Things to do in Dolmabahçe Palace

The palace is definitely worth visiting and I recommend it to everyone. It was very easy to book the tickets on Klook, but you need to keep in mind that the skip the line allows you to skip the ticket line only, not the first security check line. When I went, for the ticket office the line was very short, just a few people, while the security line was very long, all the way to the street. 📸 If you want to take a photo with the sea gates, do not stop at the first one if there is a huge line, you can walk along the iron fence and you’ll find four more sea gates. I saw many people lining up for the first gate, but the other ones had 1-2 people taking photos.

Buying the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern combo ticket this time was very convenient. Purchasing in advance on Klook saved time waiting in line for tickets on-site. Both attractions are well worth visiting; the lighting and overall atmosphere of the Basilica Cistern are especially unique, and walking through it in person is even more breathtaking than the photos. The Hagia Sophia is also magnificent and great for first-time visitors to Istanbul. Advance ticket purchase is recommended!

The food is very good and the experience of the cruise is very nice. Everything was nice. The server hasan was excellent, and every show on this cruise was fantastic. When the belly dancer performed, she was a showstopper; she stole the show. The entire cruise was incredibly amazing. The cruise journey started with a welcome drink and food. Once the ship left the dockyard, dinner was served, which was amazing. The service from the guy named Hassan was excellent. Then the show started. Oh my God, the cruise shows were all very, very good. Everything was good. The belly dancer, when she entered, was a showstopper. She will steal your heart, 110%. Her moves and dance were incredible. Everything was so good, and the service was top-notch. You will spend your three hours beautifully.

We enjoyed beautiful views of the Bosphorus Strait from a wonderful location until sunset. You can get a great view of Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Hisarı, and the Maiden's Tower from the sea as you pass under the bridges. Chef Ahmet served warm tea and distributed blankets. The fruit and cookie platter, along with the additional french fries and toast, were also delicious. With drink service included, this tour offers great value and is highly recommended. Please do order drinks and additional food! Thank you for the lovely magnet gift! This is my third time in Turkey, and this cruise is the best for relaxing and enjoying the music. Thank you for the excellent service, Chef Ahmet!

Balena and the entire crew of golden city tour did a fantastic job off arranging and guiding the tour. They served us well, taken good care of us. Multiple spot coverage with little bit of history and facts put across really well. Great recommendations and hospitality!

It was a wonderful experience. The boat offers drinks and snacks, along with an audio guide throughout the journey. The vessel is large, clean, and new with a great atmosphere and beautiful views. You can enjoy the scenery and learn about the history of various locations situated along the Bosphorus Strait. Service: Excellent Safety: Excellent Itinerary: Excellent Sights along the way: Excellent Value for money: Outstanding

A Bosphorus cruise is a must-do activity when visiting Istanbul, Turkey, as the scenery along the Istanbul coastline is incredibly beautiful. Due to time constraints, I only opted for the short tour, but if I ever have the chance, I definitely want to experience a dinner cruise.

What an excellent cruise tour by viatime, we all have a memorable time and experience, food was nice and host was very courteous. thankyou Viatime

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!