Guided Tours

Small Group Guided Tour of Dolmabahce Palace & Harem with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Name: Small Group Guided Tour of Dolmabahce Palace & Harem with Skip-the-Line Tickets
Brand: Headout
SKU: 13478
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 4.2 (922 reviews)

man listening to audio guide on the tour

Explore Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace, Harem, and Paintings Museum on a guided tour of Ottoman history, art, and architecture.

Highlights

Skip the lines, visit Dolmabahce Palace on a guided tour, and see the Harem section and the Paintings Museum.
Your guide will help you navigate the palace and point out the rooms of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Explore the Harem quarters, imagining the Sultans' wives and companions in the richly decorated Blue Hall.
The National Paintings Museum is the only place you can see Ottoman palace paintings, featuring Ottoman and international works.
Fun Fact: Dolmabahce Palace houses the world’s biggest crystal chandelier. At 4.5-ton, it weighs more than an African elephant!

Inclusions

1-hour tour of Dolmabahce Palace
English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line entry to Dolmabahce Palace
Entry to Harem section
Entry to National Paintings Museum
Free time to explore Palace complex

Exclusions

Entry to Clock Museum
Hotel transfers

Cancellation policy

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Reviews

4.2

922 ratings

5/5

613

4/5

112

3/5

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1/5

110

Giorgia

4/5

Apr, 2024

The building is really wonderful, with a view of the sea. Breathtaking 😍 However, the guide was half an hour late because the road was busy, but this is a known thing: if a customer arrives late he loses money, if the guide makes the customer lose half an hour nothing happens.... when he arrived, he was very hasty, explained two things about the garden (which I had already read on Wikipedia) and then left, so I found his presence useful only for the purpose of queue-jumping.

View original review in Italian

Lanore

5/5

Mar, 2024

Our guide, Arda, was the best. He was very prompt, efficient, provided plenty of very interesting information and answered questions.

Dorothy

5/5

May, 2024

Ticketing was easy and the Palace was beautiful 😍

Celine

4/5

Apr, 2024

The guide was interesting and nice, and the place is amazing

Emilio

4/5

Mar, 2024

Friendly and punctual guide Comprehensive explanations and respected schedule Place absolutely worth visiting

View original review in Italian

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Your experience

Step into Ottoman grandeur

Your guide will lead you through the halls of Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Marvel at the neo-Baroque architecture, a blend of Ottoman and European styles. Be sure to look up – the Ceremonial Hall boasts the world's largest crystal chandelier. As you wander through the decorated halls, your guide will share stories of the Sultans who once walked these very grounds.

Peek into history

After the Palace, embark on a peek into the private world of the Sultans at the Harem. Imagine the lives of the Sultans as you explore the Blue Hall and Pink Hall. Learn about the traditions and customs of the Ottoman court, and see the intricate details of the Harem's architecture. The tour concludes at the National Paintings Museum, where you'll discover a unique collection of 19th and early 20th-century art from the Ottoman coffers. After the guided tour, enjoy free time to wander through the vast palace complex. Revisit your favorite halls, or capture stunning photos – the choice is yours!

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring along your walking shoes for comfortable exploration.
Bring local currency or your preferred payment method for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

What's not allowed

Keep in mind food & beverages are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!
Shutterbugs, take note: Flash photography is a no-go inside the venue.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Additional Information

While this experience offers skip-the-line access to the ticket queue, remember that security checks might require a short wait.
For groups of 16 or more, headsets are provided for everyone on the tour.
The Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays, the first day of the Ramadan Feast, the first day of Eid-Al-Adha, and New Year's Day.
The Dolmabahce Palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 am to 5 pm. You can enter the Dolmabahce Palace only until 3 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Dolmabahçe Clock Tower.
Address: Vişnezade, Meclis-i Mebusan Cd. 38 A, 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye.
Guide Identifier: Your guide will be holding an Istanbul Tourist Pass flag before the security line.

Get directions to the meeting point