Ihlamur Palace

Discover the enchanting beauty of Ihlamur Palace, a stunning park that truly comes alive in early spring with the mesmerizing bloom of magnolia flowers 🌸 Despite its affordable entrance fee, Sundays tend to draw large crowds. Nevertheless, immerse yourself in the splendor of its picturesque gardens and encounter delightful animals amidst the lush greenery. Take a leisurely break at the inviting cafeteria, where the amiable staff serve up affordable treats. While I highly recommend a visit, consider arriving earlier in the day to avoid the bustling crowds and fully savor the tranquility of this hidden gem. Would happily return.

I think most visited small palace now in March, because now is magnolia blooming🌸 time and seems half of Istanbul want to take pretty photos with pink trees. I suggest come in the weekday in the morning, before it's getting really crowded, like 10:00 or 11:00. Free of charge with museum card. in the garden is small rabbit house and peacocks are 🦚 walking around. there is nice cafe outside and pretty cafe inside the pavilion. Definitely recommend to visit 🤌

In March , the trees blossom very beautiful. Entrance fee for garden costs 20 TL. Entrance in the palace is 130 TL for tourists. With muzeycart you can enter for free.

Amazing park especially in the early spring cause of blooming magnolia trees.🌸 Every year I come here to see this beauty. Entrance fee is pretty cheap. You can buy just garden ticket or also visit small summer sultan's residence. Park is not huge but you can enjoy small pond with ducks, observe walking peacocks, feed rabbits. And after eat breakfast or just drink coffee or tea at Cafe inside of park. Highly recommend you to visit this place. For more details follow my Instagram page @nadinka_verbitskaya

I was pleasantly surprised by Ihlamur Kasrı. The beautiful gardens provide a peaceful escape from the city buzz. The historic charm of the mansion, both inside and out, is well-preserved, making it a unique journey into the past.

The cafe offers tasty treats, and the friendly staff adds to the welcoming vibe. Whether you love history or just want a serene retreat, Ihlamur Kasrı is a delightful spot to explore in the heart of the city.

Ihlamur Kasrı offers a brief but charming experience. The interior and garden can be explored comfortably in half an hour. The Ihlamur kasrı showcases elegant history, and its garden provides a tranquil escape within the city. Worth a quick visit for its beauty and historical significance.

Beautiful garden, never went inside of the castle, but every month i revisit to see the cute ducks, turtles, peacock and bunnies living their best life! Very peaceful place, i highly recommend if you want to enjoy a clean natural space and walk around, a small restaurant is available there as well

Free entrance with your Müze Kart. You can also enjoy the views with a nice breakfast or lunch at the territory.

Ihlamur Valley is located between the hills of Beşiktaş, Yıldız and Nişantaşı. According to historical sources, from the 18th century to the early 20th century, it was a country excursion spot where the Fulya stream within the valley was shaded by plane trees and linden trees.

The lower part of the valley which includes the Ihlamur Pavilions belonged to Hacı Hüseyin Agha, the administrator of the imperial dockyard during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1730). Later it was owned by the state and laid out as an imperial garden. Some archery stones commemorating distance shooting records in the upper part of the valley indicate that Sultan Selim III (1789-1807) and Sultan Mahmud II (1808-1839) held shooting contests with other archers near the Yıldız district. These stones are inscribed with the distances, placings, and dates of the sultans’ shots at targets consisting of jugs filled with water. During the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861), the third part of the valley was planted and terraced to form the “Conversation Garden”.

The French poet Lamartine stayed at Ihlamur Pavilions in 1846 as a guest of the Sultan. In his memoirs, he described Ihlamur and its environs as follows:
“The building faces a garden with beautiful chestnut trees and big linden trees from which the valley took its name. In front of the three-stepped stairs of the pavilion, there is a small fountain shorter than the branches of jasmine whose water falls into the marble pool with a sweet gurgle. Ihlamur is Sultan’s favorite pavilion, where he rests and meditates.”
In place of this modest pavilion that Lamartine mentioned, Sultan Abdülmecid had two pavilions built between the years 1848-1855 and renamed this place “Nüzhetiye” which means “relief, freshness, joy, and happiness.”

