Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The palace, which is set in well-tended gardens and entered via an ornate imperial gate,
is divided into two sections: the over-the-top
Selâmlık
and the slightly more restrained
Harem
. Both are visited on compulsory - and unfortunately rushed - guided tours. The
Selâmlık, with its huge chandeliers and crystal staircase made by Baccarat, is the more
impressive of the two.
The tourist entrance to the palace is near the ornate
Clock Tower
, built between 1890
and 1894. There's an outdoor cafe near here with premium Bosphorus views and cheap
prices (yes, really).
At the end of your tour, make sure that you visit the
Crystal Kiosk
, with its fairytale-
like conservatory featuring a crystal fountain and myriad windows, some of them etched.
There's even a crystal piano and chair. It's next to the aviary on the street side of the
palace.
Note that visitor numbers in the palace are limited to 3000 per day and this ceiling is of-
ten reached on weekends and holidays - come mid-week if possible, and even then be
prepared to queue (often for a long period and in full sun).
