RPR-TUR-004 · Imperial Summer Palace / Diplomatic Guest Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Sarayı
Istanbul · 1863–1865
Registry Record
Dynasty: House of Osman
Royal association:
Provenance: Verified
Status: Surviving / Museum
Current use:
Sources
- SRC-TUR-004
Geography
Geographic Path: Türkiye → Istanbul Province → Istanbul → Üsküdar / Asian Bosphorus
Local Place: Istanbul
Estate / Micro-location: Asian Bosphorus imperial residence zone
Browse Turkey Palace Geography →
Rulers, Residents & Use by Reign
| Period | Ruler | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861–1876 | Abdülaziz | imperial residence / patron | Abdülaziz-era Bosphorus palace network. |
| 1912–1918 | Abdülhamid II | former-sultan residence | Beylerbeyi was Abdülhamid II’s final residence after deposition. |
Abdülaziz — Ottoman sultan / ruler
Association from the existing catalogue; historical review pending.
Abdülhamid II — Ottoman sultan / ruler
Association from the existing catalogue; historical review pending.
Karabet Balyan — Architect
Association from the existing catalogue; historical review pending.
Visitor Information — Checked 9 October 2026
Commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1863–1865, Beylerbeyi served as a summer residence and state guest house. Abdülhamid II spent his final six years here and died in 1918. Its principal building combines Ottoman domestic planning with European decorative influences.
Closed Mondays, 1 January and the first days of Ramadan Bairam and the Feast of Sacrifice. Ticket offices: 09:00–17:00; these are ticket-office hours, not a confirmed building closing time. The main palace (Mabeyn and Harem) is visitable. The Yellow, Marble, Stable and Marine Kiosks are closed to visitors.
Official website / visitor information
This section supersedes earlier access summaries. Check the operator’s notices before travelling.
Annual Visitor Statistics
No verified annual attendance series has been entered for this residence. Missing data is not zero.
Interiors: plan, furnishings and visiting route
Rooms for summer residence and state hospitality
Commissioned by Abdülaziz in 1863–1865, Beylerbeyi served both the imperial household and visiting heads of state. National Palaces describes 24 rooms and six halls across the building, including its basement level. This is a published architectural count, not an annual attendance figure. The arrangement retains features of traditional Turkish houses while combining Ottoman and European decoration.
Textiles, crystal and porcelain
Egyptian straw matting covers the floors, complemented by Hereke carpets. Baccarat chandeliers and clocks from English, French and Ottoman workshops furnish the rooms. Porcelain from China, Japan and European manufacturers appears alongside Yıldız products, bringing several manufacturing traditions into the same domestic setting.
Which interiors can be visited
The official visitor description includes the main palace’s Mabeyn and Harem. It explicitly excludes the Yellow, Marble, Stable and Marine Kiosks. Their historic decoration should therefore be understood as part of the wider estate, rather than as a promise of rooms included in a palace visit. Check the operator’s current notices before travelling.
Commissioning ruler: Abdülaziz.
Official sources
Sources checked 10 October 2026.