Visit the Dolmabahçe or Topkapi Palaces in Istanbul?

If you plan to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, you might look for things to do. Maybe you’ve seen amazing images of palaces in Istanbul. If you have little time, you might wonder if you should visit the Dolmabahçe or Topkapi Palaces in Istanbul. I was debating on those two and ended up going to both so I can tell you all about them!

Read my guide where I explain what is so special about these palaces and how you can visit them. In the end, I help you decide which of these palaces of Istanbul is worth your time!

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Main tourist attractions in Istanbul

Istanbul is a great place to explore! The Bosporus divides this city into two continents, Europe and Asia. It is packed to the brim with good food, shopping opportunities, and clubs to dance the night away.

Although this is all great, the historical aspect of the city interests me more and I wanted to see the main tourist attractions.

Blue Mosque Istanbul

The Blue Mosque is the icon of Istanbul. This large mosque is a working house of prayer but also a tourist attraction. The name comes from the blue dome and tiles used. Its Turkish name is Sultan Ahmet Camii.

You can visit the Blue Mosque for free.

You can find it in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. And it is a great place to visit, even if you’re not a Muslim. Be aware it is a working mosque and you need to follow the rules and respect those who are praying or practicing their religion.

Hagia Sophia

This ancient church turned into a mosque and is now converted into a museum. The building seems to crumble under the weight of the walls but renovation is ongoing to preserve it for future generations.

Also an iconic landmark of Istanbul it is now part mosque and partly a true tourist attraction. There are 2 entrances, non-Muslims cannot visit the ground flours and need to pay the new admission fee (€25 or TL870). It is opposite the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet district.

Topkapi Palaces

The Topkapi Palace is really a staple on everyone’s tour of Istanbul.

One of the older palaces of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire from 1465 to 1853, the Topkapi Palace is conveniently located near the other big landmarks of Istanbul.

But, if you’re into palaces in Istanbul and love to learn more about the Ottoman Empire, there might be a better palace in Istanbul to visit!

Dolmabahçe or Topkapi Palaces in Istanbul?

If you like history and like to look at amazing things from the past, visiting a palace is a must-do in every city you visit! But which to choose? The Dolmabahçe or Topkapi palaces in Istanbul?

Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul

The largest palace in Turkey, the Dolmabahçe palace is situated between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. The Sultans used it as a palace between 1856 to 1887 and 1909 to 1922. This makes it a far more modern palace and it was very European orientated.

Located in the Beşiktas district, the palace can only be visited with a (guided) tour. This is included in the entry fee.

I visited the Dolmabahçe Palace on a tour and we were given very little time. I would have loved to stay longer because I loved the palace.

There are different options, like an audio tour, which gives you full flexibility and information about the Dolmabahçe Palace, the harem, and the gardens. You can find the audio tour here. If you prefer a guided tour, check out the options here.

Unfortunately, it is not allowed to take photos inside and huge parts of the palace were under renovation at the time of my visit but everything in the palace exudes grandeur and royalty.

I loved the tapestries, the furniture, the drapes, and especially the views from the palace interior outwards, overlooking the Golden Horn.

The garden surrounding the Dolmabahçe palace is also a real treat. Icons are the clock tower and the impressive gates.

Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace is now a museum and consists of two parts. The 4 areas of the palace grounds and the haram. I loved the haram and only for this treasury, it was worth the visit.

The rest of the palace is massive with hundreds of rooms and spaces. In all fairness, I didn’t like some of the rooms all that much. They were a tad dark and very much run down, they didn’t appeal much to me.

They do give a good glimpse of life under the Sultans though. I especially enjoyed the different courtyards and the gardens.

I can see why the sultan and his crew wanted to live here. It feels like a city within a city, without the massive crowds.

Overlooking the Bosporus, you are very much part of Istanbul but it is very peaceful and tranquil inside the walls. (minus the hordes of tourists that is).

