Rumeli Fortress vs Beylerbeyi Palace
Both are recommended by expert writers. Overall, Rumeli Fortress ranks marginally higher than Beylerbeyi Palace. Rumeli Fortress has a TripExpert Score of 82 with recommendations from 5 publications such as Michelin Guide, Time Out and Lonely Planet.
Rumeli Fortress
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Tarabya Yenikoy Cad., Istanbul, Turkey
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Fodor's
"Built on a hill overlooking the water, Rumeli Hisarı is the best preserved of all the fortresses on the Bosphorus and well worth a visit."
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Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"Just before the Fatih Bridge are the majestic structures of Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı (Fortress of Anatolia)."
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Travel + Leisure
"In the stranglehold that eventually throttled Constantinople in 1453, the Rumeli Hisar (castle) served as the lynch pin."
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Michelin Guide
1 Star
"The towers and crenellated walls of the imposing ramparts of the Rumeli Hisari (1452) can be seen on the European shore of the Bosphorus, resembling a long stone snake."
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Time Out
"Visitors can explore the many towers of the fortress and enjoy a spectacular view of the Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge."
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Beylerbeyi Palace
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Abdullah Aga Caddesi, Istanbul, Turkey
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Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"Under the bridge on the European shore is the green-and-cream-coloured Balyan Usta Yalı , built in the 1860s by architect Sarkis Balyan."
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Michelin Guide
2 Stars
"This palace is one of the architectural fantasies of the last sultans."
Fodor's
"Like a mini-Dolmabahçe that incorporates a similarly eclectic mix of European and Turkish styles but is smaller, less grandiose, and has more of a personal feel."
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Michelin Guide
2 Stars
"This former summer palace, clad in marble and surrounded by gardens, was built in 1865 for the Sultan Abdülaziz (1830-1876) and hosted guests such as Empress Eugénie of France."
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Afar Magazine
"Beylerbeyi Palace (Beylerbeyi Sarayı)This beautiful 19th-century palace on the Asian shoreline near the First Bosphorus Bridge served as a summer retreat for sultans and visiting dignitaries."
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