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Yıldız Palace and Park, Istanbul

Yıldız Palace in Istanbul: a white stone pavilion with arched windows among the trees
Photo: Darwinek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket office
9:00–17:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
Palace: ticket office 9:00–17:00, closed Wednesdays; park open daily, free
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Palace ticket (foreign visitors)
900 TL
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Yıldız Park
Free
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Children
Under 6 free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Students 7–25
Discounted ticket; foreign students 120 TL, ISIC card required from age 12
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Palace closed
Wednesdays, 1 January and the first day of Ramadan and Sacrifice Eid
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Müzekart
Valid everywhere except the Harem, Hasbahçe and Small Mabeyn
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Official National Palaces (Milli Saraylar) website and app, or at the gate
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Palace entrance
Valide Gate at the top of Serencebey Yokuşu, opposite the Hamidiye Mosque
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Park pavilions
Şale, Malta and Çadır — reported closed for restoration
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Getting there
From Beşiktaş pier: ≈ 10–15 min walk to the lower park gate, ≈ 15–20 min uphill to the palace
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Yıldız Sarayı Müzesi, Yıldız, Beşiktaş
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
41.05071, 29.01170YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1876–1909Abdülhamid II ruled the empire from here for 33 years — the sultans’ last residence
3 sourcesNational Palaces of Türkiye (Milli Saraylar)TDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
2024the palace reopened to visitors after about six years of restoration
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaDünya and Cumhuriyet newspapers, July 2024
Yıldız Parkwas the palace’s outer garden — now a public park
2 sourcesNational Palaces of Türkiye (Milli Saraylar)TDV Encyclopedia of Islam
Selim IIIbuilt the first pavilion here, for his mother Mihrişah Sultan
3 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish WikipediaNational Palaces of Türkiye (Milli Saraylar)
1866Abdülaziz’s Great Mabeyn was completed — used to receive foreign guests
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
1889 & 1898the Şale Pavilion was built and enlarged for Kaiser Wilhelm II’s two visits
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
1889the Yıldız palace theatre opened, with stars painted on its dome
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
Raimondo D’Aroncothe Italian architect who built for Abdülhamid II; earlier buildings are by Sarkis Balyan
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
3 pavilionssurvive in the outer garden: Şale, Malta and Çadır
2 sourcesNational Palaces of Türkiye (Milli Saraylar)English Wikipedia
Abdülazizbuilt the Malta and Çadır pavilions in what is now the park
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia
1977the palace passed to the Ministry of Culture and restoration began
2 sourcesTDV Encyclopedia of IslamEnglish Wikipedia

Yıldız Palace tickets and opening hours

Foreign visitors pay 900 TL for one ticket covering the whole museum. Under-6s are free; foreign students aged 7–25 pay 120 TL, with an ISIC card from age 12. The ticket office is open 9:00–17:00, every day except Wednesday.

Buy on the official National Palaces (Milli Saraylar) website or app, or at the gate. Yıldız Park itself is free — no ticket needed.

Is Yıldız Palace worth visiting?

Yes, if you have already seen Dolmabahçe or want a palace without the crowds. Yıldız is not one grand building but a cluster of pavilions in a garden, so it feels more like the sultan’s private world than a state showpiece. It is also your palace for a Monday, when Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi are shut.

If you only have time for one palace, choose Dolmabahçe or Topkapı. Yıldız Park is worth a stroll either way — it is one of the city’s best escapes from the noise.

What to see

  • Great Mabeyn — the 1866 pavilion where sultans received foreign guests.
  • Small Mabeyn and the Harem — Abdülhamid II’s private rooms and his family’s quarters.
  • Çit Pavilion — a small pavilion from Abdülaziz’s reign, later used as headquarters in wartime.
  • The sultan’s inner garden with its pond, the orangery and the hammam.
  • Photographs from the famous Yıldız albums and rare manuscripts from the palace library.
  • In the park: ponds, old trees and Bosphorus glimpses from the upper paths.

How to get to Yıldız Palace and Park

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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We’ll draw it on the map: on foot, by tram and by taxi. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. The palace and park sit on the hill between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy, above Çırağan Palace.
  2. From Sultanahmet, take the T1 tram to the end of the line at Kabataş — about 25 minutes.
  3. From Kabataş, walk 15–20 minutes along the water past Dolmabahçe to Beşiktaş, or take bus 22 or 25E towards Ortaköy to the Çırağan stop.
  4. For the park, use the lower gate on Çırağan Caddesi — 10–15 minutes on foot from Beşiktaş pier.
  5. For the palace, head to the Valide Gate at the top of Serencebey Yokuşu, opposite the Hamidiye Mosque — about 15–20 minutes uphill from the pier. You can also walk up through the park.
  6. Easier from above: take the M7 metro to Yıldız station and walk downhill to the palace.

Yıldız Park: what to expect

The park was the palace’s outer garden and is now one of Istanbul’s largest green spaces — a wooded hillside with ponds, winding paths and benches, minutes from busy Beşiktaş. Entry is free.

Don’t come for the pavilions: the Malta and Çadır pavilions, which used to house cafés, and the Şale Pavilion are reported closed for restoration. Come for the trees, the shade and a quiet walk — great with kids, too.

