Istanbul - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 70

its weight. In fact, fascinatingly, it
is these same windows and some
piers and buttresses that give the
structure its stability. The bright
interior is a riot of colour. It is
well worth a visit, and a must
when in Istanbul, but realistically
older children and teenagers are
more likely to find it more inter-
esting than really tiny tots. It
might be a good idea to take
something along to entertain
young children in their buggy
while the rest of the family views
this masterpiece of architecture. If
you have a child in a buggy you
can access it easily, although it
will be more difficult to visit the
higher levels.
Open 9am-4.30pm Tues-Sun.
Admission 15 YTL.

Dolmabahçe Palace

which is less grand but just as fas-
cinating, so breaking up your visit
is relatively easy. A good tip is to
stop awhile in the little restaurant
for a breather. A snack and a
shake from the special children's
menu are sure to revive a flagging
family. The palace was built in
the 19th century to a Baroque
style, is outstandingly lavish and
stands right on the side of the
Bosphorus, dominating the sky-
line from the river as well as the
surrounding roads. To see it is a
must when visiting Istanbul. No
discount for children though.
Open 9am-3pm daily, closed Mon
and Thur. Admission 12 YTL for
Sultan's Quarters, 8 YTL for harem,
10 YTL for the garden, 10 YTL for
tours and an extra 12 YTL if you wish
to take photos . Amenities restaurant.

★★
Dolmabahçe Caddesi Be@ikta@.
b [phone].
With a total of more than 280
rooms, some 40 halls and six
hammam complexes, this palace
is a massive structure and will take
several hours to explore. You
might find it best to visit it a cou-
ple of times during your stay, as
young children especially might
find it all too much. Be sure to
take a buggy with you so that they
can ride for most of the visit. The
size of the palace is exceptional
and even if you do only a fraction
of it in one visit it can still be tir-
ing for the younger members of
the family. There are two tours,
one to the Selamlik section
where the astonishing domed
Ceremonial Hall and numerous
grandiose state rooms are seen,
and the other to the Harem,

Dolmabahçe Palace

Roman Hippodrome
Meydani 21, Sultanahmet Square.
b [phone].
Once the centre of Byzantine
life, the hippodrome captures

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