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Dolmabahce Palace

Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

The gardens outside the palace (overlooking the Bosphorus)

Dolmabahce Palace was one of the homes of Sultans during the Ottoman empire. I enjoyed this more than Topkapi Palace, although they're very different attractions. Dolmabahce Palace feels much more like a residence than a palace complex, and is a beautifully decorated and architected home.

After you pay your admissions fee, you are free to explore the grounds on your own. However, visitors are not permitted in the palace without an escort. Scheduled guided tours leave at different times during the day. Be sure to check when the next tour leaves (for your requested language) when you purchase your tickets.

The interior of the palace was beautifully furnished. It's been decorated as if it were still in use. It definitely feels more like a home than a museum, although there were a couple small "treasure collection" rooms. They mostly contained old and other items that were used in everyday life.

The tour guide provided some interesting information during the tour.

The bathrooms outside the palace (near the cafe) were nice and clean - they even had toilet paper (which is uncommon for this city).

Cost

A sitting room inside the palace

There is a 15 YTL entrance fee, per person. Cameras and video cameras are permitted for an extra fee. Each camera costs 6 YTL, and each video camera costs 15 YTL. If you do not pay for your camera you have to check it at the entrance. You pass through a metal detector before entering the palace grounds, so you may not be able to sneak it in.

Estimated Visiting Time

A very large room inside the palace

The guided tour lasts for 45 minutes. You can spend another 30-45 minutes walking around the grounds at your own pace. When you're finished, feel free to stop by the Dolmabahce Mosque, which is just outside the entrance.