During the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876), various entertainments and wrestling matches were held in the imperial garden. This continued to be a popular place for subsequent sultans and their families. After the proclamation of the Republic, Ihlamur Pavilions were assigned to the İstanbul Municipality in 1951 by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and used to house the Tanzimat (Reorganization) Museum.

The Ihlamur Pavilions were allocated to National Palaces in 1966 and when landscaping work was completed they were opened to the public as a museum with their original furnishings in 1985. The Ceremonial Pavilion was used as the Sultan’s office and for receptions and the Retinue Pavilion was assigned to the Sultan’s entourage and family. The pavilions were used mostly for day trips by the sultans, and also to entertain foreign statesmen.

The Ceremonial Pavilion is a remarkable work of architecture with its entrance hall and two rooms on either side of the hall, the baroque-styled staircase at the façade, and its spectacular relief decoration.

The interior decoration of the pavilion is in Western-style which was preferred in the 19th century Ottoman palaces. Various styled European furniture and furnishings are in unison with the decoration.

The Retinue Pavilion, on the other hand, has traditional architecture with a hall-like room surrounded by rooms at the corners. Stucco work imitating marble was used on its walls in different colors.

If you are in Şişli go see it ... made of 2 pavillions .one is used as a restaurant so you get to it in a real palace .. very nice palace. The restaurant if rooms ... the other pavillion is 2 rooms to see .remember no photography . But you know rules are not for everyone . The garden is amazing and there is an open cafe as well .so 2 of them outside and inside . Prices are affordable for sure .
Remember if you are coming a long way .you will be disapointed because it is not biiig but the facade is nicccce .The sultan used to enjoy his times there and they used to play games there . Entrance free if u are a resident. Not expensive at all for tourists . Keep ur müze kart with you. . I need to there next saturday again . It is nice in the morning.

very beautiful place, you can visit the garden for 20 lira

Its really nice especcialy its garden lively

Absolutly gorgeous, especially once blooming starts. Museum area is very small, you will get to check 4 rooms, but price is adapted to it. Garden area is absolutely enjoyable, there are several benches, but everyone seems to prefer to sit on the grass directly, and enjoy some sunbathing. Garden alone can be visited for as small as 10 TLR. Cafe and restaurant can be visited too, with a view of garden and palace.

So small half open palace with beautiful bahçe around and pheasants passing u by

Good place for a little picnic

Enjoyed my breakfast.It’s run by local lgoverment council which makes the prices reasonable. Entrance fee for garden and meal area is 5tl and to view the museaum is 15tl. Historic and nostalgic place and decor, the attendant where very helpful, food was 10/10. Have been back 3 times in 2 weeks.The gardens would be fantastic during spring and summer and a different fantadtic during autumn and winter. The museum and facility is closed on Mondays for repairs and cleaning but open rest of week and werkend till 1600. The museum tour was very informative giving a glimpse in to the past.

One of my fav places in Istanbul, the garden is so beautiful , the palace itself amazing and the palace guide was super nice we talked for a while about the history of the palace. You can also have a cup of tea or coffee on the garden

İ haven't been in the palace inside. İt works until 16:00, i think because now is still winter time, maybe in may it will work longer but i can say about park where the palace is and it's really great small park with cute small lake inside, calm and cosy atmosphere. Park is well cared and there are pheasants here who just walk around, it was amazing view😍 magnolia trees are blooming here (but you need to come in march to see this beauty). Now, in April it's period of blooming tulips and it's awesome too!

Super cute small palace. Great view and picnic like vibe . Pretty lake and trees makes the space cute and Instagram worthy

An amazingly beautiful lil rococo castle in a magical garden, it makes you forget you ‘re in the heart of the city. While walking in its gardens you ‘ll feel time stopping or you going back in time. Listen to the water, the birds singing, smell the tree’s oxygen in the air. Still, when looking at the photos, I imagine music playing in the background: Waltz II by D. Shostakovich. I really wanna visit again this place during spring, when nature will be blooming.

Interesting place,
Ticket for Garden only 10 TL
Ticket for Garden and Museum 60 TL for person
But the museum is small.