Yıldız Palace

Located on an elevated site with commanding views of the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, Yıldız Palace is the last grand palace built by the Ottoman Empire in Istanbul. In terms of its general layout, it reflects the tradition of Turkish-Islamic palace architecture through the plan of “Palace (State Administration and Harem) in the East – Friday Mosque (Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque) in the West.”

Covering an area of 500,000 square meters, Yıldız Palace comprises three main sections. The first includes the principal structures related to state affairs; the second is the private area reserved for the Sultan and his harem; and the third encompasses the outer gardens and auxiliary buildings. What was once the palace’s exclusive garden is now Yıldız Park, a public space. From the many pavilions and structures that once stood here, only the Çadır, Malta, and Şale Pavilions remain today.

The first pavilion built on the grounds of Yıldız Palace dates back to the reign of Sultan Selim III (1789–1807). While subsequent sultans showed interest in the groves and gardens of the area, Yıldız Palace became most closely associated with Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876–1909). He designated the complex as his primary residence, naming it Yıldız Saray-ı Hümâyûnu, and governed the empire from this palace for 33 years.

Spread over a vast area between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy, Yıldız Palace differs from other imperial residences in Istanbul with its layout of interconnected pavilions, expansive gardens, pools, trees, greenhouses, and various auxiliary structures. During Sultan Abdülhamid II’s reign, the palace complex included a theater, museum, library, pharmacy, zoo, veterinary hospital, carpentry workshop, ironworks, and even a porcelain factory—demonstrating its unique blend of administrative, cultural, and industrial functions.

The Sultan also positioned the renowned 2nd Division of the 1st Army (Orhaniye and Ertuğrul barracks) near the palace. At its height, the palace and its surroundings were home to a population of up to 12,000 people, including those directly and indirectly serving the court.

Yıldız Palace stands as the final seat of government for the Ottoman Empire and the last official residence of an Ottoman sultan—an enduring symbol of the empire’s closing chapter.