Thinking about visiting Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul? This guide has everything you need to know!
With a name that literally means “Palace of the Lord of Lords,” how could you not visit? 😉
Located right under the Bosphorus Bridge on the Asian side of Istanbul, Beylerbeyi Palace is one of the most charming (and underrated!) Ottoman palaces in Istanbul.
Often nicknamed the “Mini Dolmabahçe” (and yes, the entry price is nicer too), Beylerbeyi Palace may not have the over-the-top opulence of Dolmabahçe or ancient Iznik tiles of Topkapı Palace, but it offers something just as special: old-world elegance, quiet seaside pavilions, and one of the most beautiful palaces in Istanbul.
(And less crowds than the aforementioned two palaces! 😉)
In many ways, Beylerbeyi Palace feels like a royal retreat — because that’s exactly what it was. This beautiful waterfront palace was the official summer residence of sultans during the 19th century and a place where they could escape the busyness of court life, where foreign royals stayed as guests, and even where one sultan lived out his final years.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, including how to get there, what to expect inside, historical context, and tips for where to go nearby. Let’s get started!
Beylerbeyi Palace Information
📍 Beylerbeyi Palace Opening Hours: Beylerbeyi Palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, it’s best to check the official website before your visit, as working hours can shift seasonally or during holidays!
📍 Beylerbeyi Palace Closed Days: Like many other museums in Istanbul, Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays.
📍 Holidays & Other Closures: Beylerbeyi Palace’s visiting hours are different during official holidays. For example, the Palace is usually closed on New Year’s Day, the first day of Ramadan Bayram (Eid Al-Fitr), and the first day of Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha). You can check the full list of national holidays in Turkey in our blog post – just click the link!
📍 Beylerbeyi Palace Free Days: There are no free days for Beylerbeyi Palace.
📍 Dress Code: There is no official dress code for Beylerbeyi Palace. However, you’ll be asked to wear plastic shoe covers when entering the building. 🙂
Beylerbeyi Palace Ticket Prices
As of October 2025, the ticket price for Beylerbeyi Palace is 700 Turkish Lira per person and includes entry to the main palace, the gardens, and the seaside pavilions.
❗️Please note that prices are subject to change (✨ inflation ✨), so always double-check the official website or the signboard at the palace entrance for up-to-date info before your visit!
Beylerbeyi Palace Online Tickets
If you’re short on time or have a packed Istanbul itinerary, we highly recommend buying your Beylerbeyi Palace tickets online (click here!) These tickets include skip-the-line entry and an audio guide in 10 languages, so you can get inside quickly without the wait.
Best of all, you can reserve now and pay later, and since it’s through GetYourGuide, there’s free cancellation too (cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund). It’s the easiest way to guarantee your entry and avoid waiting in line at the entrance. 🙂
You can check availability and book below:
If you’re looking for an all-in-one tour (that includes transportation, entry tickets, and guide), then we highly recommend this Half-Day Afternoon Istanbul Asia Tour With Beylerbeyi Palace tour.
If you want to take advantage of Istanbul’s fantastic ferry system, then this Explore Europe and Asia by Guided Bus and Boat group tour is also a great choice!
Are there discounts for Beylerbeyi Palace tickets?
Yes, children between the ages of 0 to 6 can enter Beylerbeyi Palace for free. Likewise, foreign students ages 7 to 25 can get a discount (be sure to bring your International Student Identity Card, they check!)
Beylerbeyi Palace Travel Tips
How much time do I need to see Beylerbeyi Palace? — We recommend budgeting between 1 to 2 hours to comfortably see Beylerbeyi Palace.
The best time to visit Beylerbeyi Palace — Weekday mornings tend to be the quietest. Since Beylerbeyi is on the Asian side, it’s less touristy than Dolmabahçe Palace and Topkapi Palace and you’ll often find it nearly empty — especially in the off-season or late afternoons.
In terms of seasons, summer has the longest queues, but they’re still much more manageable than the more popular palaces in Istanbul mentioned above. 🙂
📸 Photography Rules: Like Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi Palace doesn’t allow photography inside the palace rooms. You can take pictures in the gardens, courtyards, and exterior spaces.
