Dolmabahce Palace

Opulent palace full of amazing chandeliers and glass, beautiful staircases and grand rooms. Worth seeing to get a sense of a later era than topkapi. Free audio guide.

On the downside the toilets were dirty when we were there, it is expensive at 120TL per person (about 17.50) for the palace/harem ticket and not covered by the museum pass.

When we arrived we were told it was open until 5, but when we went to visit the harem we were told we couldn’t get in as it was half 4. No warning of this when we bought the ticket and when we asked for a refund on the unused part of the ticket given that they wouldn’t let us in for a quick walk around, we were told we couldn’t get one as the ticket office was closed. Felt a little ripped off.

No photos allowed inside and it is hard to understand why they don’t allow non-flash photography like other sites.

We didn’t get a chance to visit when we were in Istanbul in January so made sure to visit this time round.

There were a lot of the grounds that I was excited to see but when we arrived they were boarded up due to construction so couldn’t see anything. This info didn’t appear to be available on the website which I checked multiple times.

Tickets are also relatively expensive in comparison to other attractions in the area - approx £35 for 2.

The actual palace was stunning - it was busy but plenty of space to take everything in. It was a shame you couldn’t take any photos inside at all.

I understand not being able to take photos of the priceless art but some of the rooms were so stunning it’s a shame we couldn’t take photos.

The queue when we arrived in the morning was long (or so we thought) and you have to go through a security scanner before queuing again to purchase your tickets.

When we left a few hours later the queue was a few miles long, down the Main Street.

This visit was over Eid so could have contributed to the crowds but would definitely recommend getting there for when it opens or just before to avoid wasting hours queuing.

This place is HUGE. Easily one of the biggest palaces in the world. The rooms, and furnishings are very impressive. Photos are not allowed inside the palace. Our local agent in Istanbul (Efendi Travel) had organised guided tours of the city for us, but inside the palace our small group (we were only three couples, a total of six people) was merged into a larger group, and led around by a palace guide. Some kind of guidance is an absolute must, if you wander around on your own, you would waste a lot of time and still not see all the important areas, rooms, etc This palace is relatively new, it was built in the mid 1800's. Several historical events relating to recent Turkish history took place here, (Ataturk died here), the guides will explain everything. I repeat: it is huge, it is much better to be guided through this complex than to strike out on your own with an audio guide. You can seek clarifications from a human guide, not from a recorded audio guide! A word of caution: little kids, or for that matter, even teenagers, may be bored with seeing room after room. Also, if you do not have a passion for history you may find the whole thing quite uninteresting. The location of the palace on the Bosporus is fantastic. The views from outside the palace, of the Bosporus, are stunning. Some people may even find the outside more interesting than the inside! You can get great photos from outside. Incidentally, there is a huge cafe just outside the palace, the location could not be better, on the banks of the Bosporus. Food is good. Just outside the palace is the Dolmabahce Mosque. A small, but really beautiful mosque. Well worth seeing. Don't miss it! Photos allowed inside this mosque.

long Queue for the tickets but worth it! the line was moving fast so plan additional 45 min waiting in the queue, there are several types of tickets depends on what you want to see but it's pricey, i purchased the basic one with the art gallery and the Harem section but was so happy and satisfied about my basic visit, there is a nice outdoor garden area by the Bosporus.

the audio guide is included in the ticket price and the information is quiet useful and organized, it's not allowed to take pictures inside.

so far the best monument I've visited in Istanbul

I walked to this palace from my hotel near Taksim Square in about 15 minutes. An audioguide is included with the entrance fee, although you have to leave your passport or cash to get it. I found the information on the audioguide really interesting - there was so much history I didn't know about. I got a ticket for the palace and the harem as well. The palace was very ornate and there were some surprised including amazing chandeliers made in Britain!

Really enjoyed our visit. Even though it's less known than Topkapi, we actually ended up liking it more. The decorations made us feel like we travelled back in time. They don't take the museum pass but if you're a student the discount is very interesting (we ended up paying 20tl instead of 90, the normal place)

Fascinating and stunning palace, well worth the visit. The ticket price is split into the main palace and the Harem and doesn’t include the art gallery within the grounds which is frustrating but seemingly common in Istanbul tourist attractions.

The site on the Bosphorus is superb.

Not to be missed.

Dolmabahçe Palace was built towards the end of the Ottoman empire in the mid 1800s. Sultan Abdülmecid I commissioned the construction to replace the medieval Topkapi Palace for his family after seeing the more modern, luxurious and comfortable palaces of his contemporary European monarchs.

No expense was spared in this new palace which boasts 285 rooms, 131 handmade Hereke silk carpets, running water for the 68 water-closets imported from Great Britain and 6 Turkish baths, gas lighting and a 750 bulb, 4.5 ton crystal chandelier, the largest in the world. A stunning fourteen tons of gold were used to decorate the ceilings. The construction cost was five million Ottoman gold lira, or approximately $1.5 billion in today's dollars. Unfortunately, it was built as the Ottoman fortunes were declining. This put additional strain on the financial well being of the declining Ottoman Empire.

Today, it is an amazing palace to visit. The architecture combines elements of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical European design with Ottoman elements. It is the largest palace in Turkey. It has the traditional elements of the men's quarters (Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn, or Selamlık) in one wing and the private family quarters (Harem-i Hümâyûn, the Harem) in a different wing separated by a ceremonial hall.

It was interesting to visit Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace back to back to contrast the beginnings and end of the Ottoman Empire. Topkapi is more spread out and decorated extensively with Iznik tiles and classical Ottoman carvings. Dolmabahçe Palace could be called the "Crystal Palace" as it has the largest collection of Baccarat and Bohemian crystal chandeliers in the world. It even has a double horseshoe staircase with Baccarat crystal balusters in the staircase.
Unlike many European palaces, this palace could be accessed by land or sea.

After the establishment of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk used the palace as a presidential residence in the summers. He died in the palace on November 10, 1938. The clock in the bedroom where he died is still set to 9:05, his time of death.

This was an amazing place to visit. The palace, gardens and even collection of china and paintings were so beautiful. Most of the original furniture is also on display. We took a private tour with Ensar from Istanbulday to really maximize our understanding, but there are group tours available in several language.

In order to better understand and get the right timeline I suggest visiting the Topkapi palace first (read that review), as it was the first Sultans' residence before Dolmabahce.
Dolmabahce Palace was built in mid 1800's right on the Bosphorus straight, to replace the previous Sultan's seat.
Comparing the two, I find the Topkapi more authentic, as it's pure Ottoman design.
In Dolmabahce you can notice the western influence from that era with many Baroque and Rococo details combined with Ottoman, yet is a nice mix.
In total, 6 sultans and Ataturk resided here and it's a perfect place to explore.
Make sure you buy the Combo ticket - for Palace and Harem. It costs 1200 TL, around 15$, as in the Harem is the famous room where Ataturk passed away.
Also don't skip the Clock room and Crystal Hall (both in separate bldgs) as they contain remarkable items.
The only reason for 4 stars is that taking pics is prohibited for some reason ???, so mine enclosed were taken secretly, pls don't mind the lower quality therefore.

A must visit when you are in Istanbul. It’s really grand and you need at least 5-6 hours to see it properly. Audio guide was very helpful which is included in the ticket, however a security deposit/ passport deposit is necessary if you want to take the audio guide device. Highly recommended as it’s worth the price !