Dolmabahce Palace is located on the coast of the famous waterway Bosporus in the city of Istanbul. It is one of the spectacular and most inspiring tourist attraction in Turkey. Dolmabahce Palace have rich historical association and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and 1909 to 1922. This lovely palace was built in the mid 1800s to replace an earlier structure that was made of wood. The new palace consist of sixteen separate buildings with stables, a flour mill and a clock tower among them.
Dolmabahce Palace IstanbulHow to get there?Dolmabahce Palace is located on the European side of Istanbul and in the district of Besiktas. Via tram, Kabatas is the nearest stop to Dolmabahce. It takes only 10 minutes to walk from Kabatas to palace. There is no tram station just near the Dolmabahce. If you don’t want to use tram and walk 10 minutes you can easily catch a taxi to go to Dolmabahce Palace from Sultanahmet. Taxi costs more and you can stuck for hours in the traffic during rush hours.Also ff you are staying in Besiktas or Taksim, there are many buses to go to the palace. You can take one of them and get off in front of Dolmabahce Palace. Moreover Istanbul cruise port is in Karakoy near the Galata Tower. Cruise port terminal is 3km away from Dolmabahce Palace. Driving time takes only 6 minutes to go the palace via taxi.Things to do in Dolmabahce PalaceOnce you are in Istanbul and on a cruise tour of Bosporus Waterway, you will witness some inspiring spots on the coast. Among all the best and the most opulent is Dolmabahce Palace. This palace is a stunning example of Ottoman architecture, with a prime clock tower, mesmerizing gardens and fascinating mosque.At the Dolmabahçe Palace visitor can see the magnificent rooms where Ottoman affairs of state were once discussed and deliberated, stroll through the gardens and see the room where “The Father of the Turks” Mustafa Kamal Ataturk passed away. He died in his bedroom at 9.05 a.m.,and the clock in that room is still fixed at that particular time. Also visit Haremlik, the area where Atatürk’s bedroom and the royal family’s private quarters used to be.
Clock Tower of Dolmabahce PalaceThe palace have 285 rooms and over 40 halls, and among its many spectacular features are included a crystal staircase and a Bohemian chandelier with 75 lamps. The 4.5 tonne chandelier, in the ceremonial hall was a present from Queen Victoria, and is the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier. Moreover in 2014, the National Palaces Painting Museum opened in an annexe of the palace, containing 202 fine examples of late 19th and early 20th century paintings.Furthermore visit the clock tower outside which is designed in the neo-baroque style, and was constructed in the late 19th century. Through Treasury Gate, you’ll find the Dolmabahce Mosque on a square along the waters of the Bosphorus Strait. A spectacular Ottoman architecture with splendid beauty and rich historical associations, Dolmbahce Palace is one of the topmost and most visited tourist spot of Istanbul.
Chandelier and Spectacular Interior of the PalaceHotels and Restaurants NearbyNear to this historical palace, there are many top quality restaurants and hotels. Once you are in Istanbul and want a royal and grandeur experience around, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet is the top recommendations. Other quality hotels nearby include Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul and W Istanbul.There are many cafes available in every section of the museum. Also there are many top quality restaurants around offering scrumptious and mouth watering foods. You can dine in one of the top rated restaurants nearby including Atelier Real Food, Carl’s Jr., Newyorkfries and Popeyes.More Tourist Spots NearbyThere are many other inspiring and remarkable tourist spots around once you are in the city of Istanbul. After visiting Dolmabahce Palace, you can visit the famous and astonishing Hagia Sophia, mesmerizing Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapı Palace, mighty Grand Bazaar, Cistern Basilica and enjoy at Bosporus waterway.Address: Vişnezade Mahallesi, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, TurkeyOpening Hours: From 9AM to 4PM and Museum of the palace is opened till 5PM. Closed on Monday and Thursday.Website: For more information about Dolmabahce Palace and online tickets, visit the Official Website.
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