Maslak Pavilions
Travel Point Overview
If you’re looking to escape the chaos of Istanbul without ever leaving the city, let us take you to a place where time slows down — Maslak Pavilions.
🌲 Maslak Pavilions: A Palace Tale Hidden in the Heart of the Forest
If you’re looking to escape the chaos of Istanbul without ever leaving the city, let us take you to a place where time slows down — Maslak Pavilions. Nestled between Levent and Ayazağa, in the middle of a lush forest, these 19th-century Ottoman structures stand as quiet witnesses of royal moments and timeless elegance.
🏹 A Royal Hunting Ground, Witness to History
Maslak first became a royal retreat during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II (1808–1839), serving as a hunting and resting ground for the sultans. While the exact date and architect of the pavilions remain uncertain, most of the current structures are attributed to the era of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861–1876).
But what truly makes Maslak historically significant is a single moment: it was here that Prince Abdülhamid received the news calling him to the Ottoman throne. These walls were silent witnesses to a turning point in Ottoman history.
🌿 A Palace Within the Forest
The pavilions are located in the heart of a 170-acre woodland, where every shade of green finds a home. Birds chirp above, soft winds rustle through the trees, and winding paths invite you to take a deep breath and slow your steps.
The remaining structures today include:
- Kasr-ı Hümâyûn (Imperial Pavilion) – now a museum-home,
- Mâbeyn-i Hümâyûn,
- Limonluk (The Orangery),
- Çadır Köşk (Tent Pavilion),
- and the Pasha’s Apartment.
Overlooking the point where the Bosphorus opens into the Black Sea, these wooden Ottoman structures showcase the graceful style and detailed craftsmanship of the late 19th century.
🏛️ Where You Can Stroll, Sit, and Breathe
The Kasr-ı Hümâyûn has been carefully restored as a museum, guided by archival documents, memoirs, and old photographs. Every room reflects the quiet refinement of the late Ottoman period.
The Mâbeyn section, along with the Orangery (Limonluk) and Tent Pavilion, has been restored as elegant cafés where visitors can sit, sip tea, and enjoy the peaceful garden view. In winter, camellia flowers bloom inside the Orangery, creating a serene visual delight behind the glass walls.
Maslak’s gardens are also available for national and international receptions, offering a unique and tranquil setting.
🕰️ Visitor Information
- Opening Hours: Every day from 09:00 to 17:00
- Closed: Mondays, New Year’s Day, and the first day of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.
🎫 Ticket Prices:
- Turkish citizens: 60 TL
- Foreign visitors: 200 TL
- Students (ages 7–25, with valid ID): 30 TL
- Garden-only ticket: 30 TL
- Children aged 0–6: Free of charge
🪪 Foreign students must present a valid ISIC card and pay double the discounted price.
The Museum Pass is valid here (with a few exceptions such as certain areas of Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe).
✨ Why Visit Maslak Pavilions?
📸 Capture natural light streaming through intricate wooden latticework.
🌳 Walk quietly along forest paths, accompanied only by the sounds of birds and breeze.
📖 Sit in the garden, and imagine the day a prince became a sultan.
Maslak Pavilions aren’t just architecture — they are a retreat, a memory, a moment.
A place where history rests in the arms of nature.
