Attraction
Hagia Sophia
Justinian's sixth-century domed basilica, now the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, with a separate visitor route through its upper galleries above the prayer hall.
Dolmabahçe Palace
The Bosphorus-front palace of the later Ottoman sultans, completed in 1856, blending European styles and holding the room where Atatürk died in 1938.
At a glance
- Type
- Palace museum
- Area
- Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Official site
- millisaraylar.gov.tr
Good to know
- Selamlık
- Harem
- Painting Museum
- Clock Museum
- Online tickets and app
Why we recommend it
Dolmabahçe Palace was completed in 1856 for Sultan Abdülmecid I, and it replaced Topkapı as the main residence of the Ottoman sultans. Built along the European shore of the Bosphorus by the Balyan family of architects, it reflects the late Ottoman court's turn towards Europe, with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical details applied to a long waterfront façade. After the end of the empire it was used by the Republic, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died here on 10 November 1938.
The palace is divided into the Selamlık, the state and administrative rooms, and the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan's family. The highlight of the Selamlık is the Ceremonial Hall, with its high dome and enormous crystal chandelier, reached by staircases with crystal balustrades. In the Harem you see the room in which Atatürk died, its clocks stopped at 09:05. The site also includes a Painting Museum and a Clock Museum, and the gardens and gates along the water are attractive in their own right.
The palace is closed on Mondays, as well as on New Year's Day and the first days of Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı. The ticket office is open from 09:00 to 17:00. The main ticket covers the Selamlık, the Harem and the Painting Museum together, and combined tickets for other National Palaces sites are also sold. Tickets can be bought online through the National Palaces website and app. The Museum Card is not valid for the Selamlık. Children aged six and under enter free.
Allow two to three hours. Visits to the interiors are tightly managed, and in busy periods you may wait to enter, so arrive at opening, particularly in summer and on weekends. Security checks are thorough. The palace sits at sea level, so there are no hills to climb, but there is plenty of walking inside.
Dolmabahçe suits visitors who have seen Topkapı and want to understand the final decades of the empire. Kabataş, at the end of the T1 tram line and the funicular from Taksim, is a short walk away. Beşiktaş, with its ferry pier, market streets and the Naval Museum, lies just to the north along the shore.
Dolmabahçe Palace FAQs
Which day is Dolmabahçe closed?
Mondays, plus New Year's Day and the first day of Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı.
What are the ticket office hours?
09:00 to 17:00.
What does the main ticket cover?
The Selamlık, the Harem and the Painting Museum together.
Does the Museum Card work here?
It is valid at most National Palaces sites, but not for the Selamlık at Dolmabahçe.
Can I buy tickets online?
Yes, through the National Palaces website and mobile app.
What is the connection with Atatürk?
He died in the palace on 10 November 1938, and his room is part of the visit.
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours.
How do I get there?
It is a short walk from Kabataş, the end of the T1 tram and the funicular from Taksim.