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The Yıldız Palace complex in Istanbul, Turkey, was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for 22 years during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II. It’s located in the Yıldız neighborhood of the district of Beşiktaş.
Introduction to Yıldız Palace
Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı), which translates to Star Palace, is situated in a wooded area on the European side of the Bosphorus. It had been used as an Ottoman imperial retreat and hunting ground since the reign of Sultan Ahmed I in the early 17th century. The first pavilion was built between 1798 and 1808 by Selim III as a retreat for his mother, Mihrişah Sultan (c. 1745-1805). Sultans Abdülmecid I and Abdülaziz built mansions on the site in the 19th century.
Sultan Abdülhamid II was terrified of a naval attack on Dolmabahçe Palace, which was the seat of government when he took the throne in 1876. He commissioned Italian architect Raimondo D’Aronco (1857-1932) to add new buildings to the complex. They were completed in 1880, and Abdülhamid II spent nearly 33 years there.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the complex sat empty. Yıldız Technical University occupied several buildings of the Harem starting in 1937 and continues to own them. Military academies were located there from 1946 to 1974. The palace was transferred to the Ministry of Culture in 1978 and has been gradually restored ever since. The first building open to the public was the Yıldız Chalet in 1985 followed by other sections in 1993.
The Yıldız Palace complex covers an area of roughly 500,000 square meters and housed as many as 12,000 people. It was spread out to separate the Sultan’s business life from his personal life, much like Topkapi Palace.
Main Section of Yıldız Palace
The main section of Yıldız Palace is open daily except Wednesdays and public holidays. Admission is 850₺ for foreigners, 100₺ for foreign students age 7-11 and 12-25 with a valid ISIC card, and free for kids under 7 (as of May 2025). Tours are self-guided, and a detailed audioguide is included and can be picked up at a booth just inside the entrance. Photos are allowed everywhere except inside the buildings. Check the official website for more information.
The palace buildings underwent 6 years of restoration and finally reopened to the public in July 2024. I was able to visit in 2011, well before it was closed to the public for restoration, and again just over a year after restoration was completed. All information below follows the suggested tourist route.
First Courtyard of Yıldız Palace
The First Courtyard contains the main palace and administrative buildings. The buildings surround a nicely manicured garden. The Hamidiye Fountain (Hamidiye Çeşmesi) is on the southeast corner.
Yaveran Apartment
The Yaveran Apartment (Yaveran Dairesi) is on the east side of the courtyard. It contained offices for government officials working for Abdülhamid II as well as a telegraph house and other functional rooms. The building was designed by Raimondo D’Aronco and consist of five semi-detached apartments with independent entrances.
Today, the Yaveran Apartment is closed to the public except for the D’Aronco Cafe. It has both indoor and outdoor seating on the courtyard. The menu has a decent selection of coffee, tea, pastries, and main dishes. I sat down after exploring the palace and enjoyed a turkey and egg sandwich.
Great Mabeyn Pavilion
The Great Mabeyn Pavilion (Büyük Mabeyn Köşkü) is the most magnificent building in the complex and where you’ll begin your self-guided tour. It was built in 1865 by Ottoman Armenian architects Agop (1838-1875) and Sarkis Balyan (1835-1899) as a summer residence for Sultan Abdülaziz. It’s the largest building at Yıldız Palace, covering an area of 3,300 square meters.
During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, the Great Mabeyn Pavilion hosted the offices of the Ottoman government. The Sultan held banquets and received foreign visitors and heads of state in the building, including President Ulysses S. Grant (1882-1885) of the United States in 1878, Prince Komatsu Akihito (1846-1903) and Princess Arima Yoriko (1852-1914) of Japan in 1887, Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) of Germany in 1889 and 1898, and Qajjar Shah of Iran Mozaffar ad-Din (1853-1907) in 1900.
The Set Pavilion (Set Kasrı), or Selamlık Pavilion (Selamlık Kasrı), is on the southwest corner of the Great Mabeyn Pavilion. It was closed to the public during my last visit and is best seen while walking up to the entrance of Yıldız Palace.
Çit Pavilion
The Çit Pavilion (Çit Kasrı) is on the north side of the courtyard. It was also built during the reign of Abdülaziz and served as Abdülhamid II’s audience chamber. Official receptions and important meetings were also held there. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 and the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 were administered there so the Sultan never had to leave the palace.
The long and narrow building is made of stone and consists of a series of rooms opening to each other. Each room you enter is progressively more lavish than the one before it, until you reach the audience chamber at the end. The interior walls were once covered with dark red satin embroidered with white stars. Today, the building is a museum dedicated to Abdülhamid II. On display are several of his personal possessions as well as gifts he received during his reign.
