In short: which one to choose?
- Just one palace: Topkapı Palace, the sultans' palace until the middle of the 19th century, for the history, the harem and the collections.
- One palace for the décor: Dolmabahçe Palace, for 19th-century splendour and crystal staircases.
- On the water, without the crowds: Beylerbeyi Palace or the Küçüksu Pavilion, on the Asian shore.
- For a walk more than a visit: Yıldız Park and the Ihlamur pavilions.
Topkapı Palace: the palace-city
The seat of Ottoman power from the mid-15th century to the mid-19th, Topkapı is not a single building but a series of courtyards, pavilions, kitchens and council rooms above Seraglio Point. It is the palace to choose if you can see only one: it tells the story of the Ottoman state, from court life to the organisation of the harem.
The combined palace + harem + Hagia Irene ticket costs 2,750 TL (harem alone 1,050 TL). The palace is closed on Tuesday, unlike the other palaces, which close on Monday. Allow half a day. Details and hours in the entry for Topkapı Palace, and a route in our Sultanahmet guide.
Dolmabahçe Palace: the European palace
On the Bosphorus, in Beşiktaş, Dolmabahçe replaced Topkapı as the sultan's residence in the 19th century. The palace, which has 285 rooms, blends European Baroque décor with the plan of an Ottoman house: a great domed ceremonial hall, a staircase with crystal balusters, Hereke carpets, Baccarat crystal. The palace ticket (Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum) costs 2,000 TL; allow at least 2 hours. Closed on Monday.
It is the most impressive palace for décor, and the busiest. See the entry for Dolmabahçe Palace.
Beylerbeyi: the summer palace of the Asian shore
Built in 1863-1865 under Abdülaziz, at the foot of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, Beylerbeyi served as a summer residence and state guesthouse. Smaller than Dolmabahçe (24 rooms and 6 halls), it can be visited in about an hour, with terraced gardens. Ticket: 800 TL; gardens only 100 TL; closed on Monday. It is the best compromise for seeing an imperial palace without the crowds. Entry: Beylerbeyi Palace.
Küçüksu: the little Rococo pavilion
A little further north, at the mouth of the Göksu stream, the Küçüksu Pavilion (1856-1857, under Abdülmecid) is a three-storey resting pavilion with a carved Rococo façade. Ticket: 300 TL; closed on Monday. It takes half an hour to visit and combines with the neighbouring Anadolu Hisarı fortress.
Ihlamur and Yıldız: pavilions and park
In Beşiktaş, the Ihlamur pavilions (see the entry for Ihlamur Palace) are a small group of pavilions in a garden, to visit in addition to another palace. Higher up, Yıldız Park, a former imperial estate whose entry gives the hours, is above all a walk: access to the park is free, while Yıldız Palace has its own hours (closed on Wednesday).
Comparison table
| Palace | Shore | Highlight | Foreign visitor price | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topkapı | European (Sultanahmet) | History, harem, collections | 2,750 TL (palace + harem + Hagia Irene) | Tuesday |
| Dolmabahçe | European (Beşiktaş) | 19th-century décor | 2,000 TL | Monday |
| Beylerbeyi | Asian | Summer palace, gardens | 800 TL | Monday |
| Küçüksu | Asian | Rococo façade, small scale | 300 TL | Monday |
| Ihlamur | European (Beşiktaş) | Pavilions in a garden | See the entry | See the entry |
| Yıldız | European (Beşiktaş) | Park, pavilions | Park free; palace: see the entry | Palace: Wednesday |
Prices checked in October 2026.
Which ticket, which itinerary?
- One ticket for several palaces: a combined ticket for the palaces and pavilions of the Asian shore exists (1,050 TL), and the "Full Pass" at 3,500 TL, valid for a month, covers both shores. It is only worth it if you string several palaces together; otherwise, buy individually. The Müze Kart is not valid for the Selamlık at Dolmabahçe.
- A "European shore" day: Dolmabahçe in the morning, then Yıldız Park and lunch in Ortaköy or Beşiktaş. See also our guide to the Asian shore of the Bosphorus for the opposite bank.
- An "Asian shore" day: Beylerbeyi in the morning, then Küçüksu and Anadolu Hisarı, with a fish lunch in the villages along the coast.
- Seen from the water: the Bosphorus cruise runs past Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi and Küçüksu: a good overview if you are short of time.
Practical tips
- Closing days differ: Topkapı on Tuesday, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi and Küçüksu on Monday. Avoid planning them for a religious holiday: the palaces are closed on 1 January and on the first day of the Ramadan and Sacrifice holidays.
- Tickets: at the ticket desks or online on the official website of the National Palaces ("Foreign Visitor" ticket).
- Getting around: the transport guide covers the T1 tram, the ferries and the Asian-shore bus 15.
- Children: the small palaces of the Asian shore, which are shorter, suit them better; see our guide to Istanbul with children.
- Budget: if money matters, Küçüksu and the gardens of Beylerbeyi (100 TL) are the cheapest entries; see our budget for Istanbul.
