
Just don’t take any pictures or videos inside or else you’ll get yelled at and possibly kicked out or fined. I misheard the security and I thought they only said no videos but it’s no pics no vids. I got yelled at 😂
Definitely make sure to stop by at the cafeteria and get yourself some coffee or tea in between the different palace buildings :)
Enjoy!
03.07.23
Maria
This is a must see when you come to Istanbul, but a buy a ticket in advance, there are a lot of people and also its better with tour guide to learn more about the history ! outside is also amazing to see. day. If you are going during summer make sure.. Read more » to wear a hat because it's very hot and sunny in this area. Great also for Instagram photos
28.06.23
Jeroen
Wanted to visit this place, but the queue was to long. There was a queue for like 1,5 hour for tickets, after that another queue for like an hour to get in.
After an hour i got out of the queue, because there wouldn’t be enough time to spend in.. Read more » the museum.
From the outside the palace looked good, nice condition. Garden was also nice, beautiful flowers and trees.
I would recommend to buy your ticket in advance.
28.06.23
Friendly
This is a must see when you come to Istanbul. We didn't have a chance to go inside because we didn't buy our tickets ahead of time. The line was very very long to wait for tickets. We walked around the outside and just that was amazing to s.. Read more »ee. We're definitely going back here to go inside to spend the day. If you are going during summer make sure to wear a hat because it's very hot and sunny in this area.
We came back in July 2023 and went inside the palace. You can spend up to 4 hours inside this beautiful place. You can feel the luxury and Regency inside the palace. So many antiquities inside!!
10.05.23
Mohammad
A must to see!!! Located on the European coast of the Bosporus strait, Dolmabahce Palace is indeed an impressive example of Ottoman architecture and interior design. Outstanding architecture and impressive gardens. It served as the main administrativ.. Read more »e center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922. Spot 2 h to explore the beauty of palace and purchase tickets in advance to escape the line. Highly recommended!!!
02.12.22
Shweta
Beautiful palace to visit and know more about the history of this place. The built of the palace, the architecture, the design, the aesthetics, the chandlers, the design on the roof, every corner of this palace is a masterpiece on its own.
It's.. Read more » a must visit place if you are in Istanbul, don't miss it. Take the audio guide along with you to understand the palace better. They have a ticket for entry. You might need an hour or two to go around the palace.
04.09.22
Mark
Stunning modern Palace of the last ottoman Sultan's. The buildings and grounds are beautiful but unfortunately you can only photograph the exteriors and not the interiors. There are several cafes within the grounds and plenty of toilet facilitie.. Read more »s also. You have to head towards the painting museum to get round the sea facing side of the Palace, but it's well worth the walk.
30.07.22
Ahlam
Marvelously, extraordinarily, magnificent !! What a lavish place to visit. The sense of history literally pops out of every single detail in this place. Make sure you're wearing comfy clothes and shoes as the tour may take 4 hours at least! Bett.. Read more »er to come as early as possible to avoid long ticket lines, or purchase your tickets online. Also, early arrival gives you the advantage of relaxing in the gardens and wander around without having to control time. Loved every single bit of it!
23.07.22
Ahlam
Marvelously, extraordinarily, magnificent !! What a lavish place to visit. The sense of history literally pops out of every single detail in this place. Make sure you're wearing comfy clothes and shoes as the tour may take 4 hours at least! Bett.. Read more »er to come as early as possible to avoid long ticket lines, or purchase your tickets online. Also, better arrival gives you the advantage of relaxing in the gardens and wander without having to control time. Loved every single bit of it!
28.06.22
fareha
Beautiful palace and a must visit in Istanbul. Palace has a lot to offer with beautiful gardens and buildings. Rooms in palace have been preserved beautifully. There was still some restoration going on because of which some parts of the palace were i.. Read more »naccessible. Furniture and drapery and beautiful tile work will mesmerize you. Each room has its on own color scheme on the walls and the dome shaped roofs. One cannot stop appreciating the artisans who built such a beautiful palace.
22.06.22
Tareq
Beautiful palace that rivals any of the European palaces. The architecture is impressive. Especially the finally of the Grand Ballroom. The domed ceiling is more impressive than the blue mosque.
I would have gave it five stars if the palace was air c.. Read more »onditioned. In the July - August this place is a sauna.
17.06.22
Liezl
Absolutely stunning!! Would highly recommend anyone visiting Istanbul to go and view this site. Its about a 10min walk from the last tram stop. Everything from the gardens to the beautiful Palace rooms on display are well worth seeing. The coffee sho.. Read more »p on the premises was reasonably priced. Entry fee at TL300 was a bit steep in my opinion.
