Topkapi Palace
On a finger of land, at the confluence of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara stands, the Topkapi Palace, the maze of buildings that was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court. In the second court, on the right, shaded by cypress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. To the left is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives, concubines, and children of the sultan, charming visitors with echoes of centuries of intrigue. Today the third court holds the Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines the relics of the Prophet Muhammed brought to Istanbul when the Ottomans assumed the caliphate of Islam. (Open every day except Tuesday).

Mehmet the Conqueror built this Palace between 1465 and 1478. Mehmet died here in 1481. Many sultans added parts to the Palace giving it a somewhat un uniform appearance. The palace is vast and every quarter such as the harems and kitchens harbour remnants of the opulent lifestyles of the sultans. In the old Palace kitchens are a collection of Silver, Crystal and Chinese porcelain. Luxurious costumes of the Sultans and their families, a collection of Miniatures and Medieval manuscripts and jewels including the famous spoonmakers diamond (86 carats surrounded by smaller stones) can be viewed in the Hall of Audience at the palace.

Other places of interest are the Dolmabache Palace which was built between 1843 and 1856 it is part Oriental and part European in design. Lavishly decorated with bohemian chandeliers in particular the one in the throne room which was a gift from Queen Victoria in exchange for the largest hand woven carpet in the world, which is currently in the entrance hall of Buckingham Palace! The facade of the Dolmabahce Palace, built in the mid-19th century by Sultan Abdulmecit I, stretches for 600 m along the European shore of the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with its 56 columns and four-and-a-half ton crystal chandelier with 750 lights, never fails to astonish . At one time, birds from all over the world were kept in the Bird Pavilion for the delight of the palace's privileged residents. Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, died in the palace on November 10, 1938. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

Beylerbeyi Palace
In the 19th century, Sultan Abdulaziz built the Beylerbeyi Palace, a fantasy in white marble set amid magnolia-filled gardens, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. Used as the Sultan's summer residence, it was offered to the most distinguished foreign dignitaries for their visits. Empress Eugenie of France was among its residents. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

In addition to the State Pavilions at the Yildiz Palace complex, the compound includes a series of pavilions and a mosque. It was completed by Abdulhamit 11 at the end of the 19th century. Beylerbeyi Palace, is the summer palace of the Sultans and the grandest on the Asian Shore. There are 30 rooms at the palace, it was the palace of Abdülaziz (1861-76), and here you will find Ming vases, bohemian crystal chandeliers and banisters and extravagant interiors. Many Monarchs and Royal guests stayed here including Nicholas the Grand Duke of Russia and Nasruddin Shah of Persia. Sultan Abdülhamid 11 the last Ottoman Sultan watched his empire crumble across the Bosphoros from the palace, after 30 years of rule.

Goksu Palace
The Goksu Palace, also known as Kucuksu, takes its name from the streams which empty into the Bosphorus near the tiny palace. Built by Abdulmecit I in the middle of the 19th century, it was used as a summer residence. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

Originally built in the 18th century and later restored by various sultans, the Aynali Kavak Summer Pavilion assumed the name, Mirrored Poplar, when its famed mirrors, a gift from the Venetians, were installed in 1718. This palace on the Golden Horn is one of the most beautiful examples of traditional Turkish architecture. (open every day except Monday and Thursday).

lhlamur Pavilion
The 19th-century lhlamur Pavilion is named for the linden trees that grow in its gardens. Now in the heart of metropolitan Istanbul, when it was originally constructed, the pavilion lay in the rolling countryside that surrounded the city. The Merasim Pavilion was used for official ceremonies while the Maiyet Pavilion sheltered the sultan's entourage and, on occasions, his harem on their excursions out of the palace confines. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

Maslak Pavilions 
The Maslak Pavilions on a shady green hill were conceived by Sultan Abdulaziz as hunting lodges. These are particularly noteworthy as superb examples of the late 19 thcentury Ottoman decorative style. The Malta Pavilion is presently a casual restaurant while both the Maslak Pavilion and Limonlu Gate are open as cafes. (Open every day)

Florya Ataturk Sea Pavilion
The Florya Ataturk Sea Pavilion served as a summer residence for Turkish presidents, beginning with Ataturk Built in 1935 in a T-shaped design on land jutting out over the Sea of Marmara, this building serves as a showcase for some of the loveliest examples of early 20th century furnishings. (Open weekdays except Monday and Thursday).