Dolmabahce Palace & Tea at Pera Palace: A Small Group Tour
Moderate Activity
Includes snack
Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.
WHAT YOU VISIT
Dolmabahce Palace
Nestled on the shores of the Bosporus Strait, the palace is a monumental reminder of the Ottoman Empire's glory days. Commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid I in 1856 and noted for its Ottoman, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture, it served as the Empire's main administrative center. Set on 27 hectares (62 acres), the three-story structure holds 285 rooms and 46 halls. Handmade parquet floors, Baccarat crystal staircase and ceremonial hall designed to hold 2,500 people are just a few of the awe-inspiring details you'll see during the tour.
Pera Palace Hotel
Originally built in 1852 to welcome guests arriving on the Orient Express, the luxury hotel is an architectural delight with an Art-Nouveau façade and interiors including the sumptuously-designed Kubbeli Lounge where the Istanbul elite enjoy afternoon tea. A number of notables have stayed at the hotel including Agatha Christie, King Edward VIII, Ernest Hemingway, Queen Elizabeth II, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph and actress Greta Garbo.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Photography is not allowed inside the palace but the Art Nouveau treasures of the Pera Palace Hotel offers a number of photogenic delights.
AFTERNOON TEA
Enjoy the "Istanbul classic" tea at the Kubbeli Lounge inside the Pera Palace Hotel. Relish finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jams and a wide variety of pastries served on a special three-tier stand, along with freshly brewed coffee or tea accompanied by stunning views.
WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
It's interesting to note that as you travel from the pier to Dolmabahce Palace, you'll see
tulips are a common and unique decorative motif on buildings. Often thought of as representing the Netherlands, this delicate blossom is actually the national flower of Turkey, and was introduced to the Netherlands by Turkey several hundred years ago.
Schedule
Special Notes
Guests must be able to walk approximately 0.7 miles in total over carpet and parquet floor and 40 to 50 steps. Due to the nature of this tour, it is not recommended for guests with walkers or using wheelchairs and for persons who have difficulties in walking, climbing, and/or managing steps. Some sections in the palace may be temporarily under renovation and closed to public. While entering the palace, guests may be kept waiting in the courtyard due to congestion at the site since the palace limits the number of visitors inside at one time. Photography is not allowed inside Dolmabahçe Palace.
Exceptional Value
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Moderate Activity
Includes snack
Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.
WHAT YOU VISIT
Dolmabahce Palace
Nestled on the shores of the Bosporus Strait, the palace is a monumental reminder of the Ottoman Empire's glory days. Commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid I in 1856 and noted for its Ottoman, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture, it served as the Empire's main administrative center. Set on 27 hectares (62 acres), the three-story structure holds 285 rooms and 46 halls. Handmade parquet floors, Baccarat crystal staircase and ceremonial hall designed to hold 2,500 people are just a few of the awe-inspiring details you'll see during the tour.
Pera Palace Hotel
Originally built in 1852 to welcome guests arriving on the Orient Express, the luxury hotel is an architectural delight with an Art-Nouveau façade and interiors including the sumptuously-designed Kubbeli Lounge where the Istanbul elite enjoy afternoon tea. A number of notables have stayed at the hotel including Agatha Christie, King Edward VIII, Ernest Hemingway, Queen Elizabeth II, Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph and actress Greta Garbo.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Photography is not allowed inside the palace but the Art Nouveau treasures of the Pera Palace Hotel offers a number of photogenic delights.
AFTERNOON TEA
Enjoy the "Istanbul classic" tea at the Kubbeli Lounge inside the Pera Palace Hotel. Relish finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jams and a wide variety of pastries served on a special three-tier stand, along with freshly brewed coffee or tea accompanied by stunning views.
WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
It's interesting to note that as you travel from the pier to Dolmabahce Palace, you'll see
tulips are a common and unique decorative motif on buildings. Often thought of as representing the Netherlands, this delicate blossom is actually the national flower of Turkey, and was introduced to the Netherlands by Turkey several hundred years ago.
Schedule
Special Notes
Guests must be able to walk approximately 0.7 miles in total over carpet and parquet floor and 40 to 50 steps. Due to the nature of this tour, it is not recommended for guests with walkers or using wheelchairs and for persons who have difficulties in walking, climbing, and/or managing steps. Some sections in the palace may be temporarily under renovation and closed to public. While entering the palace, guests may be kept waiting in the courtyard due to congestion at the site since the palace limits the number of visitors inside at one time. Photography is not allowed inside Dolmabahçe Palace.