Beylerbeyi Palace

The Opulence of Beylerbeyi Palace

Istanbul is packed with seriously impressive palaces; the Ottomans loved to do everything bigger and better than everyone else, with more gold and decoration thrown in for good measure! Of course, there is the wonder of Topkapi Palace, and the equally as impressive Dolmabahce Palace, but what do you do if you have less time to spare, and you don’t want to stand in a long queue?

You visit Beylerbeyi Palace, that’s what!

What is Beylerbeyi Palace?

We know that the Ottoman Sultans loved to have huge buildings to call their own, and each was decorated to impress. Beylerbeyi Palace is one of those such buildings, and served as a summer residence for many of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

Built in 1865, Beylerbeyi Palace is built in a Neo-Baroque style of architecture, and inside you will find 24 rooms, 6 huge halls, and a hammam, or Turkish bath. Building of Beylerbeyi Palace was ordered by Sultan Abdulaziz, and part of the reason was to host and entertain foreign visitors of importance during the summer months.

What is most staggering about the palace is how sophisticated and stylish it looks on the outside. The outer is made of white marble, but venture inside your jaw drop will surely drop. Huge crystal chandeliers, sweeping staircases, art, clocks, and porcelain are everywhere to be seen. The Ottomans certainly went to town on their palaces!

What is so Special About Beylerbeyi Palace?

Firstly, the history. Anything related to the Ottoman Empire and its ruling Sultans should have you running to visit. Of course, the appearance of the palace is what has people still visiting today too. The hall on the downstairs portion has a massive pool made of marble, which is wonderfully preserved to this very day. You can just imagine those of importance bathing during the hot summer months!

As you look around the palace, you’ll find a distinct link with the sea and sailing. The reason for this is that the Sultan himself loved to sail, and he wanted nods to this to be implemented into the design of the interior.

Two other notable sights are the huge staircase and the statue at the main doorway. The staircase is the dominating feature as you walk through the main doors, twisting and snaking its way to the upper floors. If you have ever imagined how a palace should look on the inside, this is it! Of course, before you even enter the main doors, you will come into contact with the lion which looks over the palace and protects it. This huge stone statue is certainly one for the camera memory card!

As you walk around Beylerbeyi Palace, you’ll also see authentic furniture in various spots. A fun fact relates to who actually made them – Sultan Abdulhamit II himself! The Sultan was imprisoned in Beylerbeyi Palace for six long years, before his death in 1918. During this time, he carved many of the original pieces of furniture, which you can see today, very well preserved.

Visiting Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi overall is a wonderful place to visit, as you will get to taste real Istanbul life here, away from the tourist craziness of Taksim. As you wander around, you’ll find some fantastic seafood restaurants, as well as many small cafes to take a pitstop. Of course, all of this is with a view of the Bosphorus, so you can’t go wrong!

Beylerbeyi Palace is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays, between 9am and 5pm. There is a small 20TL entrance fee, but you’ll be able to wander around to your heart’s content, and there are rarely huge crowds. This is a major plus point of why people choose to visit this somewhat hidden gem in Istanbul, rather than the big palaces, with their time consuming queues and higher admission fees.

Beylerbeyi is on the Asian side of Istanbul, so if you’re staying on the European side, perhaps in Taksim or Sultanahmet/Fatih, you’ll need to either take the scenic ferry or the Marmaray over to the Asian side. From there you’ll find many buses connecting with Beylerbeyi itself, and the palace is within five minutes walking distance from the centre of the district.

Most of the big palaces in Istanbul are located on the European side, so getting a chance to visit a taste of Asia during your visit is a must do! This side of the city is distinctly different from the European side, and of course, the ferry ride over is something to have on your to do list.