Dolmabahce Royal Palace Half Day Tour

Half day (morning tour) Dolmabahçe royal palace, Royal gardens and Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan mosque

This tour does not provide drop-off service at the hotel at the end of the tour. At the end of the tour, participants can get off the tour bus at Taksim Square or Sultanahmet Square.

Dolmabahce royal palace
Located in Besiktas district on the European side of Istanbul, the palace was built in 1853. It was built during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid. The architect of the palace, whose name is unknown, is Armenian Garabet Bayan. The architect who died before completing the palace was replaced by his son Nikogos Balyan. The 400-year-old Topkapi Palace, the main palace of the Ottoman Empire, was abandoned with the construction of the Dolmabahce Palace. It was home to 6 sultans and the last Ottoman Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi until 1924, when the Caliphate was abolished. Between 1927-1949 was used as the working authority of the Presidency. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk used this palace in his work in Istanbul and died here. After 1984, the palace was opened to the public as a museum.

Structure of the Palace
The palace has 285 rooms, 44 lounges and 6 baths. It has a 600 meter dock. On the land side there are 2 magnificent monumental gates, one of which is very ornate. Although the palace was built under the influence of the West and was modeled on European palaces, the harem part was built as a separate section in a different style.

Architectural Style
Because of the admiration of Western architecture, the great tradition of Ottoman classical architecture was abandoned in the construction of the Dolmabahçe Palace. Thus, baroque, rococo and empiric art style manifests itself intensely in this structure. The intense Western influences manifest themselves only in style, and the creation of spaces and architectural plan schemes correspond to the traditional Turkish house type.

Architectural Decorations
The most magnificent part of the palace is the part where the state affairs are carried out. The Medhal hall, crystal staircase, ambassador hall and red room, which are encountered at the entrance, are decorated in a magnificent way to emphasize the splendor of the state. Dolmabahçe Palace has a high magnificence and richness that is not found in any palace. The interior design furniture, silk carpets and curtains have been originally preserved.

Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Mosque
It was started to be built by order of Bezmiâlem Vâlide Sultan, who played a role in Ottoman social life as a charitable person with numerous foundations. After the death of Bezmiâlem Vâlide Sultan in 1853, the mosque was completed by his son Sultan Abdülmecid. Bezmiâlem Vâlide Sultan Mosque has been called Dolmabahçe Mosque since the day it was built because it fell right across the courtyard door in the direction of Clock Tower of Dolmabahçe Palace.