Dolmabahçe Palace is a lavish 19th-century Ottoman palace on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, once the seat of the last six Ottoman sultans and later the residence where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spent his final days.
Built between 1843 and 1856 for Sultan Abdulmecid I, the palace blends Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical European styles with traditional Ottoman layout, spanning 285 rooms and 46 halls. Highlights include the Crystal Staircase with baccarat crystal balustrades and a ceremonial hall lit by the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria.
The palace is closed Mondays; buying the combined Selamlık and Harem ticket and arriving right at opening lets visitors beat the tour-bus crowds.