14.05.22
Panos
One of the best places in Istanbul. If you go during weekend be prepared for long lines; though they move fast. The entrance is around 300 TL but the three different sightseeing plus the wonderful environment (trees, roosters, turkeys) and the nice c.. Read more »afe definitely make up for the money spent. Enjoy!
12.05.22
Yahya
Amazing place, I liked how the y preserved history and walk you through the entire experience.
I wish I was allowed to take pictures (or more pictures) and I wish Clicks museum was open.
The cafes available inside museums park have very little opti.. Read more »ons of sweets and drinks, you can’t get healthier options such as whole food or fruited.
09.05.22
Mohamed
Very beautiful Palace and full of history, and worth visiting.
We arrived in a weekday at 10 am, and there was a two queues, the first is for security check and then the second for tickets. We finished both in 15 or 20 minutes. However, at 1 pm both.. Read more » queues were very long which needs 60+ minutes to finish.
The standard ticket is 300 TL per person. The ticket gives you access to 2 Palaces and a museum, which will need more than 3 hours to complete. You can also buy the ticket with European or Asian museums and you have 1 week to visit the museum at a discounted price.
No parking available at the Palace so I recommend going by transportation.
Not recommended for small kids, they are getting very bored here.
No photos are allowed inside the Palace.
I recommend having the speakers before entrance with your language. It is add a lot to your experience and it is very. However, you will need to submit a verification document such your passport or your ID and collect it back at the exist.
14.04.22
Harvey
I went to this beautiful palace first thing in the morning when it wasn’t so busy. The palace is truly massive and has many rooms, it’s takes about around 1 hour to get around the whole place! Definitely worth a visit but do go early at o.. Read more »pen time as it will be less crowded!
15.03.22
Armend
Stunning place, gorgeous interiors, beautiful furniture, the palace is a real treat for your eyes. Unfortunately, Photography is not allowed inside. Also the place is very crowded, better to come in the morning cause when we were leaving the palace a.. Read more »t 1:30pm the line at the entrance was enormous!
28.02.22
kto-to
Impressive palace, rich and beautiful inside and outside. Nice park around it. Definitely recommend to visit! It’s not allowed to take pictures there, but I made one for you!
17.02.22
Nadia
The palace is very wonderful. Every corner in it tells the stories of the Ottoman Sultanate.... I have a small note.
It would be better if the tickets were distributed with a plan of the palace and a quick overview of its history.. and the possibilit.. Read more »y of having a small elevator for the elderly to use it instead of high staircases to enjoy this beautiful building
02.01.22
Adenike
What a beautiful sight to behold! The fact that they were able to preserve the integrity of the palace is just astounding. Beautiful doesn’t do this justice.. If you happen to visit Istanbul, this is a must visit. Had lunch at the restaurant by.. Read more » the sea and my god, the food was amazing and the view was just beautiful.
12.11.21
Margarita
Stunning place, gorgeous interiors, beautiful furniture, the palace is a real treat for your eyes. Unfortunately, Photography is not allowed inside. Also the place is very crowded, better to come in the morning cause when we were leaving the palace a.. Read more »t 1:30pm the line at the entrance was enormous!
11.07.21
Dzvenyslava
I highly recommend visiting the palace!
It is beautiful both on the inside and the outside. The gardens are v well looked after and nice to be in. The inside of the palace is well furnished and is in a good condition.
I also recommend to take an au.. Read more »dio guide; it’s free, and the info it tells at each station is sufficient to understand the story behind the place.
It would be nice to spend 5-6 hours in the Palace if you’re planning on visiting all of the parts of the Palace and on chilling in the gardens.
01.07.21
المستكشف
The place was very nice. I was happy with this visit but I didn't choose the right time during the afternoon. I advise you to go in the evening times, there is also a nice street that you can walk around and this will not work if it is very hot
22.05.21
Miss
I haven't seen such a beautiful place. I liked it better than Versailles. Amazing rooms and halls. Magnificent decorations. The Sultan's bath made of alabaster is gorgeous. It's a must while in İstanbul.
27.02.21
Maribel
INCREDIBLE!! This is a MUST.
It’s incredible you maybe will not believe what is inside until you visit it, photos are not allowed, but you must visit this beautiful place full of history.
Don’t forget to pay for visiting also “Har.. Read more »em”, I recommend you to buy tickets for “principal or official” and “harem”. The palace has a stair made of crystal!! ?
Photos are not allowed but we took those photos from a outside.
09.01.21
Danny
If you like history, you will really enjoy this palace. I did enjoy it although I am not a big historian myself. Definitely worth seeing. The Palace is something to see. We enjoyed the morning there.
