The only surviving palace of the Crimean khans and the principal monument of Crimean Tatar civilisation. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries on the banks of the Çürüksu river, the complex is a sprawling collection of low buildings, courtyards, mosques, harems, and gardens, decorated throughout in a distinctive Crimean Tatar style that blends Ottoman, Persian, and Iranian influences.
The most famous individual feature is the Fountain of Tears, a marble dripping fountain in one of the courtyards, immortalised by Pushkin in his 1823 narrative poem. The Hansaray Mosque, the harem chambers with their painted ceilings, and the throne hall are all preserved. Allow at least two hours for the palace and another hour for the small museum next door covering Crimean Tatar history and crafts.