Sightseeing

The Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is located in close proximity to the Haghia Sophia, in Eminönü. The Basilica Cistern was built by the Roman Emperor Justinianus in 532 to fulfill the water demands of the city. It was named the Basilica Cistern as it was built under the Stoa Basilica. The huge rectangular structure is 140 meters…
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Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, which has been called the 8th wonder of the world, is one of the most prominent monuments from the perspective of architecture and art history in the World. Hagia Sophia, which is currently located in its current position, is the third structure built with a different architectural approach compared to the others. It…
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Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Sarayı (1843-1856) The breathtaking complex is one of the best structures decorating the magnificent silhouette of the Bosphorus in Istanbul. It is also an excellent example of how a palace should look. Everything in and around the palace is exquisitely detailed and stunning. The word ‘Dolmabahçe’ means ‘filled-in garden’ in Turkish. The outer imperial…
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Dolmabahçe Palace Museum

Dolmabahçe Palace Museum
Dolmabahçe Müzesi, This spectacular palace consists of 285 rooms, 44 halls, 4 grand halls, 5 main staircases, 6 hamams, and 68 restrooms. The total usable area of the three-floor, single-structure building is 45,000 meters square. The outer walls of the structure are made of stone, and inner walls are made of brick. 14 tons of…
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Dolmabahçe Selamlık

Dolmabahçe Selamlık
Mâbeyn-i Hümâyûn, This is the administrative section of the palace. The rooms situated on the seaside were used by the Grand Vizier, and the rooms on the street side were used by other officers. There are four major halls on two floors, connected by an enormous crystal staircase at the center. Entered through the Privy…
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Dolmabahçe Ceremonial Hall

Dolmabahçe Ceremonial Hall
Tören (Muâyede) Salonu, Situated between the Selamlık and the Harem, linking both these sections and the ground level. This stuning hall is the most impressie part of the palace. The official entrance is on the seaside. It also has a sea gate for visitors arriving by boat. Standing on the 56 columns, the square hall…
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Dolmabahçe Harem

Dolmabahçe Harem
Harem, The Harem, the residence of the palace, consists of suites, rooms, and halls, covering almost  two thirds of the whole Palace. The eastern section of the L-shaped harem on the waterfront includes the private suites of the Sultan, Mother Sultan (Valide Sultan) and the Sultan's family (Harem-i Hümâyûn), whereas the quarters toward the street…
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Dolmabahçe Clock Museum

Dolmabahçe Clock Museum
Dolmabahçe Saat Müzesi, The Dolmabahçe Watch Museum, located at the old Inner Treasury building in the Harem Garden of the Dolmabahçe Palace, houses the exclusive watches owned by the National Palaces Clock Collection. After eight years of extensive repair and maintenance of these clocks, the museum was reopened to visitors in 2010. Meanwhile, new exhibition…
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Dolmabahçe Mosque

Dolmabahçe Mosque
Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Camii, Situated at the southern end of the Dolmabahçe Palace complex, the mosque was built by Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Abdülmecid. The mosque is commonly called the Dolmabahçe Mosque due to its location. It is a selâtin cami (imperial mosque), which means, it was built by a…
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Dolmabahçe Clock Tower

Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
Dolmabahçe Saat Kulesi, Dolmabahçe Clock Tower, included in the palace complex, was built by Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909). It is located between the  Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Camii (Mosque) and the Treasury Gate of the palace. Constructed by the Ottoman architect Sarkis Balyan between 1890 and 1895, the four-floor tower was designed in Ottoman Neo-baroque…
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