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Rumeli FortressvsBeylerbeyi 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
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Time Out
Afar Magazine Afar Magazine
Frommer's
Tarabya Yenikoy Cad., Istanbul, Turkey
From $0/night
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." Full review
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"Just before the Fatih Bridge are the majestic structures of Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı (Fortress of Anatolia)." Full review
Travel + Leisure "In the stranglehold that eventually throttled Constantinople in 1453, the Rumeli Hisar (castle) served as the lynch pin." Full review
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." Full review
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." Full review
Afar Magazine "These days, the fort is a museum and a nice place for a stroll to catch magnificent views of the Bosphorus from the European side. There is a small entry free. The fort is closed on Wednesdays." Full review
i
In my opinion, the best time to go is Saturday morning because there is a town, within easy walking distance, that holds its weekly market then.
Afar Magazine "Construction may have taken four months, but the fortress’s impact on Istanbul’s history has been eternal. " Full review
Frommer's "This citadel was built by Mehmet the Conqueror across from the Anatolia Fortress... in preparation for what was to be the seventh and final Ottoman siege of the fortified Byzantine city." Full review
Beylerbeyi Palace Lonely Planet Michelin Guide Fodor's Michelin Guide Afar Magazine Frommer's Travel + Leisure
Abdullah Aga Caddesi, Istanbul, Turkey
From $0/night
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." Full review
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." Full review
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." Full review
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." Full review
Frommer's "The grounds contain sumptuous pavilions and kiosks, including the Stable Pavilion, where the imperial stud was kept." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The now-museum is a gorgeous example of interior design and architecture, with nods to both Ottoman and Neo-Baroque styles. The stunning gardens that surround the palace are equally impressive."
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