Before entering the building, pay attention to the ruins on the west side. They may have been part of a garden with a pool that has not been restored.
Imperial Gate
The Imperial Gate (Bâb-ı Hümâyûn), which leads to the Second Courtyard, is to the right of the Çit Pavilion. It’s 5 meters high and made of stone. An elaborate Ottoman Baroque fountain is attached to the left side of the wall.
Second Courtyard of Yıldız Palace
The Second Courtyard consists of the Imperial Harem and the Sultan’s private quarters. There’s also a private garden featuring the Island Kiosk and Cihannuma Kiosk.
Imperial Orangery
If following the recommended self-guided tour, the Çit Pavilion exits to the Imperial Orangery. The L-shaped greenhouse was built in the Art Nouveau style by Raimondo D’Aronco between 1895 and 1896. It’s made of glass and yellow cast iron and has a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The heating system is connected to the palace’s central heating system.
The elegant orangery was a place for the Sultan to rejuvenate himself during his busy schedule. It features exotic trees and flowers as well as a decorative pool next to the main entrance. Sultan Abdülhamid II was known for his interest in botany.
Small Mabeyn Pavilion
The most important building in the Second Courtyard is the Small Mabeyn Pavilion (Küçük Mabeyn Köşkü). The Art Nouveau building was completed in 1901 and likely designed by Raimondo D’Aronco.
Abdülhamid II used the Small Mabeyn Pavilion as a private office and study, and it was used by the subsequent Sultans for the same purpose. He also received local delegations there. The hall on the lower floor was sometimes used for banquets and celebrations while the hall on the upper floor was used for concerts. It’s adorned with stained glass windows from France. (Note: All interior photos of the Small Mabeyn Pavilion are from my visit in 2011. I apologize for the bad quality of some of them.)
Three important political events took place in the Small Mabeyn Pavilion. The first was the deposal of Sultan Abdülhamid II in 1909 after a reign of 33 years. He received the news in the lower hall.
The second was when Sultan Mehmed VI, who lived there during the Armistice period, met with Mustafa Kemal Pasha on May 15, 1919, and appointed him General Inspector of the Ninth Army. Mustafa Kemal went on to become Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder of the Turkish Republic.
The third and final event was the departure of Mehmed VI, who was sent into exile on November 17, 1922. This made the Small Mabeyn Pavilion the last residence of the Ottoman sultans.
Privy Apartment
The self-guided tour passes through a corridor connecting the Small Mabeyn Pavilion to the Privy Apartment (Husûsi Daire), where there’s a photography museum today. On display are photographs taken during the reign of Abdülhamid II, including several members of his family.
Imperial Pavilion
After exiting the museum, you’ll spot the Imperial Pavilion. It’s one of the oldest buildings at Yıldız Palace, originally completed during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II in the first half of the 19th century. The structure was designed by Ottoman-Armenian architect Garabet Amira Balyan (1800-1866) and called the Yıldız Pavilion (Yıldız Köşkü). Mahmud II visited frequently, especially during summer months. He used to observe soldiers in training from there.
Sultan Abdülmecid I replaced the original pavilion with a new one called the Dilgüşâ Pavilion. He had it build for his mother, Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan (c. 1807-1853). The name of the building changed to the Imperial Pavilion after Sultan Abdülhamid moved to Yıldız Palace. It’s believed that the current building is a renovated version of the Dilgüşâ Pavilion.
Harem Gate
The path continues for a short walk around the north side of the Imperial Garden where you’ll pass through the Harem Gate (Harem Kapısı). It’s the only section of the palace that can’t be seen from the outside. Just inside the gate is the Cafe Cascade, where you can grab some snacks, coffee, tea, and pastries. Outside the gate, there’s a beautiful shaded seating area overlooking the Hamid Pool.
Apartment of the Chief Black Eunuch
Inside the gate to the left is the Apartment of the Chief Black Eunuch (Kızlarağası Dairesi). It’s a two-story stone building on a platform. The Chief Black Eunuch, traditionally of Abyssinian origin, was in charge of relations between the Harem and outside world.
Imperial Harem
At the end of a small garden you’ll come to the Imperial Harem (Harem-i Hümâyûn), which consists or two identical buildings standing side-by-side. They’re connected by a wooden bridge and follow the traditional layout of Ottoman Harem buildings.
Today, the Imperial Harem houses the National Palaces Furniture Museum, which preserves palace furniture dating to the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II. On display are various pieces of furnitures made of walnut, mahogany, rosewood, and other high quality woods. They belonged to various bedrooms, studies, halls, and guest rooms at Ottoman palace. Many are decorated with mother-of-pearl, gilding, or intricate carvings, and feature Ottoman, European, and Asian elements.
