Audio GuideDolmabahçe Palace

Set beside the shimmering blue waters of the Bosphorus, Dolmabahçe Palace stands as one of Istanbul’s most impressive landmarks from the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The story of the palace is every bit as striking as its grand façade. Nearly two hundred years ago, this site was a peaceful bay that served as a haven for imperial ships. Over time, it was transformed first into a royal garden and eventually into the magnificent palace that welcomes visitors today.

Ogtay Gozalov

In the middle of the nineteenth century, Sultan Abdülmecid, a modern-minded leader of the Ottoman Empire, commissioned Dolmabahçe Palace. He aimed to create a royal residence that would embody European refinement and technological progress, replacing the more traditional Topkapı Palace. Work on Dolmabahçe began in the early eighteen-forties and lasted for more than a decade, consuming vast quantities of gold, marble, and rare woods. The renowned Balyan family, celebrated Armenian architects, was chosen to harmoniously blend Eastern and Western styles.

Yishai Sulami

Stretching for approximately six hundred metres along the shore, the palace boasts sweeping staircases, a vast ceremonial hall crowned by a grand dome, and hundreds of rooms decorated in Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles—each featuring touches of Ottoman artistry. Gold ornamentation glows across the ceilings, and sparkling chandeliers from Bohemia and France are suspended in almost every grand space. The largest chandelier alone weighs several tonnes. Beautifully handwoven Hereke carpets cover the floors, and galleries are filled with artworks and royal gifts from around the world.

kyungsuk youn

Dolmabahçe was as modern in its amenities as in its appearance. Before the age of electricity, British gas lamps were installed to light its corridors, and pioneering central heating kept the palace comfortable all year round. The palace also played host to pivotal moments in Turkish history: sultans entertained world leaders here, significant political events took place within its walls, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, spent his last days looking out over the Bosphorus from a simple upstairs room.

Beyond the main building, visitors can explore gardens graced by fountains, ornate iron gates, a mosque, and even a nineteenth-century clock tower. The harem, once the secluded domain of the sultan’s family, along with the busy kitchens and marble Turkish baths, all offer a glimpse into the everyday life of the palace.

Following the end of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahçe Palace became a symbol of a new era. Opened to the public as a museum in the mid-nineteen-eighties, it now attracts well over one million visitors each year. Inside, the dazzling fusion of historical splendour and forward-thinking design allows you to experience the complex history of Istanbul—a city where East and West truly meet.