🧤 Accessibility: The palace has stairs and some uneven floors, which isn’t ideal for strollers or wheelchairs inside. The garden and outdoor areas are more accessible.
☕️ Cafe & Souvenirs: There’s a small cafe/restaurant and gift shop near the garden entrance. We can personally recommend the gözleme (a type of stuffed flatbread).
A Short History of Beylerbeyi Palace
In the Ottoman Empire, the title “Beylerbeyi” was given to those who held both military and administrative authority in a region (similar to an army commander today) and acted as the sultan’s representative there.
Interestingly, the history of Beylerbeyi Palace goes much further than what you see today. In the 1730s, Sultan Mahmud I had a wooden palace constructed on this site as a gift for his mother, Şevkefza Sultan. This early version served as a summer retreat and was known for its beautiful setting along the Bosphorus.
Centuries later, Sultan Abdülmecid lived in the wooden palace until 1850, when it was badly damaged in a fire. The incident was considered a bad omen, and the palace was soon abandoned. Abdülmecid relocated to Çırağan Palace (which you can now stay in — it’s a luxury hotel!), and the original structure at Beylerbeyi remained empty for some time.
In 1861, Sultan Abdülaziz ordered the remains of the wooden palace to be completely demolished, and commissioned a brand-new palace to be built in its place. Much like Dolmabahçe Palace, the new structure embraced a blend of Neo-Classical and Renaissance elements, reflecting the growing Western influence on Ottoman architecture (something very common in the 19th century).
The elegant marble structure that stands today was completed in 1865 by the famous Ottoman architect Sarkis Balyan (he was also the guy who built the aforementioned Çırağan Palace as well as parts of Yildiz Palace) plus 5,000 laborers and experts.
The palace was designed to have two functions: a summer residence and a place to host foreign dignitaries (and show off the Ottoman Empire’s wealth, of course 💅✨)
Fun fact: The Blue Hall was used in 1869 to host Empress Eugénie of France (the wife of Napoleon III), who had come to Istanbul to reciprocate Abdülaziz’s official visit to Paris in 1867. The empress was greeted with a lavish ceremony, paraded from Beylerbeyi to Beykoz by imperial barge alongside the sultan, and enjoyed a nighttime banquet at Beykoz Pavilion before returning to her quarters at Beylerbeyi. In fact, the bathroom in her suite was constructed especially for her visit!
Other important guests of the palace were King Nicholas I of Montenegro, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary (Franz Joseph), and the Shah of Iran (Reza Pahlavi).
Visiting the Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace may be smaller and quieter than Dolmabahçe, but it’s rich in atmosphere, elegance, and craftsmanship. The palace has 24 rooms, 6 halls, a hamam, and a handful of pavilions outside.
Here’s a quick walkthrough of Beylerbeyi Palace, as well as some highlights to look out for on your visit:
(Psst — count the number of seas and ships you’ll find inside 😉 It reflects just how important the navy was to Sultan Abdülaziz during this period, as he was known for modernizing the Ottoman fleet and showing off maritime power.)
📍 Reception Hall (Giriş Salonu): The very first room you enter is the stunning Reception Hall, which was definitely designed to impress. Lavishly adorned with silk Hereke carpets, cut-glass chandeliers, and a beautifully symmetrical layout, this was the space where foreign ambassadors and high-ranking Ottoman officials were ceremonially welcomed.
At the back of the hall is the Sultanate Staircase (also called the Honor Staircase), a photo-worthy marble staircase that leads to the upper level.
📍Pool Hall (Havuzlu Salon): A true oasis in the summer, the Pool Hall features a large marble fountain right in the center of the room (see photo above) — hence its name!
Though it’s sometimes called a pool, it’s technically a type of fountain that was used to cool the space and create a refreshing ambiance during Istanbul’s hot summers. The acoustics and airflow here were deliberately designed to maximize comfort.
Fun fact: during the summer months, traditional Turkish shadow plays and theater performances for the sultan were also held in this space.