I visited the Topkapi palace alone, without a tour guide or audio guide. It might have been more interesting with a guide, but now I had time to enjoy the grounds of the palace and because I arrived at 9 am sharp, I had the whole haram to myself for a good hour.

Try to achieve that with a tour group!

I do recommend to buy your tickets in advance and to include an audio tour. You can find them here. Looking for a great tour guide? Join this tour of the Topkapi Palace here.

Comparison of Dolmabahçe and Topkapi Palaces in Istanbul

Prices:

The Dolmabahçe palace costs 1050 TL (almost €30 or $32). There are also skip-the-line tickets for 1500 TL (€42 or $45).

However, if you purchase your ticket, in advance online, you can save some money.

• Book your skip-the-line ticket with an audio tour here.
• Or find the best-guided tours here.

The Topkapi Palace costs 1500 TL (€42 or $45) and an extra 500 TL (€14 or $15) for the Haram.

If you purchase your skip-the-line tickets online, you don’t have to wait at the Topkapi Palace and can go straight in.

• Book your skip-the-line entrance tickets with an audio guide here.
• Find the best-guided tours of the Topkapi Palace here.

The Topkapi Palace entrance fee is included in the Istanbul Museum Pass.

Opening hours:

Dolmabahçe Palace is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm except Monday and Thursday.

The Topkapi Palace is open in summer from 9 am to 6.45 pm and in winter from 9 am to 4.45 pm.

Only 1 day in Istanbul? Which palace to visit?

If you only have one day and you have to choose between the Dolmabahçe or Topkapi Palaces in Istanbul, it is hard to choose between the two.

If you do not mind guided tours, want to see grandeur and richness and have a true palace feel? Then visit the Dolmabahçe Palace.

When you like to wander from room to room, take your time and see many interesting exhibits about Sultan life and the Ottoman Empire, then visit the Topkapi Palace.

If you look for architectural significance, then the Dolmabahçe Palace is more important. If you look for historical references, then the Topkapi Palace is more your cup of tea.

Budget Travel

Do you travel on a tight budget and also want to visit the Hagia Sophia?

Then consider the Istanbul Museum Pass. For €105, you basically get to visit the haram of the Topkapi palace for free. The Dolmabahçe Palace is not included in the pass.

However, a visit to the Dolmabahçe Palace can be cheaper if you book in advance online.

If you’re under a serious time constraint, you can visit the Dolmabahçe Palace in 1 hour and see a lot. If you have more time, you can explore the grounds of the Topkapi Palace for hours on end.

You easily get lost walking from room to room; a visit can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours!

Family travel

If you travel with small children, it might be nicer to visit the Topkapi Palace and take as much time as you need. On one of the guided tours of the Dolmabahçe Palace, your family might be rushed.

I do feel the history and interesting factoids of the Dolmabahçe Palace might interest your tweens and teens more, but that depends on your kids.

Instagrammability

Which of these 2 palaces is more ‘Instagram-worthy’. Mmmhh… tough call.

The Topkapi Palace was very crowded and it was hard to find a spot to park my camera and take pictures. However, there were a lot of gardens and pavilions, so with a bit of good framing and patience, you can easily snap some good selfies.

The Dolmabahçe Palace is located right next to the Bosporus with stunning views of the water. The gardens are spectacular and it was much easier to take pictures here. However, it was not allowed to take any pictures of the interior, so do visit on a good day so your visit to the gardens will be fabulous!

Book your tour to see the Palaces of Istanbul

Are you on a serious time restraint? Consider booking a tour to see both these amazing palaces of Istanbul with a guide.

See all options for one tour that visits both the Dolmabahçe and the Topkapi Palaces here.

Have you been to Istanbul? Did you visit the Topkapi Palace? Which of these two palaces in Istanbul would you visit if you had limited time? Let me know in the comment section below.

Let me know if you have any specific questions or need help planning your own trip. If you thought this post was helpful or fun to read, let me know in the comment section below. Or share it with your friends or on social media! And make sure to come back for more travel stories next time.