Yıldız or Dolmabahçe? The two palaces close on different days, so check your date first: Dolmabahçe is closed on Mondays and Yıldız on Wednesdays. For foreign visitors, Dolmabahçe’s main ticket costs 2,000 TL and Yıldız costs 900 TL. If you can visit only one and want the grand interiors, choose Dolmabahçe. If you want a cheaper, more spread-out visit, choose Yıldız.
Last checked: 26 October 2026 from the National Palaces (Millî Saraylar) pages for Dolmabahçe and Yıldız. The Dolmabahçe page does not show a date for its prices, so confirm the amount at the ticket office.
Yıldız or Dolmabahçe: side-by-side comparison
| Dolmabahçe Palace | Yıldız Palace | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly closed day | Monday | Wednesday |
| Ticket office | 09:00 – 17:00 | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Foreign-visitor ticket | 2,000 TL (Selamlık, Harem and Painting Museum) | 900 TL |
| Holiday closures | Includes 1 January, the first day of Ramazan Bayramı and the first day of Kurban Bayramı | Not stated on the page |
Both are open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, outside public holidays. On Mondays only Yıldız is open, and on Wednesdays only Dolmabahçe is.
Which palace should you choose?
- Choose Dolmabahçe if you want the large waterfront palace and are happy to pay more. Its ticket covers the Selamlık, the Harem and the Painting Museum.
- Choose Yıldız if you want to spend less, prefer a complex of pavilions set in a park, or your only free day is a Monday. The Yıldız page does not say which sections the 900 TL ticket covers, so ask at the gate.
- Do both only if you have the time. Each is a substantial visit, and the ticket offices close at 17:00.
This is our recommendation, not an official ranking. Which palace is better depends on your interests, budget and the day of the week.
Combined tickets for Dolmabahçe and Yıldız
The Dolmabahçe page lists three foreign-visitor combined tickets:
| Ticket | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ticket I | 3,500 TL | Dolmabahçe plus the Anatolian-side and European-side palaces, kiosks and pavilions. Excludes Topkapı Palace and the Küçüksu Pavilion picnic area. |
| Combined ticket II | 2,750 TL | Dolmabahçe, Yıldız and the European-side palaces, kiosks and pavilions. Excludes Topkapı Palace and the Küçüksu picnic area. |
| Combined ticket III | 2,750 TL | Dolmabahçe plus the Anatolian-side palaces, kiosks and pavilions. Excludes the Küçüksu picnic area. |
Buying Dolmabahçe (2,000 TL) and Yıldız (900 TL) separately costs 2,900 TL, so combined ticket II saves 150 TL. It makes sense only if you also plan to visit the other European-side palaces and pavilions it includes, and its validity period is set by the official ticket terms.
The Yıldız page also says the Museum Card is valid at Yıldız except in the Harem, Hasbahçe and Küçük Mabeyn sections. If you own a pass, check what it covers before you buy a ticket.
How to get to each palace
Dolmabahçe stands on the Bosphorus shore. The T1 tram ends at Kabataş, from where it is a short walk along the water. Yıldız lies in Yıldız Park above Beşiktaş, so expect a climb. Our Istanbul transport guide covers the tram, ferry and metro connections, and the 3 days in Istanbul itinerary shows how a palace visit fits into a longer trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which palace is cheaper, Yıldız or Dolmabahçe?
Yıldız. The foreign-visitor ticket is 900 TL, against 2,000 TL for Dolmabahçe.
Which day are both palaces open?
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, except on public holidays that close a palace.
Is there a combined ticket?
Yes. Combined ticket II costs 2,750 TL and includes Dolmabahçe, Yıldız and other European-side palaces and pavilions.
