Ihlamur Palace: the sultans' pavilions in Beşiktaş

Updated on October 4, 2026

Ihlamur Palace (Ihlamur Kasrı) is a small group of two white stone pavilions in the middle of a garden, on the heights of Beşiktaş, a few minutes from Yıldız Park. Sultan Abdülmecid I had it built between 1849 and 1855 by the architect Nigoğos Balyan, as a place of rest and reception away from the neighbouring Dolmabahçe Palace. The name comes from the linden trees (ıhlamur) that once shaded the valley. The complex consists of the ceremonial pavilion (Merasim Köşkü), where the sultan received his guests, and the retinue pavilion (Maiyet Köşkü), for his entourage. It is now run by the Presidency of National Palaces (Milli Saraylar). Allow about 45 minutes for the two pavilions, plus time for the garden.

Highlights

The ceremonial pavilion

The Merasim Köşkü is the finer of the two: a stone and marble façade in eclectic Baroque, reception rooms decorated with Austrian-style stucco on the walls and ceilings, fireplaces and Hereke carpets.

The garden pools

The garden of about 2.5 hectares is dotted with pools, including a large central pool decorated with lions, surrounded by magnolias. The magnolias usually bloom from February to June; the lindens, which give the palace its name, provide shade in summer.

The garden in autumn

In autumn, the yellow foliage of the trees carpets the lawns and paths around the pavilions. The retinue pavilion houses a small café open during the day, on site.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Prices in force since 1 January 2026 for foreign visitors: 280 TL for the palace, 60 TL for the garden only (confirm at the ticket desk or on the National Palaces website). The National Palaces "Full Pass", at 3,500 TL, also covers Ihlamur; the Turkish Museum Card is accepted here according to the sources consulted. It is one of the cheapest of Istanbul's palace visits: combine it with nearby Yıldız Park and Dolmabahçe Palace, on the way down to the Bosphorus. To decide which palaces to choose, see our guide to the Ottoman palaces of Istanbul and the one to the Beşiktaş district.

How to get there

Ihlamurdere Caddesi, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, at the top of the hill above Beşiktaş square. Metro M7, Yıldız station, or M2, Osmanbey station, then a few minutes on foot; or a bus to Beşiktaş square (ferries from Kadıköy and Üsküdar, tram T1 to Kabataş) and a walk uphill of about fifteen minutes.