Dolmabahçe Palace

History of Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace was built by Sultan Abdülmecid because Topkapı Palace could not meet modern needs. Its construction began in 1843 and was completed in 1856. The construction of the palace was considered as part of the Ottoman Empire's efforts to open up to the West and modernize. The area where Dolmabahçe Palace is located was a bay during the Ottoman period, and in the 17th century it was filled in and turned into a garden (meaning stuffed garden), and then various pavilions and pavilions were built here. However, Sultan Abdülmecid decided to turn this area into a palace complex similar to the European palaces of the period. Dolmabahce Palace was used as the main residence of the sultans in the last periods of the Ottoman Empire. The sultans who came after Sultan Abdülmecid also lived in this palace and important state affairs were carried out here. In addition, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace in the first years of the Republic and died here. Dolmabahce Palace is used as a museum-palace today and is used by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey in some official ceremonies. The palace is open to both local and foreign visitors and can be visited with guided tours.

Dolmabahce Palace Architecture

Dolmabahce Palace is a building that blends Ottoman architecture and baroque, rococo, neo-classical and empirical styles of Western architecture. The architects of the palace were Garabet Balyan, Nigoğayos Balyan and James William Smith. The palace is built on an area of 45,000 square meters and consists of 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets. The exterior of Dolmabahce Palace was largely built in the baroque and neo-classical style. The façade, which is adorned with stone and marble decorations, has a 600-meter-long quay on the shore of the Bosphorus. The "Sultanate Gate", the main entrance gate of the palace, draws attention with its magnificent decorations and height. The interiors of Dolmabahce Palace are equipped with magnificent and rich decorations. With furniture, chandeliers, carpets and works of art brought from Europe, the palace reflects the luxury understanding of the period. The crystal staircase, which weighs 14 tons, used in the interior, is one of the most striking elements of the palace.

How to get to Dolmabahce Palace

Ways to get to Dolmabahce Palace:

Tramway

You can get off at the Kabataş stop by using the T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar Tram Line. From the Kabatas stop, you can walk to Dolmabahce Palace in about 10-15 minutes.

Bus

Many bus lines passing through Beşiktaş, Kabataş or Taksim stop at stops close to Dolmabahce Palace. Some of the IETT bus lines are: 27E, 30D, 40, 40T, 42T, 43R, 559C.

Metro

M2 Yenikapı-Hacıosman Metro Hattı'nı kullanarak Taksim durağında inebilirsiniz. Taksim Meydanı'ndan Dolmabahçe Sarayı'na yürüyerek veya kısa bir otobüs yolculuğuyla ulaşabilirsiniz.

Funicular

After taking the funicular from Taksim to Kabataş, you can walk from Kabatas to Dolmabahce Palace.

Taxi

You can easily reach Dolmabahce Palace by taxi from any point in Istanbul. It will be enough to tell the taxi drivers that you want to go to Dolmabahçe Palace.

Special Vehicle

If you are coming from the European Side, you can follow the coastal road (Dolmabahçe Street) and continue in the direction of Beşiktaş. Dolmabahce Palace is located between Kabatas and Besiktas.

Steamship

You can get off at Kabataş Pier by using the ferries departing from Beşiktaş, Kabataş or Eminönü. It is possible to walk from Kabatas to Dolmabahce Palace.

Walk

If you are located in nearby areas such as Besiktas, Kabatas or Taksim, you can also walk to Dolmabahce Palace. In particular, the walk from Kabatas to Dolmabahçe Palace offers a pleasant experience accompanied by a view of the Bosphorus.

Yacht Charter

To reach Dolmabahce Palace by sea, yacht charter in Istanbul will be the right option for those who want to have a luxurious and enjoyable journey accompanied by the unique view of the Bosphorus. There are many yacht charter and organization companies that can support you in your search for a rental yacht. Bogaz Cocugu provides hourly and daily yacht charter services on the Bosphorus for 12 months without interruption for those who want to enjoy the view and take photos by seeing Dolmabahçe Palace from a close distance. Whenever you want, you can request a yacht charter on the yatkiralama.net/en page, regardless of summer and winter months.

Address: Vişnezade Dist. Dolmabahçe St. 34357 Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye