Yıldız Palace Museum (Istanbul Travel Guide) from Onur Türk's blog

A Guide to Exploring Istanbul's Yıldız Palace Museum

We’ve compiled everything you need to know about Yıldız Palace, a landmark closely associated with Sultan Abdulhamid II. Here, you’ll find fascinating information about the Yıldız Palace Museum and its surroundings.

Known as the last great palace built by the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul, Yıldız Palace spans a vast area of 500,000 square meters and is situated atop a hill with commanding views of the Bosphorus. Let’s delve into the various sections of Yıldız Palace together.

Yıldız Palace Hamidiye Mosque

Let’s start with the entrance to this historic palace. The Hamidiye Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Abdulhamid II, is located at the visitor entrance to the palace. During his reign, Sultan Abdulhamid II never missed a Friday prayer and performed the ceremonial Friday processions (Cuma Selamlık) here.

Known as Yıldız Mosque, this mosque is the last mosque built by an Ottoman sultan in Istanbul. At the mosque courtyard entrance, you’ll find a clock tower on the left.

Entrance to Yıldız Palace

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From the mosque, you can walk uphill to reach the palace entrance. Managed by the National Palaces Administration, entry is allowed with a museum card, but an additional fee is required to access all sections of the palace.

You can check the National Palaces Administration’s website for updated ticket prices.

After passing through the palace gates, you’ll encounter a large garden. To your left is the Büyük Mabeyn Köşkü (Grand Mabeyn Pavilion), the best place to begin your tour.

This section served as the administrative center during Sultan Abdulhamid II’s reign, where important state affairs were conducted, and distinguished guests were hosted. While only the ground floor is open to visitors, the upper floors, the heart of state operations, remain closed to prevent wear and tear. It is said even high-ranking officials were rarely allowed access to these upper levels.

Inside the Büyük Mabeyn Pavilion, you’ll find opulent spaces like the Baş Mabeynci Room and the Crystal Staircase. The Havuzlu Divanhane (Hall with a Pool) is a must-see highlight in this section.

Çit Pavilion Section

The Çit Pavilion was historically used to host ambassadors. Today, it houses various exhibits, including furniture, tables, and chairs selected or crafted by Sultan Abdulhamid II himself. These artifacts showcase the grandeur of the era.

Behind the pavilion is a winter garden where the sultan and his family could relax.

Hasbahçe and Hamid Pool

The Hasbahçe (Private Garden), located behind these sections, was a private area for the sultan and his family. From a bird's-eye view, the pool within the garden forms the Arabic word “حمد” (Hamid). This garden also includes a café where visitors can relax and enjoy refreshments.

The garden features:

• Fountain of Selim III
• Kameriye Pavilion
• Ada Pavilion
• Cihannüma Pavilion
• Carpentry Workshop

Kütüphane-i Hümayun

Near the exit, the former Armory now serves as the Kütüphane-i Hümayun (Imperial Library), displaying books from the palace’s collection.

Additional palace sections include:

• Kadınefendiler Apartments
• Harem
• Apartments of the Treasurer and Concubines
• Chief Eunuch’s Quarters

How to Get to Yıldız Palace

​Yıldız Palace is located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul.

It’s a 20-minute walk from the Beşiktaş Pier. Alternatively, you can take buses 62, 29D, 41E, or 559C from the pier and get off right in front of the palace.