Istanbul, Turkey
Coordinates: 41.039199, 29.000382
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coast of the Strait of Istanbul, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and from 1909 to 1922.
Dolmabahçe Palace was ordered by the Empire’s 31st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, and built between the years 1843 and 1856.
Previously, the Sultan and his family had lived at the Topkapı Palace, but as the medieval Topkapı was lacking in contemporary style, luxury, and comfort, as compared to the palaces of the European monarchs, Abdülmecid decided to build a new modern palace near the site of the former Beşiktaş Sahil Palace, which was demolished.
The construction cost five million Ottoman gold lira, or 35 tonnes of gold, the equivalent of $1.5 billion in today’s (2013) values.
The huge expenses placed an enormous burden on the state purse and contributed to the deteriorating financial situation of the Ottoman Empire, which eventually defaulted on its public debt in October 1875, with the subsequent establishment in 1881 of financial control over the “sick man of Europe” by the European powers.
In total, 6 sultans and Ataturk resided here and it’s a perfect place to explore.
Know This
This place was a 5 minute walk from Kabatas tram line which is on the T1 tram link, same as the Sultanahmed tram line.
Make sure you buy the Combo ticket – for Palace and Harem. It costs 1200 TL, around 15$, as in the Harem is the famous room where Ataturk passed away.
Remember to pick up an audio guide in your respective language. Very enjoyable experience highly recommended.
