Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul

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For someone living in "glass world", the palace impresses by the artworks produced in the golden days of glass manufacturing.

All the European giants are present, with pieces so great, so hardly built and mounted, that the palace could work as a display of the best in glass history. Well... maybe with something more from Lalique.

You will awe at this palace, you will not believe that a person lived like this. The most gorgeous palace ever with the most shockingly grand hall at the end, a truly beautiful experience. Tickets are for 15TL for the selamlik, which is the main palace, and 20 TL for both palaces including the harem which is where the ladies and kids lived. I would recommend only the selamlik.

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Separated from the palace but integrated in the whole, this mosque was built together with the palace, in the 19 Th century.

Used by the sultan, it has some rich ornaments, including Baroque elements.

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It was a small disappointment, the visit of harem. In Topkapi, this is the most harmonious and beautiful area, and I was expecting the same - no way.

The area visited by the sultan still keeps some beauty and richness, but the remaining area is poor and somewhat neglected compared with the males part of the palace.

Sultan's mother has a distinctive treatment but far from the official opulence.

I think that the visit should be done in opposite order, starting by the harem and reserving the official area to the end.

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The biggest and most luxurious room (if it is possible to say so, in the male's part of the palace) is the ceremonial room, prepared to receive 2500 people.

The heaviest chandelier in the world came from England, a gift from queen Victoria. The hall keeps being used in big official ceremonies.

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Built in the middle of the 19Th century, this palace marks the beginning of the approach of ottoman culture to western patterns. Several styles (Baroque, Neo-classic, Rococo) merge to Ottoman, to produce a Palace expected to impress. And it does.

I will reserve several tips for details.

the castle is amazing, i walked with a full open eyes trying to imagine the king who used to live is such huggggge palace. the pictures, the furniture, the souveniers from the worlds greatest kings of that time..... this place is a must.
it costs less 40 dollars and there is extra for the camera and i paied for it for sure.

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Dolmabahce Palace was built between 1843 and 1856. This beautiful palace hosted some Sultans as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from 1889-1909 interval in which the Yildiz Palace was used. It is located on European side of Bosphorus between Besiktas and Kabatas. It is decorated with a 4.5 ton weighing crystal chandelier on the main hall. This Bohemian chandelier was given to Ottoman Sultan as a present from Queen Victoria. The staircase on the main hall is also from crystal. Another important part of this palace is the room of Atatürk, founder of Turkish Republic. He spent his last days in this room and died here. There is a clock tower in the main entrance which is also spectacular. Dolmabahçe Palace Museum is open to public on weekdays from 9:00 to 15:00, except Mondays and Thursdays.