Dolmabahçe Palace, located on the European shores of the Bosphorus in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district, is one of Turkey's most magnificent historical sites. Built between 1843-1856 by Sultan Abdülmecid I, the palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for the last 76 years of its existence.
Today, Dolmabahçe Palace operates as a museum under the management of the National Palaces Administration (Milli Saraylar İdaresi Başkanlığı). To ensure a pleasant and enriching experience, please carefully review the visiting hours, ticket options, tour information, and museum rules below.
Important Notice
Dolmabahçe Palace can only be visited with a guided tour. Tours depart at regular intervals and last approximately 60-90 minutes for each section. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time to ensure you can join a tour.
Opening Hours
Visiting Hours
- Box Office Opening 09:00
- Box Office Closing 17:00
- Monday Closed
Holidays & Special Days
- • New Year's Day: Closed
- • April 23 (National Sovereignty and Children's Day): Open
- • May 1 (Labor and Solidarity Day): Open
- • Ramadan Feast (Eid al-Fitr): Closed on 1st Day, Open on 2nd and 3rd Days
- • May 19 (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day): Open
- • July 15 (Democracy and National Unity Day): Open
- • Sacrifice Feast (Eid al-Adha): Closed on 1st Day, Open on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Days
- • August 30 (Victory Day): Open
- • October 29 (Republic Day): Open
Note: If official holidays or religious festivals fall on days when the palace is normally closed, the palace will remain closed.
Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online. There are separate tickets for different sections of the palace, as well as combined tickets for a full experience.
Ticket Types
- Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum Combined
- Selamlık Only
- Harem Only
- Clock Tower
- National Palaces Painting Museum
Combined Tickets
- Milli Saraylar Full Pass: Dolmabahçe + Asian & European Side Palaces (Excl. Topkapı & Küçüksu)
- Dolmabahçe + Yıldız Palaces + European Side Palaces
- Dolmabahçe + Asian Side Palaces
Discounts & Free Entry
Free Entry:
- Children aged 0-6 (Local & Foreign)
- Milli Saraylar Beykoz Glass & Crystal Museum (Under 12 free)
Discounted Entry:
- Students aged 07-25 (with valid ID)
- Foreign students aged 12-25 (Must show ISIC Card)
Museum Card (Müzekart): Valid in most National Palaces, but NOT valid in Dolmabahçe Palace Selamlık Section, Topkapı Palace Harem & Hagia Irene, and some other specific locations.
Guided Tours
Dolmabahçe Palace can only be visited on guided tours. Tours are conducted in groups and depart at regular intervals throughout the day.
1 Selamlık Tour
- Duration: 60-75 minutes
- Highlights: Crystal Staircase, Ceremonial Hall, 4.5-ton Baccarat chandelier, Medhal Hall
- Rooms: 98 rooms including throne room and ambassadors' hall
2 Harem Tour
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Highlights: Valide Sultan apartments, Atatürk's room (Room 71), private chambers
- Rooms: 62 rooms including the bedroom where Atatürk passed away
Audio Guide Service
Free audio guides are available in 11 languages (Turkish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Korean). Audio guides are included with your ticket. A valid ID is required as deposit.