Dolmabahçe Palace stretches along the Bosphorus in the Beşiktaş district. Built under Sultan Abdülmecid by the architects Garabet and Nigoğayos Balyan, it became the residence of the sultans from 1856, replacing the old Topkapı Palace. Six sultans and the last caliph lived here; Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed here and died here in 1938. Open to the public as a palace museum since 1984, it keeps its original furnishings: Hereke carpets, Baccarat crystal, Sèvres and Yıldız porcelain. The main building has 285 rooms, 44 halls and 6 hammams. It is divided into three parts: the Selamlık (or Mabeyn), where state affairs were handled, the great Ceremonial Hall, and the Harem, where the sultan and his family lived. Allow at least 2 hours including the Harem and the Painting Museum.
Highlights
The Crystal Staircase hall
At the heart of the Selamlık, the staircase with crystal balusters rises beneath a glass roof surrounded by marble columns. It is one of the most photographed spaces in the palace, blending European Baroque decoration with the plan of the traditional Ottoman house.
The façade and the gates on the Bosphorus
The palace stands on a bay that was filled in from the 17th century onwards, hence its name, "filled garden". From the garden, the ornate gates open directly onto the strait and the Asian shore.
The Ceremonial Hall
Between the Selamlık and the Harem, this vast domed hall hosted receptions on religious holidays and state ceremonies. Its great crystal chandelier is the highlight of the visit.
The Painting Museum
Housed in the Crown Prince's apartment, it is included in the palace ticket and displays the painting collections of the National Palaces.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Palace ticket (Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum): 2,000 TL for foreign visitors; reduced rate of 150 TL for students aged 7 to 25 with their student card, with foreign students paying twice the reduced rate (300 TL) with an ISIC card. Free up to age 6. The Müze Kart is not valid for the Selamlık. Prices checked in October 2026. Combined tickets: 2,750 TL for Dolmabahçe, Yıldız Palace and the pavilions of the European shore; 3,500 TL for the "Full Pass", which adds the palaces and pavilions of the Asian shore, including [Beylerbeyi Palace](/fr/attractions/palais-de-beylerbeyi). They are valid for one month, with one entry per site. Topkapı is not included. Tickets are sold at the ticket desks or online on the official website of the National Palaces (Milli Saraylar), under Ticket, by choosing the "Foreign Visitor" ticket. Thematic tours are run from three full-price tickets.
How to get there
Vişnezade Mahallesi, Dolmabahçe Caddesi, Beşiktaş, Istanbul. Tram T1 to the Kabataş terminus, then about ten minutes on foot. Funicular F1 from Taksim to Kabataş. Ferries to the Kabataş or Beşiktaş piers. More details in our guide to [transport in Istanbul](/fr/articles/transports-istanbul).
Opening hours
Nearby
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