13/04/2026
Don’t make the mistake of skipping Dolmabahçe Palace when visiting Istanbul.
Built with ~35 tonnes of gold (worth $2–3B today), this level of extravagance drove the financial collapse of the Ottoman Empire… and yet, it’s one of the most breathtaking and opulent places I’ve ever seen.
Most people miss it—but you really shouldn’t. We spent over 5 hours in there exploring all the different parts and the grounds!
And finally, you can now take photos inside Dolmabahçe Palace as of early 2026.
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