Dolmabahce Palace History

Between 1843 and 1856, Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861) constructed Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul on an area of 110,000 square metres. The fact that it was built on the brink of the Bosphorus was taken as proof that the Ottomans had broken the traditional link to the past. They used to rule the empire from Topkapi Palace and the Historical Peninsula, as you know.

From 1856, when the Ottoman Caliphate was disbanded, Dolmabahce Palace was home to six sultans and the final Ottoman Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi. Between 1927 and 1938, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, studied in the palace in Istanbul and died here on November 10, 1938. As a result, the palace holds a special place in the hearts of the Turkish people. Between 1926 to 1984, the palace was half open to protocol and visits, and after 1984, it was finally opened to the public as a museum.

Bosphorus Boat Cruise Tour – Dolmabahce Palace

Things to See in Dolmabahce Palace

Unlike Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace was constructed as a one huge edifice with multiple pavilions and a large park surrounding it. On the land side, it was encircled by high walls. There are two main gates and seven smaller gates, as well as five ports on the seashore side. Dolmabahce Palace’s gardens and gates are particularly stunning. The gates are among the best examples of metalwork and are extremely thrilling.

Over 50,000 artefacts are housed in the palace’s hundreds of chambers. The palace’s interior is designed in the style of wealthy European palaces and depicts the era’s grandeur. The colossal crystal stairwells and chandeliers, as well as the enormous oil paintings and sofas, are all very appealing. The palace’s priceless watches will pique your interest.

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How to Get to Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul

From Sultanahmet, you can take the tram to Dolmabahce Palace. You can get out at the last stop, Kabatas, if you ride the tram from Sultanahmet Tram Station in the direction of “Kabatas.” The palace is only a five-minute walk from Kabatas Tram Station.

You can ride Funicular F1 from Taksim Square to Kabatas in minutes to go to Dolmabahce Palace. Following the shoreline from Kabatas Tram Station will take you to the palace in a few minutes.

Dolmabahce Palace Map

Dolmabahce Palace Opening Hours

Dolmabahce Palace is open from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. The ticket offices close 60 minutes before the doors close. The last opportunity to enter is at 17:00. Please note that Mondays are closed at Dolmabahce Palace.

Dolmabahce Palace Entrance Fee

As of 2021, the entrance cost to Dolmabahce Palace is 120 Turkish Liras. You will have to spend an additional 90 TL to visit the Dolmabahce Palace Harem. The combination ticket is 150 TL and includes both the palace and the harem. An audio guide is included in the ticket fee.

There is also a combo ticket available for 200 Turkish Lira. This ticket also includes a portion titled “Museum of Palace Collections,” which features artworks placed on top of the locations specified in the previous lines.