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Yıldız vs Dolmabahçe vs Beylerbeyi

Yıldızyou are hereHillside pavilions and parkEuropean, Beşiktaş900 TLWednesday1–1.5 h + parkQuiet
DolmabahçeMain 19th-century residenceEuropean, Beşiktaş2,000 TL incl. HaremMonday≈ 2 hBusy
Beylerbeyi1860s summer palaceAsian, Üsküdar800 TLMonday1–1.5 hQuiet

Seeing just one palace? Dolmabahçe. Yıldız is for a second palace — or a Monday, when the others are closed. The park works any day.

Istanbul's palaces compared

Every palace in Istanbul rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Topkapı Palace633 h2,750 TL with the Harem4.8 km
Dolmabahçe Palace461 h 45 min2,000 TL26 min walk
Yıldız Palaceyou are here351 h 15 min900 TL—
Beylerbeyi Palace311 h 15 min800 TL44 min walk

Beşiktaş in a day: two palaces and Ortaköy

Dolmabahçe in the morning, Yıldız and its park after lunch, then sunset at Ortaköy Mosque on the water. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. Avoid Mondays and Wednesdays.

  1. Dolmabahçe Palace1 h 45 min · 2,000 TL
  2. 26 min walk from the previous stopYıldız Palaceyou are here1 h 15 min · 900 TL
  3. 23 min walk from the previous stopOrtaköy Mosque40 min · Free

3 places · about 4 h 29 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Ortaköy Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey

40 min · Free · 23 min walk

Dolmabahçe Palace

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1 h 45 min · 2,000 TL · 26 min walk

Nişantaşı

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1 h · Free · 27 min walk

How to do it right

  • Mondays, when Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi are closed, Yıldız is open.
  • Spring magnolias and Judas trees, or autumn colour on the hillside — the best seasons for the park.
  • Don’t plan lunch at the Malta or Çadır pavilions: they are reported closed.
  • After the park, drop down to the Bosphorus and walk to Ortaköy Mosque for sunset.
  • With a stroller, enter the park from the top and walk down — the paths are paved but steep.

Questions

How much is the Yıldız Palace ticket?

900 TL for foreign visitors. Under-6s are free; foreign students aged 7–25 pay 120 TL with an ISIC card.

What are Yıldız Palace opening hours?

The ticket office is open 9:00–17:00 every day except Wednesday.

Is Yıldız Palace closed on Wednesdays?

Yes. It also closes on 1 January and the first day of the Ramadan and Sacrifice holidays. It is open on Mondays.

Is Yıldız Park free?

Yes, entry to Yıldız Park is free and it is open every day. Only the palace museum needs a ticket.

How do I get to Yıldız Palace?

T1 tram to Kabataş, then walk or take bus 22 or 25E to Beşiktaş and the Çırağan stop. It's 10–15 minutes on foot to the park gate and 15–20 minutes uphill to the palace. The M7 metro's Yıldız station is close to the top.

Is Yıldız Palace worth visiting?

Yes if you've done Dolmabahçe or want a quiet palace — and on Mondays, when the other palaces are shut. With time for only one palace, choose Dolmabahçe.

What is there to see in Yıldız Park?

Ponds, old trees, shady paths and Bosphorus views from the upper slopes. The Malta, Çadır and Şale pavilions are reported closed for restoration.

How long do you need at Yıldız Palace?

1–1.5 hours for the museum. Add the park and the walk down to the Bosphorus and it becomes a relaxed half day.

Is the Şale Pavilion open?

It has been closed for restoration since 2018, and we found no news of it reopening. The rest of the palace museum is open.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • National Palaces of Türkiye (Milli Saraylar Başkanlığı): Yıldız Sarayı — history, ticket-office hours, closures and fares, 29.10.2026
  • TDV Encyclopedia of Islam: Yıldız Sarayı
  • English Wikipedia: Yıldız Palace; Russian Wikipedia: Йылдыз; Wikidata Q911734
  • Dünya and Cumhuriyet newspapers, July 2024 — the palace’s reopening after restoration
  • Sabah newspaper, 05.11.2025 — the closed Malta and Çadır pavilions in Yıldız Park
  • Istanbul Chamber of Tourist Guides (İstanbul Rehberler Odası), 15.10.2024 — closure of the Şale Pavilion
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedFares, closures and ticket-office hours come from the official National Palaces page. It gives Wednesday as the closing day; at the 2024 reopening Monday was announced, and some guides still say so — we follow the official page. The same page shows 17:30 in its header and 17:00 in the ticket-office schedule; we give 17:00. Other facts are checked against at least two sources. English Wikipedia says the Great Mabeyn is closed to the public, while 2024 reopening reports include it in the museum — marked as verifying. The Şale Pavilion was reported closed since 2018 by the guides’ chamber in October 2024, and the Malta and Çadır pavilions by Sabah in November 2025; we found no reopening news, so these are marked “verifying”, as are the park hours and bus routes. Sources disagree on the palace’s total area and on the date (15 or 16 May 1919) of Mehmed VI’s meeting with Mustafa Kemal here, so we leave those out.

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