Dolmabahce Palace Tickets, Harem & Audio Guide
The Ottoman answer to Versailles, built along the water at Beşiktaş. Fourteen tonnes of gold leaf across the ceilings, 285 rooms, 46 reception halls, six hammams — and a four-and-a-half-tonne Bohemian crystal chandelier in the ceremonial hall, the largest of its kind anywhere.
- At the gate
- £38.25
- Allow
- 1h 30m
- District
- Besiktas
- Closed
- Open daily
Dolmabahu00e7e Palace, in short
The Ottoman answer to Versailles, built along the water at Beu015fiktau015f. Fourteen tonnes of gold leaf across the ceilings, 285 rooms, 46 reception halls, six hammams u2014 and a four-and-a-half-tonne Bohemian crystal chandelier in the ceremonial hall, the largest of its kind anywhere.
It marks the moment the Ottoman court turned decisively towards Europe, and it is a very different experience from Topkapu0131: less austere, far more theatrical.
Opening hours
Open 09:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays. The first garden, with the clock tower and a cafu00e9 on the Bosphorus side, is open daily and free to walk through.
What it costs
The palace is split into two ticketed sections. Both are included on the pass. Note that the palace caps daily visitor numbers and can close once the limit is reached, so go earlier rather than later.
Getting there
From the old city, take the T1 tram to Kabatau015f, the end of the line, then walk five minutes. From Taksim, take the F1 funicular to Kabatau015f and walk from there.
How long to allow
Around two hours for both sections. Photography, video, touching the furnishings and stepping onto the original flooring are all prohibited, and for that reason visits inside are guided rather than self-directed.
Why the court moved here
The Sultans ruled from Topkapu0131 for roughly 400 years. By the mid-19th century the empire's European rivals were building palaces designed to project power, and the Ottoman court u2014 losing ground politically u2014 answered in the same language.
Ceremonial occasions continued at Topkapu0131, but from 1856 the Sultan lived here. Six Sultans did, until 1924, when the palace passed to the new Turkish Republic.
The Harem, and Atatu00fcrk
The Harem has its own entrance and housed the Sultan's immediate family, much as at Topkapu0131. Mustafa Kemal Atatu00fcrk later used the palace and died here in 1938. The clocks in his room are stopped at 09:05, the time of his death.
Frequently asked questions
- Six Ottoman Sultans, from 1856 until 1924, after which it passed to the Turkish Republic as national heritage.
- Yes. They are not variations on a theme u2014 Topkapu0131 is a classical Ottoman court of courtyards and pavilions, Dolmabahu00e7e is 19th-century European baroque. Seeing both is the point.
- The Hop-on Hop-off Bosphorus cruise pier at Kabatau015f, Beu015fiktau015f stadium, and Taksim Square a short funicular ride up the hill.
- No. Photography and video are prohibited throughout the interior, which is why visits are guided.