📍Roped Room (Halatlı Oda): This uniquely named room gets its title from the rope motifs found in the decorative details — look closely above the mirror and along the cornices to spot them. 😉 The French-style furniture and ornamental elements reflect the 19th-century European influence on Ottoman interiors, but the nautical detailing adds a subtle twist.
📍Sultan’s Room (Hünkâr Odası): This room was reserved for the sultan himself and overlooks the sparkling Bosphorus below — arguably one of the best views in the palace!
The color palette here is particularly beautiful, and the teal walls, gold leaf accents, and rich red upholstery give it a bold yet surprisingly harmonious look. You can almost picture Sultan Abdülaziz, who commissioned the palace, enjoying a quiet retreat here during the warmer months. 😌
📍 Abdul Hamid II Study Room: Although this was originally designed as an office/workspace, it eventually functioned as a space of exile — Sultan Abdulhamid II actually spent the last six years of his life in this room after he was deposed in 1909!
📍 Blue Hall (Mavi Salon): One of the most iconic and beautiful rooms in Beylerbeyi Palace, the Blue Hall served as a grandois reception space for both foreign dignitaries and Ottoman statesmen. It also hosted special events such as Kandil nights, which were religious celebrations marking holy evenings in the Islamic calendar.
The hall is massive, and the central Hereke carpet alone spans over 140 square meters! To be honest, there’s so much going on in here that we recommend listening to the audio guide or joining a guided tour to catch all the details.
📍 Pearl Hall (Selamlık Sedefli Salon): Located in the Selamlık (men’s quarter), this room gets its nickname from the lovely mother-of-pearl inlay furniture. The room also features exquisite French porcelain vases, ornate woodwork, and brilliant crystal chandeliers. Fun fact: one of the chairs in this room was carved by none other than Sultan Abdülaziz himself. 🙂
📍 Throne Room (Parkeli Oda): The Throne Room was where foreign diplomats were formally received by the sultan, and everything from the ceiling to the floor was meant to project Ottoman prestige. The space is smaller than one might expect for a “throne room,” and that’s because the actual throne was housed at Topkapi Palace. Don’t forget to look down in this room — the parquet flooring here is some of the most beautiful in the entire palace!
📍 Sea Pavilions: These two small pavilions on the edge of the Bosphorus were used as private retreats and for watching sea traffic. If you look closely, you can spot ornate detailing on the tiles and shutters — plus, the view is amazing!
Where to go After Beylerbeyi Palace
Once you’ve explored the elegant halls and sea-facing pavilions of Beylerbeyi Palace, don’t rush off just yet — the surrounding area is full of charming neighborhoods and scenic stops!
Here are a few of our favorite places near Beylerbeyi Palace:
📍 Kuzguncuk (5 minutes by taxi | 15 minutes by bus | 25 minutes by walking)
Just a short stroll from Beylerbeyi is Kuzguncuk, one of the loveliest neighborhoods on the Asian side of Istanbul! Here you’ll find colorful wooden houses, ivy-covered façades, cozy bookshops, and streetside cafes. There’s a reason why locals love it. 🙂
Wander down İcadiye Street, stop for homemade börek or cookies at one of the old-school bakeries, and enjoy the “Old Istanbul” atmosphere. You’ll also find a historic synagogue, church, and mosque all within a few blocks — a rare and beautiful example of Istanbul’s cosmopolitan past.
Psst… Have we piqued your interest? Check out our Kuzguncuk neighborhood guide for where to eat, drink, explore, and more! →
📍 Çengelköy (10 min by taxi | 20 min by bus)
A postcard-perfect Bosphorus neighborhood known for its waterfront tea gardens and famous crispy Çengelköy börek. Grab a seat by the water, watch ferries glide by, and enjoy your snack. 🙂
📍 Üsküdar (10–15 min by taxi or bus)
Head to Üsküdar Square for wide-open sea views, beautiful mosques (like Mihrimah Sultan and Şemsi Paşa), and plenty of local cafes and restaurants. It’s especially magical around sunset, and you’ll see seagulls swooping, fishermen casting lines, and the sky turning soft pink behind the Maiden’s Tower. Ahhh, how beautiful!
