Topkapi Palace Tickets & Tours

Inclusions

• Skip-the-line entry into Topkapı Palace

• Access to Harem Museum

• Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

• The services of a representative who will lead you to the entrance

• 2-hour guided tour of Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern with entry tickets (optional)

• English-speaking guide (optional)

Explore Istanbul’s 'Big Three' — Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern — with one flexible, skip-the-line combo ticket.

• Everything you get at Hagia Sophia: Explore the mosaics, domes, and quiet of the Upper Gallery at Hagia Sophia with ease. The included audio guide takes you through it all, from emperor coronations to the rich history of the place.
• Everything you get at Topkapi Palace: Skip long wait lines and enter the Harem's ornate chambers at the Topkapi Palace. Catch the jewel-covered Topkapi Dagger and the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, all with your personal audio storyteller in tow.
• Everything you get at Basilica Cistern: Descend under Istanbul's grounds and marvel at ancient columns, echoing vaults, and Medusa’s icy stares. Take in this experience with an added bonus of skipping long ticket lines and a 7+ language audio guide.
• Why choose this combo: 1 ticket, no transfers, no commute, no stress. All three landmarks are just minutes apart. Perfect combo if you want to save money and enjoy quick skip-the-line access at every stop.

Inclusions Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry
• Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, & Turkish

Hagia Sophia

• Skip-the-line entry
• Access to Hagia Sophia's Upper Gallery visiting area
• Audio guide downloadable in English, German, French, Italian, & Spanish

Topkapi Palace

• Skip-the-line entry
• Access to Topkapi Palace Harem (Royal Apartments & Imperial Hall)
• Access to Topkapi Palace Museum (Treasury & Sacred Relics Room)
• Audio guide downloadable in English, Arabic, French, German, & Spanish

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Follow the full loop before heading out—the Medusa heads are tucked away at the far end and worth a close look from every angle.

• Skip-the-line tickets are very helpful, but all visitors must go through standard security screening.

• For a more peaceful visit, go early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it’s less crowded. The space feels a lot more serene then!

• The lighting is kept low to preserve the atmosphere. Switch to night mode or steady your phone to capture clearer photos.

• Make sure you wear shoes with good grip to avoid slipping in some areas.

Hagia Sophia

• Tip: Security checks are a must at the venue. During summer months, checks can take extra time with queues stretching into the courtyard.

• Only the Upper Gallery area is open to visitors, while the main floor is reserved for worshippers.

• You cannot enter the mosque during prayer times, so plan your visit around the daily schedule.

• The Hagia Sophia is closed to tourists on Fridays from noon to mid-afternoon for prayer.

• Modest dress is mandatory for all, so make sure you wear clothes that cover your head, shoulders and knees. Headscarves are available at the entrance for women.

Topkapi Palace

• Tip: Don’t miss the Harem—it holds the palace’s most intricate art and architecture.
• Visit early in the morning or in the late afternoon hours to avoid long security lines.
• Skip-the-line tickets bypass ticket queues but not security checks. Checks normally take 30–40 minutes from June to August.
• Some rooms in the Harem do not allow photography, so keep an eye out for signs.
• The Spoonmaker’s Diamond is dimly lit. Pro tip: catch the reflections on the wall to view it clearly.

Inclusions Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry
• Audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian
• Free time to explore

Topkapi Palace

• Skip-the-line entry
• Skip-the-line entry to Harem Museum
• Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
• Free time to explore

Basilica Cistern

• Skip-the-line entry
• Free time to explore more
• English-speaking tour guide

Topkapi Palace

• Skip-the-line ticket
• Free time to explore more
• Topkapi Palace audio guide app
• Entry to Harem

Basilica Cistern

• Tip: The underground cistern is dim and moist, so bring a lightweight cardigan to stay warm.
• Skip-the-line tickets help you avoid long queues, but security screening is still mandatory for all visitors.
• For fewer crowds and a more peaceful visit, go early in the morning or later in the evening.
• The lighting inside is low for ambience; switch on night mode or steady your phone for clearer shots.
• Some parts of the floor are slick. Sturdy footwear with grip will help you walk safely.

Topkapi Palace

• Tip: Some of the most beautiful tilework in the palace is housed inside the Harem. Make sure to stop by.
• The skip-the-line tickets let you bypass ticketing lines. Security checks are mandatory and take about 30 to 40 minutes between June and August.
• Security lines can stretch long in the morning. Visit in the late afternoon hours or as soon as it opens for a smoother entry.
• Photography is not allowed in many of the Harem rooms and the Treasury. Check the signs before taking pictures.
• The Spoonmaker’s Diamond, one of the palace’s highlights, is often behind glass in a dim room. Look at the reflection on the wall to view it clearly.

Inclusions

• 1-hour guided tour
• English-speaking guide
• Skip-the-ticket-line entry to Topkapi Palace
• Access to Harem Section
• Audio guide for IOS & Android is available in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Instructions to download will be shared with your ticket. Do bring your own headphones.

Build your perfect Istanbul adventure by picking 2 to 9 attractions, from iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to cultural gems like a hammam or dervish show.

• Everything you get: Access to top landmarks like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Dolmabahçe Palace (choose 2-4 based on your pass), guided tours including the Asian side walking tour and hop-on hop-off bus, cultural experiences like a Turkish bath or Dervish ceremony, a Blue Mosque tour, Bosphorus dinner cruise, a 5-ride transportation card, multilingual audio guides for all attractions, a digital guidebook, and a city map to navigate it all.
• Why choose this: Enjoy seamless access with one easy pass that covers guided tours, a Bosphorus cruise, and a 5-ride public transport card for getting around the city. Choose the Premium Pass to visit 4 attractions or go all in with the Deluxe Pass to unlock 9 of the city’s best, with all tickets delivered straight to your inbox.

Inclusions

• Landmarks & Palaces: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, & Dolmabahce Palace (choose 2/4/9 depending on your pass tier)

• Guided tours: Asian side walking tour & hop-on hop-off bus tour (based on your pass tier)

• Cultural experiences: Turkish bath or hammam experience & Dervish ceremony (based on your pass tier)

• Blue Mosque guided tour

• Bosphorus dinner cruise

• 5-ride Istanbul transportation card

• Multilingual audio guides for all attractions

• Digital guidebook

• City, tram, and metro map

Inclusions

• Free entrance tickets to Hagia Sophia
• Skip the line entry tickets to Topkapi Palace (optional)
• Guided tour
• Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace audio guide (English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Turkish)

Exclusions

• Harem section in Topkapi Palace
  • Headsets
  • Hotel transfers
  • Meal inclusions