Ottoman Bird Palaces in Istanbul

If one day you find your way to Istanbul, be sure to look up as you walk or cross its streets; because you may see small palaces carved on the sides of mosques and schools. The birds of this city have lived in these miniature mansions for centuries and use them as nests.

In ancient Turkey, people built houses for birds even before the reign of the Ottoman Empire, but they were not as beautiful as what they were built during the Ottoman Empire. The nests built during this period were by no means simple structures and, on the contrary, they were very complex, multi-layered and with many decorations and details; they had: windows, balconies, roofs and beautiful towers like the ones used in the construction of royal buildings.

Due to the high costs in Istanbul and other Turkish cities, transportation can be prohibitively expensive for tourists. Additionally, many historical sites and palaces are not conveniently located near metro lines, requiring the use of urban taxis to reach these destinations. To address this, GoToSafar has introduced special car rental in Turkey for international tourists. This service allows tourists to easily explore Turkey's historical attractions and palaces at their convenience, enhancing their overall travel experience.

In fact, the construction of small bird palaces went beyond pure aesthetic appeal, and they believed that building such structures for such beautiful creatures would please God; on the other hand, the construction of these nests prevented birds from nesting inside other buildings.

Today, only a handful of these remaining bird palaces can still be seen in Turkish cities. In Istanbul, more than any other city in Turkey, you can see these bird mansions, which despite being old and worn, are still used by birds and have been able to maintain their attractive and beautiful appearance with their details for many years in the face of wind and rain; the oldest of these structures is near the Büyükçekmece Bridge, near the city.

Where They Are

There are many places in Istanbul where you can find bird palaces, for example: Sayyed Hassan Pasha Madrasa, Laleli Mosque, Millet Kutuphanesi, Yeni Valide Mosque, Ayazma Mosque, and Taksim Mescidi.

Distances from Ottoman Bird Palaces to famous landmarks in Turkey:

• Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) - about 5 kilometers
• Dolmabahçe Palace - about 10 kilometers
• Topkapı Palace - about 5.5 kilometers
• Galata Tower - about 7 kilometers
• Hagia Sophia Museum - about 5 kilometers