Dolmabahce Palace

The Dolmabahce Palace was the main residence of operation for the Ottomans after the Topkapi. It is built along the Bosphorus Strait and is another stunning imperial structure which today serves as a major tourist attraction. It is home to the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.

This imperial structure was completed in 1856, and used elements from the Baroque, Neoclassical and Rococo styles. It was the final residence of the Ottomans in Turkey and is the largest palace in the country. The palace is extravagantly decorated. More than 14 tonnes of gold were used in the ceiling itself! Furthermore, the palace is home to the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world. In fact, the stunning Bohemian crystal chandelier hanging in the Ceremonial Hall is the largest such chandelier in the world! And it doesn't stop there, there is also a crystal staircase, and precious stones such as Marmara marble, Porphyry and onyx marble are used extensively in the decorations. The palace also has on display a huge collection of oil paintings by many European and Turkish artists. The palace can only be accessed via a guided tour, which will take you through the breathtaking Medhal Hall, the rooms of the secretariat, and the bedroom of Kemal Ataturk, where he spent his final years.