Apartment of the Female Servants
Another wooden bridge connects the Imperial Harem to the Apartment of the Female Servants. This small building is where the female servants lived. The most senior female servant was the başhazînedâr.
Imperial Garden at Yıldız Palace
The Imperial Garden (Hasbahçe) is a stunning space filled with pools, fountains, trees, and flowers. It’s oval in shape and measures roughly 350 meters long by 80 meters wide. Animals and birds used to be kept there in cages. A handful of structures are scattered throughout.
The garden features an artificial stream following a winding course for 300 meters. It passes a grotto and flows over cascades to empty into a 12-meter-wide lake on the north end. Near the middle of the garden, at the Fountain of Selim III, it divides into two branches, forming a small island on the south end.
The Sultan and his family would go out onto the lake in rowboats. The lake was stocked with colorful fish and swans, geese, and ducks would swim in it. If viewed from above the stream forms the word Hamid in Arabic script.
Fountain of Sultan Selim III
The Fountain of Sultan Selim III (III. Selim Çeşmesi) is the oldest existing structure at Yıldız Palace. The Rococo-style fountain was built in 1805 by Sultan Selim III. It has a marble base and four façades, each displaying the tughra of Selim III. The roof is wooden and features ornamental decorations underneath the eaves. It’s topped by a large central dome, while four bulbous domes decorate the corners.
Pergola Pavilion
Nearby is the Pergola Pavilion (Kameriye Köşkü). It was used for resting and viewing the landscape as well as informal receptions and tea. The pavilion is made mostly of wood and set on the edge of the stream.
Island Pavilion
The Island Pavilion (Ada Köşkü) sits on the island. The Sultan and his family would row along the stream to the island and relax in the pavilion. It was designed in the Art Nouveau style, likely by Raimondo D’Aronco, and is decorated with still-lifes and landscapes inspired by the palace and gardens. The pavilion was under restoration at the time of my latest visit.
Cihannümâ Pavilion
The Belvedere, or Cihannümâ Pavilion (Cihannümâ Kasrı), is on the south end of the Imperial Garden. It stands at the highest point of the hill running up from the Bosphorus and features the most magnificent view out of all the buildings at Yıldız Palace.
Sultan Abdülhamid II built the Cihannümâ Pavilion, a three-story Neo-Ottoman building, for personal use. He and his family would use a pair of Zeiss binoculars to look at the Bosphorus, Üsküdar on the opposite shore, and down to the Marmara Sea.
Imperial Library at Yıldız Palace
After exiting the Imperial Garden, you’ll come face-to-face with the Imperial Library (Kütübhâne-i Hümâyûn). It was originally built as a refectory for palace servants during the reign of Abdülhamid II and was later converted into the Armory (Silahhâne). The building eventually became the palace library, housing the Sultan’s extensive collection of manuscripts, books, maps, and photographs.
After Sultan Abdülhamid II was deposed on April 27, 1909, the library collection was transferred to the Ministry of Eduction on March 14, 1910. It was then transferred to the Istanbul University Library after the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The entire collection as well as the original wooden cabinets were moved back to Yıldız Palace after a decree signed on April 27, 2022. The interior of the building is stunning, especially the barrel-vaulted ceiling. A collection of rare books is also on display.
Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
The Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque (Yıldız Hamidiye Camii) is just outside the main entrance to the palace. It was built by Sultan Abdülhamid II for Friday prayer ceremonies. It was constructed between 1884 and 1886, although it was put in service in September 1885. Ottoman Greek architect Nikolaki Kalfa designed it with a combination of the Neo-Gothic and classical Ottoman styles. The mosque was restored between 2013 and 2017.
The elaborately decorated mosque is on a rectangular plan and has one minaret. The prayer hall is entered through a narthex. The minbar is made of marble and there are 16 windows in the drum of the richly decorated dome. Four tall wooden columns forming two arches stand in the middle of the prayer hall to support the dome.
A unique feature of the mosque is that it has a pair of two-story Sultan’s loges, positioned on either side of the mosque and both accessible from the courtyard. This was to prevent potential assassins from knowing which loge the Sultan would be in during prayers. The frames and grills of the loges are made of cedar wood.