We also have a travel guide to Üsküdar — click here to check it out! →
📍 Nakkaştepe Millet Bahçesi (Nakkaştepe National Garden) (5 min uphill by taxi | 20 min walk if you’re up for it)
Looking for a green escape in the center of Istanbul? This recently renovated park is located on the hill above Beylerbeyi Palace and offers some of the best Bosphorus views in the city — plus skywalks, picnic areas, and walking trails.
Great for families, photographers, or anyone craving a breath of fresh air. Be warned, though — it’s a bit of a hike up if you do decide to walk! You can check out a photo of Nakkaştepe in our 17+ Things To Do on the Asian Side of Istanbul blog post →
How to Get to Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, right beneath the Bosphorus Bridge in the Üsküdar district.
Despite being a little off the typical tourist trail, it’s surprisingly easy to reach — and the journey itself (especially by ferry) is part of the experience!
From Sultanahmet (Istanbul Old Town)
Take the T1 Tram from Sultanahmet station to Eminönü or Kabataş, then transfer to a ferry headed to Üsküdar.
From the Üsküdar pier, you can either:
Walk (~35 minutes along the coast), or take bus 15, 15F, or 15Y toward Beylerbeyi and get off at Beylerbeyi Sarayı stop — the palace is right there!
From Galata, Karaköy, or Taksim
From Karaköy, hop on the T1 Tram toward Eminönü or Kabataş, then take a ferry to Üsküdar.
From Taksim, take the F1 funicular to Kabataş, then continue as above with a ferry to Üsküdar.
Once in Üsküdar, either walk or take a quick bus ride as noted above.
From the Asian Side (Üsküdar)
There’s a ferry from Üsküdar to Beylerbeyi Palace! At Üsküdar pier, look for the “ANADOLUKAVAĞI – ÜSKÜDAR” line and get off at Beylerbeyi Pier. From there, it’s a short 7-minute walk to the palace.
From the Asian Side (Kadıköy)
Take bus 14R, 15F, 14M, or 15Y directly from Kadıköy Rıhtım to Beylerbeyi Sarayı stop. The ride takes about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Alternatively, you can take the Marmaray to Üsküdar and continue by bus or on foot.
Beylerbeyi Palace FAQs
Is Beylerbeyi Palace worth visiting?
Yes — especially if you’re interested in Ottoman architecture, history, or quieter alternatives to the big-name palaces. While it’s smaller than Dolmabahçe, it’s rich in detail, full of charm, and offers incredible Bosphorus views. Plus, it’s less crowded!
What are the opening hours of Beylerbeyi Palace?
Beylerbeyi Palace is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It’s closed on Mondays and during national holidays such as the first day of religious festivals. Try to arrive early to avoid crowds, especially on weekends.
Is Beylerbeyi Palace stroller- or wheelchair-accessible?
Not fully. The palace interior has marble staircases and uneven floors, so it’s not ideal for wheelchairs or strollers. However, the gardens and outer areas are mostly flat, so those with limited mobility may still enjoy the grounds.
Are there bathrooms and cafes on-site Beylerbeyi Palace?
There are bathrooms available inside the palace grounds. There is also a small cafe selling drinks and light snacks. For a full sit-down meal, we recommend heading to Kuzguncuk or Çengelköy nearby.
Is photography allowed inside Beylerbeyi Palace?
No photography is allowed inside the palace interiors — not even on your phone. You’re welcome to take photos in the gardens, courtyard, and sea pavilions, though!
How long should I plan to spend at Beylerbeyi?
Plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours to tour the palace and an extra 15 to 30 minutes to stroll the gardens and sea pavilions. If you’re combining your visit with Kuzguncuk or Nakkaştepe Park, you’ll want at least half a day to take it all in.
Book Beylerbeyi Palace Tickets
Ready to book your trip to Beylerbeyi Palace? Check availability and reserve tickets below!
Photo credits: Beylerbeyi outside via Yasir Gürbüz | all inside photos of Beylerbeyi Palace via Milli Saraylar Başkanlığı
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