10.10.20
My
It’s very nice for visiting, If I could give 0 stars just for staff was perfect because I was very disappointed when I arrive there to get a audio guide they ask for id but I don’t take my id with me because of the pick pockets (thieves) .. Read more »so I asked if I can drop some money or leave my other phone there to get an audio guide and the answer was no. Very unprofessional. Plus all the people that are working inside the palace they came very close to me and I didn’t like that.
10.10.20
Erik
This was one of our best visits! The palace is amazing and with a free audio tour you get a lot of information! Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures inside the palace, so you have to trust me on my words, that it really is worth going i.. Read more »nside!
05.10.20
Nataliya
Not worth to visit on my opinion. It is nice outside, but not more than that. First of all it was really bad organized. Most of the places under construction and nobody tells it in advance. Can’t pay with card by the way and there is no informa.. Read more »tion about that before you wait in a long queue. Also they are not doing good job with restoration (they are just using the cheapest fastest modern way). You have access only through small path in one direction with a lot of guards which gives you uncomfortable feeling. Their is no access to the rooms and you can’t really see anything from distance. The garden looks like a mess with terrible plastic covers on the lawn. It was the most terrible experience visiting the palace. If you want to see the baroque palace, just visit it somewhere in EU
28.09.20
Eva
Truly Grand palace. Don’t just buy ticket to walk outside. Get the full ticket as interiors of this palace is truly amazing especially the grand hall with a chandelier which is 4,5 tons! Really enjoyed the walk and seeing all the elaborate deco.. Read more »r of the rooms. Nice to sit down at the cafe and have nice coffee and cake to continue the tour. Magical place!
I was just worried about 2 swans ? which were locked in a small area together with chickens near the crystal gallery and it was hot day. I hope they let those swans ? out and they were there just temporary.
09.09.20
Fitore
Dolmabahçe Palace was beautiful. I went during the pandemic and I felt very safe and I could still see gorgeous places in Istanbul. Dolmabahçe wasn't crowded at all and I could've spent the whole day there. It was very relaxin.. Read more »g and beautiful.
03.09.20
iqra
Architecture, maintenance, and overall decor gave me the pure historical vibes. I enjoyed being there, but... TBH, it was too much to take and know in one visit and unbelievable at times to know about Sultans' lavish lifestyle. Please note, the .. Read more »photography of inside palace is not allowed, so I have uploaded only some of the outside pictures.
30.08.20
Iman
Extravagance, opulence and lots of history. A palace where time has literally stood still (the clocks inside the palace). Six sultans and a president resided there at different times in history. It is one of the biggest and most extravagant Palace wi.. Read more »th the biggest chandeliers and gold gilded ceilings. I do recommend that one takes a form of ID (passport or driving licence) with them or will need to pay a returnable 200 TL for the modern touch-audio guide, which is used to direct you around the palace. It’s very informative and much enjoyed by the kids, so there’s no need for a guide. On the way to the Harems’ section you will see a click museum and a wonderful little farm with swans, chickens, peacocks and waterfountains. Outside the Harems’ section there is a small cafe area before visiting the Arts museum.
As you leave the palace, there are 2 cafes side by side by the Bosphorus, one on the grounds, where you will see 2 large iconic canons similar to those used in the siege of Constantinople, and the other Milli Saraylar cafe outside by the beautiful Dolmabahçe Cami/mosque.
So much to see you’ll need at least 3 hours comfortably to take in all the beauty and hear all the stories.
25.08.20
Toby
Love this place, love this town! The pic that I posted was taken from a U.S. Navy warship, the USS Mahan (DDG 42), as we lay at anchor in the Bosporus River in 1983. The weird part? All of the Soviet-flagged vessels that simply sailed right past us. .. Read more »Weird. But other than that, I love Istanbul. I have a Prayer Rug from the Grand Bazaar hanging in my living room (on the East wall) right now. It's still beautiful.
19.08.20
Nebojša
Good place to see all the luxury of Turkish sultans lives. You can spend 2-3 hours there and enjoy all the details of palace decoration. Now downsides, hoping that someone from palace will read it:
- audio guide sounds incorrect couple of times. For.. Read more » example - "look at the room on the right to see..." And there are no rooms on the right. Also, once it started to speak about the room I just passed. For a moment I thought I am going to wrong direction.
- there are many details to enjoy as I already mentioned, but distance between these details and visitors is too big so I really can't see a lot
- please do something with air-conditioning
- open more rooms to get inside... It's not always possible to see everything just stretching you neck over the fence
Anyway, these suggestions can't ruin the overall impression. This is must see place if you're going to Istanbul