Beylerbeyi Palace

Set on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, just north of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace is one of the most graceful imperial residences in Istanbul. Smaller and more intimate than Dolmabahçe across the water, it was designed as a summer palace and a guest house for visiting heads of state, and it still feels like a royal villa by the sea. For many travellers it is the highlight of an Asian-side Istanbul tour.

History

The shoreline at Beylerbeyi has been inhabited since the Byzantine period. In the early 19th century Sultan Mahmud II built a wooden palace here, which was later destroyed by fire. The present stone palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz and built between 1863 and 1865 by the Balyan family of court architects, with Sarkis Balyan generally credited as its designer. Its façades combine Ottoman layout with European Baroque and Neo-Renaissance detail, while the interiors mix Ottoman, French and Oriental decoration.

Beylerbeyi quickly became the palace where the empire entertained its most important guests. Empress Eugénie of France and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary both stayed here in 1869, and Prince Nikola of Montenegro in 1874. After his deposition, Sultan Abdülhamid II spent the last six years of his life in the palace and died here in 1918. Today it is managed by the Directorate of National Palaces and open as a museum.

What to See

The palace has two main sections: the selamlık, used for receptions and state affairs, and the harem, the private family quarters. The most memorable room is the Pool Hall on the ground floor, where a marble fountain was installed to cool the air during the hot Istanbul summers. Upstairs, the Reception Hall and the Blue Hall are decorated with crystal chandeliers, Hereke carpets, Bohemian glass and Egyptian reed mats laid on the floors as natural insulation. Painted ceilings with marine motifs and calligraphy remind visitors that the palace was built to look out over the water.

• Pool Hall: a marble fountain at the heart of the ground floor.
• Sea pavilions: two small kiosks on the waterfront, one for men and one for women.
• Marble Kiosk: a hunting lodge built for Mahmud II in 1829–1832, in the upper gardens.
• Terraced gardens: magnolia trees, lion statues and views of the Bosphorus Bridge.
• Royal guest rooms: where European monarchs stayed during their state visits.

The Gardens and Waterfront

Beylerbeyi's gardens climb the hillside behind the palace in a series of terraces. Here you will find the Marble Kiosk, the Yellow Kiosk and the former stables, along with a large pool and centuries-old trees. The two seafront pavilions with their pointed roofs are among the most photographed buildings on the Bosphorus and are best seen from a boat on a Bosphorus cruise. A road tunnel runs beneath the palace grounds, so the gardens stay quiet despite the busy coast road.

Visitor Tips

Photography inside the rooms may be restricted, so check the rules at the entrance, and wear comfortable shoes for the terraced gardens. Allow about one and a half hours for the palace and gardens. The palace is closed on Mondays and the ticket office closes at 17:00. Combine Beylerbeyi with a walk along the Üsküdar shore, a visit to the Çamlıca Mosque on the hill above, or a Bosphorus boat trip. A private Istanbul tour with a professional guide is the easiest way to reach the Asian side and see Beylerbeyi together with other Bosphorus palaces.