Assassination Attempt at the Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
The Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque was in fact the site of an assassination attempt on Abdülhamid II on July 21, 1905. Members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation set a time bomb on a horse carriage in front of the mosque. The sultan was held up in a conversation and didn’t arrive at the carriage when the bomb was scheduled to explode. 26 people were killed and 58 were wounded. In response, Abdülhamid II carried out massacres of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks living in the Ottoman Empire. This became known as the Hamidian Massacres. Between 200,000 and 400,000 people lost their lives.
Yıldız Clock Tower
The Yıldız Clock Tower (Yıldız Saat Kulesi) sits on the northwest corner of the mosque’s courtyard. It was built between 1889 and 1890 and combines the Neo-Gothic and Orientalist styles. It has three stories and is on a square plan with a pointed dome.
The first floor contains four inscriptions while the second floor is fitted with a thermometer and barometer. The clock is on the third floor. The clock tower was restored in 1993.
Yıldız Chalet
Yıldız Chalet (Yıldız Şale), which is currently closed to the public (as of May 2025), is on the north side of the complex via a separate entrance. It was built in three phases. The first building was constructed between 1877 and 1879 to resemble a Swiss chalet. The second building was added in 1889 to accommodate Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who was the first foreign monarch to visit Constantinople. Both were designed by Sarkis Balyan and built with wood. A third building, designed by Raimondo D’Aronco was built in 1898, also for the Kaiser.
Highlights of the chalet include a single carpet covering an area of over 400 square meters. It was hand-woven by 60 people. Some of the furniture was actually made by Abdülhamid II, and one room is nearly covered from floor to ceiling in mother-of-pearl.
After the foundation of the Turkish Republic, the chalet was used to accommodate foreign dignitaries. Sir Winston Churchill, Nicolae Ceaușescu, and Charles de Gaulle were among the guests to stay there. The garden is also a pleasant place to explore. It contains ponds, bridges, and short walking trails.
Yıldız Park
Yıldız Park (Yıldız Parkı) was once the imperial garden of Yıldız Palace. The outer section is now one of the biggest public parks in the city and a wonderful place to escape the concrete jungle of Istanbul.
Yıldız Park was a forest during the Byzantine period and was used as a hunting ground by Süleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Sultan Ahmed I began using the area as a resting place in the early 17th century. After Çırağan Palace was built in the mid 19th century, Sultan Abdülaziz turned the grounds into the palace’s imperial garden. Sultan Abdülhamid II incorporated it into Yıldız Palace in the late 19th century, surrounding it with high walls.
The 25-acre park contains two artificial lakes and several different types of trees gathered from all around the world. The trees were planted during the late Ottoman period and include species such as oak, pine, cedar, ash, cypress, yew, chestnut, and magnolia.
Yıldız Park is very popular on weekends, especially for picnics, and has excellent views of the Bosphorus. There are also two beautiful pavilions on the park grounds. Both serve as restaurants and are a great place to have tea, breakfast, or lunch. You’ll also find a couple other cafés and restaurants.
Tent Pavilion
The Tent Pavilion (Çadır Köşkü) sits in the lower part of the park on an artificial lake. It was built by Sultan Abdülaziz as the Cedar Pavilion (Sedir Köşkü) in 1871 and was designed by Ottoman Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan (1835-1899).
Midhat Pasha (1822-1883), a powerful Ottoman politician, was detained and tortured in the basement of the Tent Pavilion for 66 days. The trial took place in a tent behind the Malta Pavilion, and he was found guilty of murdering Sultan Abdülaziz, who died under mysterious circumstances at Çırağan Palace only a few days after he was deposed on May 30, 1876. Many historians believe the charges were made up, evidence was forged, witnesses were paid, and others were tortured to force confessions.
After the trial, the pavilion was mostly unused for several years. It was allocated to the Ministry of Finance in 1940, restored, and reopened as Markiz Pastanesi, a pastry shop that operated from 1949 to 1960. The Tanzimat Museum (Tanzimat Müzesi) occupied the building for a short time starting in 1960.
In 1982, the Tent Pavilion was given to the Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey (Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu). The city took over in 1995 and began restoration in June of that year. It reopened as a restaurant on January 1, 1997.
Malta Pavilion
The Malta Pavilion (Malta Köşkü) is in the upper part of the park. It was built by Sultan Abdülaziz as a hunting lodge and completed in 1870. The architect was Sarkis Balyan, who designed it in the Neo-Baroque style. It was named after its principal building material, limestone from Malta. Sultan Murad V was detained in the pavilion when he was deposed after his 93-day reign in 1876. It has been a restaurant since 1982.
The side facing the Bosphorus opens to a large hall with staircases leading to the upper floor. In the center of the hall is a marble fountain with elegantly carved swans. The salons on the upper floor contain marble fireplaces and are decorated with oil paintings and flower motifs.
