The palaces of Istanbul are a grand spectacle of what remains of the Ottoman Empire and what they accomplished.
Istanbul, Turkey has a long history of being ruled by many different empires. This means all these sultans and their families needed a place to live. And as royal as they were, they liked to have nice things.
Luckily for you, you can easily view all these nice things in the palace museum, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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Museum Pass
First, let’s talk about the museum pass.
Along with all the palaces of Istanbul, there are also a number of museums you might want to see as well.
The Turkish Department of Culture and Tourism has created many different museum passes depending on the region of the country you want to visit.
There is one specific for Istanbul that is valid for 5 days and can be used at 13 locations. It costs 360TL. You can purchase this pass at Topkapi Palace or online. You’ll be able to check out which museums are included in the pass on the website.
The big benefit of buying this pass is not having to wait in line to purchase tickets at some museums. The downside is that you won’t have a guide. Weighing the pros and cons of buying this card just depends on personal preference and how much time you will spend in the country.
Topkapi Palace
The first on the list of palaces in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace is located on the top of a hill in Istanbul’s old city, known as the Fatih District or Eminönü. It was the Royal Residence for Ottoman Empire and their families between 1478-1853 making it the oldest palace in Istanbul. The structure sits on about 700,000 square meters and all the buildings are no more than 2 stories tall.
Having more of an Asian design, the palace has many outdoor courtyards, fountains, pavilions, and gardens.
The plans of the palace grounds are divided into 4 courts and a Harem which is exclusive to women and the sultan himself. During your visit, the Harem is an extra ticket so keep that in mind when buying tickets.
Passing through the impressive Imperial Gate is the First Court which is called the Court of Janissaries. This court is open and free to the public without having to purchase a ticket. Ticket counters are located in this court to see the rest of the grounds.
Next is the Second Court, which you enter through the Middle Gate. The Second Court is where all the business took place during the Ottoman era. It was customary for everyone except the Sultan and the Sultan’s mother to enter the Second Court on horseback, while everyone else had to dismount.
Within the Second Court is the Imperial Council Chamber where matters of the state were discussed. Nearby to this building is the Outer Treasury where a vast collection of Ottoman arms and armor are on display today.
Through the Gate of Felicity is the Third Court which houses the Sultan’s private quarters. It was here that high orders of the State were discussed and visiting dignitaries gave their gifts and offerings to the Sultan in the Audience Chamber. Adjacent to this room is the library of Ahmet II built-in 1719.
The Imperial Treasury is also located in the Third Court. It is home to numerous diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and pearls. Among the top of the list of the rock collection is the 84-carat Kasıkçı Diamond, which is a teardrop shape surrounded by smaller stones. It was worn by Mehmet IV during his accession to the throne in 1648. You’ll also want to check out the Topkapı Dagger which features three large emeralds on the handle.
Lastly, is the Fourth Court which is mostly a relaxing and calm area that features many gardens and pavilions. You will be able to get a great view of the Bosphorus from the high palace and watch all the boats go by.
Harem | Topkapi Palace
The Harem in Topkapi Palace is the place where the Sultan can engage in any debauchery that he chooses. This usually would include sex, drugs, and alcohol. In Islam, the word harem means forbidden.
At some point in history, there were as many as 300 mistresses living in the Harem. While living in the Harem, the girls would be educated in Turkish and Islamic language and culture. They would learn music, reading, writing, dance, beauty care, and sewing. If they were attractive and successful in their studies and the Sultan fancied them, they would become ladies-in-waiting.
The Sultan was allowed to have 4 official wives. Their role was to provide children to the Sultan.
The woman titled the Valide Sultan was in charge of the Harem operation. This woman was usually the Sultan’s mother.
While the Harem is a large 6 story complex, visitors can only explore one floor of the building. Within this floor, you can see the Carriage Gate, Dormitory of the Corps of the Palace Guards, Dome with Cupboards – which is the Harem Treasury and home to the financial records of the palace, and the Hall with the Fountain.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce Palace was built after Topkapi Palace because the Sultan wanted a bigger, more European structured residence. It is located along the banks of the Bosphorus Strait in the Besiktas district of Istanbul.
Dolmabahce Palace is the grandest palace in Turkey covering an area of 45,000 square meters with 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets, and 6 Turkish baths.
Fourteen tons of gold was used to cover the ceilings. The largest Bohemian crystal chandelier is located in the Ceremonial Hall, weighing 4.5 tons with 750 lamps. It was thought to have been a gift from Queen Victoria, but a receipt was found in 2006 with evidence that the Sultan paid for it in full.
And if that wasn’t enough crystal, don’t forget about the Crystal Staircase which is a double horseshoe shape constructed from Baccarat Crystal, mahogany, and brass.
Precious one of a kind stones were brought in from Egypt to decorate the hamams. Hand-made carpets from around the world are displayed in the main hall. There are 202 original oil paints throughout the palace as well.
It is no doubt the Dolmabahce is definitely the most impressive of the 4 palaces of Istanbul. However, this did come with a hefty price tag. Although the Ottoman Empire was in decline in the late 19th century, the construction of the palace moved ahead to send signals that all was well in the empire even though it was a lie.
The palace cost was 5 million Ottoman gold lira or 35 tonnes of gold. Today, this is the equivalent of $1.9 billion.
After the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Dolmabahce Palace became the Presidental Palace. While Ataturk used the Palace for his presidential duties, he spent his final days in the palace and died on November 10, 1938, at 9:05 am. This day and time are recognized throughout the country with a moment of silence every year. All of the clocks in the palace are stopped at this time as well.
Yildiz Palace
Once becoming Sultan, Sultan Abdulhamit II moved the administration of the Ottoman Empire to Yildiz Palace from Dolmabahce because he thought it would be easily prone to attack along the banks of the Bosphorus.
Yildiz Palace is located on a hill in present-day Besiktas. It is one of the last examples of Ottoman architecture. The layout of the palace complex is similar to Topkapi Palace. There are many different pavilions that all serve a single purpose. The pavilions are all enclosed within large palace walls for the safety of the royal family.
What is unique about Yilidz Palace out of all the palaces of Istanbul, is that it was considered a small arts and craft hub. Since the Sultan had an interest in carpentry, there was a special woodworking space made just for him where created his own furniture.
Another hobby of his was producing porcelain china. Sultan Abdulhamit II built his own factory where he was able to create and send personalized gifts to other dignitaries that he met.
There were other pavilions created for printing, photography, theatre, painting, music, and an observatory.
Beylerbeyi Palace
This palace, known as the summer residence and guest house for visiting dignitaries is located on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Beylerbeyi Palace is a similar smaller copy of Dolmabahce without the crowds. It features 24 rooms, 6 halls, and one Turkish bath. There is a swimming pool located in the downstairs hall to cool off in during the summer months.
Some of the wooden furniture inside was actually designed and carved by Sultan Abdulhamit II during his 6 years of imprisonment within the palace.
Surrounding the palace is a lush garden with a cafe where you can order snacks and drinks. It is a popular place for locals to relax.
A short 5-10 minute walk away from the palace, you will see the rest of the Beylerbeyi neighborhood along the Bosphorus. There are many fish restaurants in this area where you can stop for lunch.
Palaces of Istanbul
Now that you’ve seen an overview of what to expect during your visit to the palace, which of the 4 palaces seems the most interesting to you?
Is it Topkapi’s lush gardens?
Dolmabahce’s glitz and glam?
Yildiz’s artistic touch?
Beylerbeyi’s indoor swimming pool?
Let me know in the comment below!
