Dolmabahçe Palace

It's a great place to visit whether you love history or not. Trolleys for kids are not allowed so have that in mind if you have kids. You will need to walk a lot! But it's definitely worth it. Don't miss the painting museum in the end.

You can buy also some gifts, they have nice souvenirs.

Mind blowing!!! I have seen many palaces but the Dolmabahce Palace is a stand alone. The gardens, guest halls, the 1.5ton chandeliers, the mirrors, the giant pillars - all are unique. The dome color combination of the paintings in the Kings Hall is a flabbergast. We can feel the 32 Mtr heightened arched roof paintings are very closest to us. The architecture of the palace is glorious, the gold plated diamond spoon, the silver painted glass vase and the kitchen/dining utensils in the showcase/display cant be forgotten. A must worthwhile place in Istanbul to visit.

Beautiful palace and nice picnic spot to take photos and have a walk. There are some cafés in its garden. Not sure how much you’re charged but it’s around 1000+ TL entrance fee.

Cafés facing the waters are beautiful both in the morning and afternoon. A must visit

Dolmabahçe Palace is the largest palace in Turkey, located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coast of the Bosporus strait. It was built between 1843 and 1856.

Dolmabahçe Palace is a masterpiece of architecture and design, and it stands as a testament to the wealth and luxury of the Ottoman Empire at its peak.

The palace is beautiful, visitors can go around the defined path to see the palace and collectibles and pictures, but you can't take pictures or shoot videos inside the Palace

If you have time, take a guided tour included in the ticket, but go visit on your own if wanna go quickly

At first glance I was doubting if this palace will worth the ticket price as it’s (1080 Turkish Lira) but after going in and walking around this historical place is truly unique and beautiful and it’s 100 percent worth the price. Just make sure you spare 3/4 hours and don’t rush as it’s very big and many places to see.

Amazing Palace to visit. It's pretty big, so one needs at least 4 hours to properly get through. We didn't have the audio unit. If you listen to that, it would take even longer.
Taking photos inside isn't allowed, but we have seen some people taking photos secretly. Interior is so beautiful that you can be tempted to break the rules and take photos.
The blue hall reminded me of, as soon as we entered, the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City. It was the bright colours and the richness of the paintings. Of course, the themes in the paintings are totally different.
It's worth a visit. Represents a different era and style.

I fell in love with this place! The collection of things was amazing! The whole thing took us 2 hours as there was the main building and them the other building called Harem and finally, we viewed the picture collection. It's so much better than Topkapi Palace. I will definitely recommend if you like things like this. Be aware it's 2 hours of non-stop walking, so it was tiring by the end of it.

Awesome building absolutely marvelous, very well preserved. The walking is very organized and there is no crowd that tries to swish you away left or right. Interior is luxurious and there is not much Westies around while walking but you can take an audio guide. Worth visiting 100%. Tickets cost for foreigners is extremely insanely high for turkey, but that’s a different story. 650 lira for internationals and 140 for locals

absolutely breathtaking palace with great importance to the history of türkiye’s establishment. i loved that the audio guide was an optional and free of charge service that one could choose to get. while i wish it was possible to take pictures inside of the palace i do of course understand why it is prohibited

This is the most beautiful palace I have visited. It is so well preserved and maintained that it feels like almost all people are still living in it. The architecture, decoration, and carvings on the walls are just magnificent. I would recommend everyone to visit it. It is located on the bhosphorus and the ocean view is amazing. One needs to go early in the morning as it starts closing by 4-5. Photography is not allowed inside the palace so just be prepared to just absorb everything you see.

Cannot recommend this place enough. Beautiful palace exterior and interior. Can only speak for when I was here in June at around 15.00 and it was not very crowded at all.

A must see if you are in Istanbul, I would recommend spending at least 2 hours here.
The grassy lawn by the waterfront is also very comfortable to sit, chat and rest. Loved it.

The prettiest must-to-visit place in Istanbul. Take the tram T1 line to Kabatas station. The palace is only 4 minutes walking from the station. I suggest you to come early in the morning to avoid the crowd. It opens at 9 in the morning and costs you around 650TL.
Note that you are not allowed to take any pictures inside the palace. You must cover your shoes before getting in or taking them off.

Dolmabahce Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces I have ever visited. Its stunning entrance is just a small part of its beauty. The palace grounds, with its exterior view and sea view, are truly breathtaking. Unfortunately, photography and filming are not allowed inside the palace, but each part of the palace will leave you more amazed than the previous one. One of the most interesting rooms is Ataturk's room, where he passed away.
The ticket price was 650 Turkish Lira

Absolutely beautiful. Shame that you can't take any pictures inside the palaces.
The layout of the Painting Museum is a bit confusing as there aren't any signs but still worth having a look.

One of most beautiful palaces I've ever seen. Need 3h to explore the palace Harem and picture gallery. And have some Turkish tea and dessert in one of the cafe on the premises.

Of course you should go see this palace. It is spectacle, similar to Buckingham palace. It's hard to imagine people actually lived like this. Kings, queens, sultans.

Grounds are very well maintained and clean. As are the fountains. We saw guys cleaning one giant chandelier. One of many. What a big job, tedious. But the work shows. The place is well cared for.

3-4 hours to tour most of it (not the art museum). Mainly the two big buildings. The audio guide is very good in that it works and is comfortable (take note Topkapi).

The halls are narrow, so beware of crowds. The paths are very well marked. WCs at front and back are all good shape and well signed. Cafe front and back as well (90TL coffee, though, is definitely not worth it).

Memorable? The bed in which Ataturk died and the table clock stopped at that exact time. His wheelchair and medical cabinet. Hint of his last days.

NOTE: NO PHOTOS INSIDE. And they mean it. Several confrontations were seen. I don't know why, nobody explains it. Seems silly.

Very beautiful as expected! 650tl for entrance into the main building, the painting museum and the living quarters. I'd recommend wearing sneakers as you have to wear shoe covers every time you enter the building, any other shoe will likely make your feet sweaty and it's alot of walking, that can take away from the enjoyment. Apart from that it was beautiful, intricate roof paintings, a massively impressive crystal chandelier, they even had gold on their heaters! You can't take photos inside but plenty of spots outside :)

Step into the captivating allure of the Ottoman era as the magnificent palace unfolds its treasures. The opulent decorations and meticulously manicured gardens create an immersive experience, while the spellbinding Bosphorus view adds a touch of grandeur. Although photography within the palace is restricted, savor every moment of this journey through history, letting the awe-inspiring surroundings etch lasting memories. A visit to this palace is truly a voyage into the splendid opulence of the Osmanian era.

Wonderful place to visit. The wait for entry is not long. It contains the world's largest crystal collection and even offers a crystal stair case. Family friendly and great for a date on the water front.

Unfortunately we came to visit on a Monday ( our last day in Istanbul) we didn't realise it wasn't open on Mondays so please bare this in mind when planning your trip. We were disappointed but still got to go into the entrance part and see the gates to the palace and the clock tower. İt looks an absolutely amazing place. Maybe it's a good thing I was closed, just means i have to plan another trip to Istanbul so I can get to see the inside too 😉
We passed the Dolmabahçe palace when we went on the Bosphorus cruise. The views were stunning