Tip; bring cash. They have no pin at the ticket office, so be sure to bring enough. There is an ATM nearby, after the first security check, but you'll have to get back in line for the tickets. The palace is beautiful. You can stroll through the garden, have a beautiful view of the Bosporus. We only visited the main part, because we had too little time to go to the harem as well. Will definitely visit again to go to the harem portion. The crystal stairs were gorgeous!

Milou MaatjeMar 26, 2018

A Peace of fantastic Architecture and interior design This place is stunning. I have never imagined to see an ottoman palace with such massive european architectural influence. This place combines both Islamic and European heritage and It’s beyond anything one can imagine. Retrospectively the Sultan should have invested this enormous amount of money in the development of his own people but this is now not relevant. He left us a peace of monumental historical architecture.

Mamoun IbrahimApr 3, 2018

Overall is this place a cozy one! The entrance fee includes audio guides! Though in my experience you can skip the audioguide too! If more people in the group must prepare everyone an ID for each device! The guards are tough though, if you are caught photo making they will let you delete the Photos you took! (By Iphone users- do not worry all deleted photos go to recycle bin; for Android - sorry guys - delete is delete). Its worth it - very informative!

Clayton GallemaMar 29, 2018

We had no idea that the entrance to the yard was free. So, if you're traveling on a budget, just walk around the front yard and relax at the clock tower stairs. The cafeteria in the yard is fantastic. We only tried tea and baklava but it was very, very good and we payed average price. It wasn't crowded (February) and we spend a good couple hours sitting, sipping tea and enjoying the sun in the solar room of the cafeteria. If you also have spare 40TL go ahead and tour the palace.

Etia ZavrashviliFeb 15, 2018

This is one of the beautiful places you should visit in Istanbul. The architecture really makes the experience so personable and you want to take your time embracing such wealth and beauty. You can't visit Istanbul without visiting here.

Lacye A BrownApr 8, 2018

Absolutely stunning inside. Was in awe at how much wealth the sultans used to have. Great location as well near the river. The earpiece is worth listening to as it's very informative and interesting and you can change the commentary for each room you walk in.

Mitun ParmarMay 13, 2018

Such wonderful opulence. The audio guides were good too. We were taken as part of Turkish airlines' layover tours which are awesome by the way. Free and worthwhile

Smita BhattacharyaMay 18, 2018

This palace shows the sophisticated architecture of the Ottoman empire, it's just so beautiful and can't describe it with words, it's massive and unbelievable. Although some of the palace sections were undergoing restoration, I got to enjoy every single part, all the chambers, the crystal chandelier and staircase.. Everything in this palace looked out of the ordinary.

Mariam El BezriMay 4, 2018

Impressive palace, unimpressive service. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing. But for what you pay you feel like you should get more. Lo and behold, after paying and entering, we discovered some of the areas were either closed off or just under maintenance. Then there's the bathrooms that weren't too pleasant either. But on a positive note, do the audio guide that's free. It's worth it. Hopefully you won't get stuck behind a 25+ tour group inside the narrow passageways of the palace.

Matt RenaudMay 26, 2018

Magnificient and luxurious to say the least. Shows how extravagant life was for the royals back in the day. Dont forget the audio for a holistic experience. The place is rich with history -the dramatic ending of the royals will stop you in your tracks to hear the full story at each audio station. Definitely a must visit when you're in Istanbul

Elli RozleeMay 28, 2018

WOW! This is a must go to palace. See how sultan lived in the 18 and 19 hundreds. Gorgeous views, rooms, artifacts, and furniture. Highly recommend the audio with history of each room or a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide. Live the sultan life for a few minutes but remember that pictures are prohibited unfortunately. This place is called little Versailles for a very good reason. With the view of the water and the other side of Istanbul, I actually found this place better than Versailles itself.

Maria ChkeriJul 11, 2018

Great visit in one of the main monuments of Istanbul. Beautiful modern-style palace with a practical one-way path that leads you through all the rooms. Very strongly recommend you get an audio guide since there are NO information panels, hence the 4 stars. Also, for preservation reasons, you are not allowed to take photos in the inside of the palace (the outside & gardens are alright), but if you do want to sneak some photos make SURE that your flash is off so as not to damage any paint/mosaic. Note that your museum card will not work in Dolmabahçe, so you will have to pay for your ticket! (About 90 liras per adult)

Noor HoodahJul 22, 2018

Great palace. Very luxurious and just overall amazing, it's a must see if you are going to be in Istanbul. You get a discount if you are a student so bring your ID. They have free audio tours, they just ask that you put your driver's license down as a deposit. Only downside is that they don't allow you to take pictures or videos of the inside. There's a cafe there in case you get hungry or thirsty. Another thing to note for parents is that strollers are not allowed, this applies for many of the attractions in Istanbul. Your children must either walk or be carried.

Lezah HammackJun 27, 2018

So great. You can see how the great sultans of the Othmani empire lived. The gifts of Kings at that time including sophisticated watches and other great presents. I was impressed as I was going from one area to the other. The design of the balance is linear and at the same time symmetrical. So there two identical pieces of many items. I wonder how was the life among people in this palace and how it was managed. Sultan and his wives lived there among many staff members, servants, and even slaves. Formal ceremonies were held there. A place that was full of actions and decisions is standing today to witness that the people who lived there were great, sophisticated, and great. I think it is a must visit attraction if you come to Istanbul.

