timistravels

clock tower outside of palace

entry gate

yep the sunshine was wonderful

the entrance to the palace

outdoor window covering

this is from the inside looking out and the pic beside is the same window outside looking in.

the window from the outside looking in

Once we got there on Wednesday, the first line just to get tickets in was ridiculously long and slow.  It took over an hour as they only had one window open selling tickets. Once inside you must go on a “tour” so we had to wait in another line to join a 50 person tour.   We opted for the longer tour that would include a tour of the state rooms, where you get to go through the large and ornate rooms where the Sultan entertained his guests.  Then we toured the harem, which are the rooms where the Sultan’s family, his concubines, and their servants lived. The harem’s rooms are nice, but not as spectacular as the state rooms.  They do not allow any photo’s to be taken inside either, so any pictures you see here I got off their website.  We did take the outdoor pictures, as that is allowed.

Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Monday and Thursday!

The palace was built in 19th century is said to be one of the most glamorous palaces in the world.  It has 285 rooms and 43 large salons.  The tour of the Selamlık begins with anterooms, then a climb up the crystal staircase.  There are lots of decorations, LOTS of gold painted items.   There are also many large chandeliers in the palace, but the largest is made of Bohemian glass and weights over 4.5 Tons, it has 660 light bulbs in it. This Bohemian chandelier was given to Ottoman Sultan as a present from Queen Victoria.

After exiting the palace you go outside and around to the harem.  Shockingly, we had to wait in another line to tour the harem!  The harem is where the family and help lived and is certainly more moderate than the palace.  6 sultans and 2 presidents lived in this area over the160 years before it became a museum. 

Dolmabahce palace is very important to the Turkish people because the supreme leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, used the palace as a residence until he passed away in 1938 at 9:05 a.m.  All the clocks in the palace are stopped at this time to honor him.