Dolmabahce Palace
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.4 miles]
An extraordinarily opulent 19th-century palace that blends Ottoman architecture with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles.
Best for ages: Any | £9
Best places to stay:
Right on the water’s edge, in the up-and-coming Besiktas district, the luxurious Shangri-La is a destination in its own right. The building was first constructed in the 1930s – then relaunched in 2013 under the swanky Shangri-La brand.
The glittering interiors, extraordinary service, elegant bars and restaurants and hedonistic spa (with a hamam and beautiful underground pool) cater to a crowd that wants all the creature comforts of a 5 star when not exploring this lively, down-to-earth city.
Many of its silvery-white suites are blessed with mesmerising views of the Bosphorus.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[0.4 miles]
An extraordinarily opulent 19th-century palace that blends Ottoman architecture with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles.
Best for ages: Any | £9
Istanbul , Marmara , Turkey[2.9 miles]
Experience an older, imperial Istanbul by enjoying traditional afternoon tea in a gilded, red-velvet salon at this famous 19th-century hotel.
Best for ages: 10+ | £8 | 1-2 hours
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[3.7 miles]
Built in 1459 to become the 15th and-16th century home of the Ottoman Sultans, this magnificently decadent palace is a perfectly preserved time capsule of life at the top in this most exotic of empires.
Best for ages: 8+ | £17
Istanbul , Marmara , Turkey[3.9 miles]
Three world-class collections, including the famous Alexander sarcophagus, fascinating prehistoric art and gorgeous Ottoman tiles.
Best for ages: 6+ | £5
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[1.7 miles]
A fascinating and quirky military museum with an astonishing array of uniforms, weapons and battle standards. Upstairs, there is a room devoted to the revolutionary statesman Ataturk. Go around 3pm for an unforgettably weird re-creation of a 17th-century military band concert.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1
Istanbul, Marmara Region, Turkey[2.7 miles]
World-class collections of Ottoman art, tiles and ceramics – plus big-name travelling exhibitions – set in a former grand hotel.
Best for ages: 18+ | £2
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[2.9 miles]
A modern art museum housing the finest collection of modern and contemporary art in the country. The Modern’s temporary exhibits by Turkish and international artists – often organized in collaboration with MoMA (New York) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris) – are particularly exceptional.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Istanbul , Marmara Region, Turkey[4.6 miles]
One of the world’s finest collections of Islamic-influenced glassware, rugs, ceramics, metal work and ethnographic items.
Best for ages: 18+ | £4
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Marmara Region, Turkey
Exotic, inexhaustible and dynamic – East meets West head-on in this mesmerising city metropolis, famed for its extraordinarily rich history, superb food and shopping, and mind-blowingly magnificent, over-sized mosques.