Sami BasfarJul 5, 2018

Tip; bring cash. They have no pin at the ticket office, so be sure to bring enough. There is an ATM nearby, after the first security check, but you'll have to get back in line for the tickets. The palace is beautiful. You can stroll through the garden, have a beautiful view of the Bosporus. We only visited the main part, because we had too little time to go to the harem as well. Will definitely visit again to go to the harem portion. The crystal stairs were gorgeous!

Milou MaatjeMar 26, 2018

A Peace of fantastic Architecture and interior design This place is stunning. I have never imagined to see an ottoman palace with such massive european architectural influence. This place combines both Islamic and European heritage and It’s beyond anything one can imagine. Retrospectively the Sultan should have invested this enormous amount of money in the development of his own people but this is now not relevant. He left us a peace of monumental historical architecture.

Mamoun IbrahimApr 3, 2018

Overall is this place a cozy one! The entrance fee includes audio guides! Though in my experience you can skip the audioguide too! If more people in the group must prepare everyone an ID for each device! The guards are tough though, if you are caught photo making they will let you delete the Photos you took! (By Iphone users- do not worry all deleted photos go to recycle bin; for Android - sorry guys - delete is delete). Its worth it - very informative!

Clayton GallemaMar 29, 2018

We had no idea that the entrance to the yard was free. So, if you're traveling on a budget, just walk around the front yard and relax at the clock tower stairs. The cafeteria in the yard is fantastic. We only tried tea and baklava but it was very, very good and we payed average price. It wasn't crowded (February) and we spend a good couple hours sitting, sipping tea and enjoying the sun in the solar room of the cafeteria. If you also have spare 40TL go ahead and tour the palace.

Etia ZavrashviliFeb 15, 2018

This is one of the beautiful places you should visit in Istanbul. The architecture really makes the experience so personable and you want to take your time embracing such wealth and beauty. You can't visit Istanbul without visiting here.

Lacye A BrownApr 8, 2018

Absolutely stunning inside. Was in awe at how much wealth the sultans used to have. Great location as well near the river. The earpiece is worth listening to as it's very informative and interesting and you can change the commentary for each room you walk in.

Mitun ParmarMay 13, 2018

Such wonderful opulence. The audio guides were good too. We were taken as part of Turkish airlines' layover tours which are awesome by the way. Free and worthwhile

Smita BhattacharyaMay 18, 2018

This palace shows the sophisticated architecture of the Ottoman empire, it's just so beautiful and can't describe it with words, it's massive and unbelievable. Although some of the palace sections were undergoing restoration, I got to enjoy every single part, all the chambers, the crystal chandelier and staircase.. Everything in this palace looked out of the ordinary.

Mariam El BezriMay 4, 2018

Impressive palace, unimpressive service. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing. But for what you pay you feel like you should get more. Lo and behold, after paying and entering, we discovered some of the areas were either closed off or just under maintenance. Then there's the bathrooms that weren't too pleasant either. But on a positive note, do the audio guide that's free. It's worth it. Hopefully you won't get stuck behind a 25+ tour group inside the narrow passageways of the palace.

Matt RenaudMay 26, 2018

Magnificient and luxurious to say the least. Shows how extravagant life was for the royals back in the day. Dont forget the audio for a holistic experience. The place is rich with history -the dramatic ending of the royals will stop you in your tracks to hear the full story at each audio station. Definitely a must visit when you're in Istanbul

Elli RozleeMay 28, 2018

WOW! This is a must go to palace. See how sultan lived in the 18 and 19 hundreds. Gorgeous views, rooms, artifacts, and furniture. Highly recommend the audio with history of each room or a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide. Live the sultan life for a few minutes but remember that pictures are prohibited unfortunately. This place is called little Versailles for a very good reason. With the view of the water and the other side of Istanbul, I actually found this place better than Versailles itself.

Maria ChkeriJul 11, 2018

Great visit in one of the main monuments of Istanbul. Beautiful modern-style palace with a practical one-way path that leads you through all the rooms. Very strongly recommend you get an audio guide since there are NO information panels, hence the 4 stars. Also, for preservation reasons, you are not allowed to take photos in the inside of the palace (the outside & gardens are alright), but if you do want to sneak some photos make SURE that your flash is off so as not to damage any paint/mosaic. Note that your museum card will not work in Dolmabahçe, so you will have to pay for your ticket! (About 90 liras per adult)

Noor HoodahJul 22, 2018

Great palace. Very luxurious and just overall amazing, it's a must see if you are going to be in Istanbul. You get a discount if you are a student so bring your ID. They have free audio tours, they just ask that you put your driver's license down as a deposit. Only downside is that they don't allow you to take pictures or videos of the inside. There's a cafe there in case you get hungry or thirsty. Another thing to note for parents is that strollers are not allowed, this applies for many of the attractions in Istanbul. Your children must either walk or be carried.

Lezah HammackJun 27, 2018

So great. You can see how the great sultans of the Othmani empire lived. The gifts of Kings at that time including sophisticated watches and other great presents. I was impressed as I was going from one area to the other. The design of the balance is linear and at the same time symmetrical. So there two identical pieces of many items. I wonder how was the life among people in this palace and how it was managed. Sultan and his wives lived there among many staff members, servants, and even slaves. Formal ceremonies were held there. A place that was full of actions and decisions is standing today to witness that the people who lived there were great, sophisticated, and great. I think it is a must visit attraction if you come to Istanbul.

Sami BasfarJul 5, 2018