Dolmabahce Palace or Beylerbeyi Palace – Which to Choose?

1. Location: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye.

2. History and Significance: Dolmabahçe Palace was constructed by Sultan Abdülmecid I to replace the older Topkapı Palace between 1843 and 1856. It was designed by architects Garabet Balyan, Nigoğayos Balyan, and Evanis Kalfa. The palace cost about USD 3 billion in today’s money and caused a major financial strain on the Ottoman Empire. It served as the royal residence for six sultans until the end of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924, when the palace became state property. Later, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk used it as a summer home and passed away there on November 10, 1938. Today, it is managed by the Directorate of National Palaces and stands as a symbol of the empire’s final years and early republican history.

3. Key Features: Dolmabahçe Palace has 285 rooms, 46 halls, and six hammams. Its famous Crystal Staircase and the 4.5-ton chandelier in the Ceremonial Hall are the most impressive features. The palace blends Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Ottoman styles in the Hereke carpets, Baccarat chandeliers, and Egyptian alabaster, along with artworks by Ivan Aivazovsky and Osman Hamdi Bey. It had early modern features like gas lighting, central heating, and elevators, which made it highly advanced for its time.

4. Crowd Density: The crowd density in Dolmabahçe Palace is generally higher during the summer season and on the weekends, especially between 10 am and 3 pm. Moreover, the Harem and Crystal Staircase areas often get congested due to large crowds.

5. Entry Fees: EUR 38 (around INR 3,890) per person

6. Best Time to Visit: Dolmabahçe Palace can be visited all year round, but the best time is between April and May (spring) and from September to October (autumn). At these times, the weather remains pleasant, which allows you to explore the palace and its gardens comfortably. 

1. Location: Beylerbeyi, Abdullahağa Cd., 34676 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Türkiye.

2. History and Significance: Beylerbei Palace was built between 1861 and 1865 by Sultan Abdülaziz as a summer home and a place to host royal guests. It is located in Üsküdar, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Empress Eugénie of France visited the palace in 1869 and loved it so much that she copied a window design for her own room in the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Other important guests who were hosted in this palace included Duke Edward VII, Duchess Alexandra of Denmark, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, King Nicholas of Montenegro, and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. After being removed from power, Sultan Abdülhamid II lived in Beylerbeyi Palace for six years until his death in 1918. The palace was also used as an official guesthouse for the Ottoman Empire.

3. Key Features: Designed by Sarkis Balyan, Beylerbei Palace blends Western and Eastern styles. Situated by the Bosphorus, it has 24 rooms and 6 halls, including two bathing pavilions: one for the harem and one for the selamlık. Inside, you will find Hereke carpets, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, and clocks from the Haliç Dockyard. The floors are covered with Egyptian straw mats, and the palace displays porcelain vases from China, Japan, France, Germany, and Turkey’s Yıldız region. 

4. Crowd Density: The density of the crowd in Beylerbei Palace is generally high, particularly on weekends in the late morning and afternoon. To avoid long queues, you should go to the palace early on a weekday, but avoid Mondays when it is closed. 

5. Entry Fees: Foreign Visitors: EUR 20 (around INR 2,000); Turkish Citizens: EUR 8 (around INR 820); Students and Seniors (65+ years): Free

6. Best Time to Visit: Although you can visit Beylerbei Palace throughout the year, the best time remains during the spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) seasons. During this time, the weather is mild and the palace garden looks beautiful. Since there is less crowd, you can enjoy the Bosphorus view and explore the rooms peacefully.