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The less-visited eastern section of Dolmabahçe Palace contains the palace’s functional buildings as well as two museums.
Access
There are two ways to access the eastern section. First, if you have a ticket to the Dolmabahçe Palace complex, you can walk down a path to the east of the Harem and pass through a turnstile. Keep in mind you won’t be able to return to the palace as this is an exit.
The other way to visit is to pass through a gate outside the palace complex along Dolmabahçe Avenue, heading towards central Beşiktaş. You don’t need a ticket to enter through this gate, but you’ll need to pass through a security checkpoint.
Garden of the Crown Prince
First, if you enter from the Harem, the turnstiles open to the Garden of the Crown Prince (Veliaht Bahçesi). This beautiful space contains a small pond in the center and is surrounded by a few important buildings.
Greenhouses
On the northwest corner of the garden are two greenhouses. The Greenhouse (Sera) and the New Greenhouse (Yeni Sera). The New Greenhouse functions as a café. A small building, the Circumcision Kiosk (Sünnet Köşkü) (not pictured), sits in front of the New Greenhouse.
Hareket Kiosks
On the north side of the garden are two buildings. The Hareket Kiosks (Hareket Köşkleri) were added to the palace by Sultan Abdülhamid II after an earthquake in 1898.
The kiosks, which are the only wooden buildings on the palace grounds, were designed by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan (1835-1899).
Apartment of the Crown Prince
On the south side of the garden is the Apartment of the Crown Prince (Veliaht Dairesi), where the heirs to the throne would live. It was built during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid I and originally planned as a home for future Sultan Abdülaziz. Abdülaziz and subsequent crown princes used the palace during their heirdom period.
A garden on the south side of the building allows for views of the Bosporus. It’s also a pleasant space to walk or relax.
The southern façade of the building is much more ornate than the northern façade. Pay special attention to the fine stonework.
National Palaces Painting Museum
In 1937, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) turned the Apartment of the Crown Prince into the Istanbul Art and Sculpture Museum. After a renovation taking place between 2010 and 2014, it reopened as the National Palaces Painting Museum (Milli Saraylar Resim Müzesi). Admission to the museum is 300₺ for foreigners (as of February 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays. Photography is forbidden inside.
The National Palaces Painting Museum exhibits over 200 paintings in 11 sections. Sections include portraits of Sultans Abdülmecid and Abdülaziz; Westernization in the Ottoman Empire; Turkish painters between 1870 and 1930; court painters; paintings purchased from the Goupil Gallery; paintings by Abdülmecid II (1868-1944), the last Crown Prince and Caliph of the Ottoman Dynasty; portraits and historic compositions; paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900); aide-de camp painters; and Orientalist paintings.
Apartments of the Gentlemen in Waiting
Directly opposite the Apartment of the Crown Prince, also along the Bosporus, is the Apartments of the Gentlemen in Waiting (Musahiban Dairesi). It’s closed to the public.
Agavat Apartments
Walking along the path towards the entrance/exit of the eastern section are the Agavat Apartments, which once housed servants assigned to the Harem. For many years, the Agavat Apartments belonged to the Istanbul Naval Museum and housed historic naval documents.
Dormitory of the Guards
On opposite sides of the gate, best seen from outside the complex and across the street, are two more buildings. To the left of the gate is the Dormitory of the Guards (Baltacılar Dairesi). It’s now occupied by the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory (Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Devlet Konservatuvarı). To the right (not pictured) is the Carpet Weaving House (Hereke Dokumahanesi).
Palace Collections Museum
Finally, just past the Dormitory of the Guards, is the Palace Collections Museum (Saray Koleksiyonları Müzesi). It’s housed in the former Imperial Palace Kitchens (Matbah-ı Âmire), where French and Italian chefs were known to work from time to time.
Admission to the museum is 130₺ for foreigners (as of February 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays and photography is forbidden inside.
The museum displays over 5,000 items used in daily life in the late Ottoman palaces, from the period of the last six sultans. Objects come from Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, and Yıldız Palaces; Küçüksu, Ihlamur, and Maslak Pavilions; Hereke Carpet Factory; and Yıldız Porcelain Factory. The entire collection contains over 43,000 items.
Sections include children’s clothing; toys and educational instruments; furniture; calligraphy sets; porcelain; embroidery pieces; silverware; crystal; carpets and fabrics; chandeliers and lighting equipment; heating and industrial equipment; painting equipment; clocks and musical instruments; and books.
