Dolmabahçe Palace Guided Tour

Enjoy a guided tour of the Dolmabahçe Palace during your stay in Istanbul. Explore one of the most significant European-style palaces along the Bosphorus and its captivating history.

Dolmabahçe Palace

We'll meet next to the clock tower of the Dolmabahçe Palace. Our adventure begins with a tour of the palace's gardens, followed by a visit to the interior with an audio guide. You will walk along the ceremonial path to the Medhal Hall, the first room visited by every guest. The tour includes history about the lavish European-style palaces introduced to Istanbul during the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Built under Sultan Abdülmecit's reign from 1843 to 1856, the Dolmabahçe Palace became the royal residence, superseding the Topkapi Palace. The architectural ensemble features 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 Turkish baths, and 68 lavatories, with decorative elements like gold, French Baccarat crystals, Murano glasses, and English crystals.

You will also visit the Selamlik area, which consists of administrative offices and official halls, highlighting the Crystal Staircase and the Throne Room. Subsequently, the tour includes the Harem section, revealing the private quarters of the Sultan's family and the historical significance of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's residence there.

The tour will conclude after approximately an hour of exploration.

Guides

A guide will accompany you through the Palace Gardens, offering insights. However, the guide cannot enter the palace interior with you. An audio guide will be available for your exploration inside the Royal Palace.

Audio Guides

The audio guide is included in the price listed, but a deposit is required. You can leave your passport as a deposit or pay a fee of 2000TRY. Your deposit will be returned upon delivering the audio guide at the end of the tour.