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Blue Mosque
Topkapi Palace
Basilica Cistern
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Topkapi Palace has more colorful stories than the majority of the world’s galleries combined and it is surely one of the best places to visit in Istanbul. The magnificent courtyards, jewel-filled Treasury, and spacious Harem of the estate provide an intriguing peek into the lives of the palace’s renowned occupants of the past. The palace was once the Ottoman sultans’ primary home and administrative center. Soon after the Conquest in 1453, Mehmed the Conqueror began the construction of the first phase of the palace, which he occupied until his death in 1481.
More About Topkapi PalaceTopkapi Palace attracts millions of visitors every year, owing to long waiting lines at the entrance to buy tickets. The Topkapi Palace Skip-the-Line tickets allow you to save the time you’d rather spend in the lines. You can simply display your mobile voucher and gain entry access, giving you a lot more time to spend exploring the palace.
Topkapi Palace is a massive attraction that has many stories and secrets to uncover. With a guided tour ticket, you can ensure that you discover the rich history and culture of the palace. Also, you will only be allowed access into the Imperial Harem when accompanied by an expert guide. You will also get access to free audio-guides available in multiple languages.
With a Guided Tour Ticket ticket, not only will you be able to skip waiting lines but also get priority access to Topkapi Palace. This will include a 90-minute tour along with access to the Imperial Harem. An expert English-speaking guide will give you a low down on the role Topkapi Palace played in Istanbul’s history. There is also an immersive audio-guide available on a free mobile app.
Discover Istanbul’s top attractions like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hagia Irene, and many other incredible monuments of Istanbul along with Topkapi Palace. With this pass, you can enjoy skip-the-line access to every attraction and also explore the places with an expert English-speaking guide. With a 5-day validity, explore the city of Istanbul at your own pace.
Skip ahead of long lines at Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern with these combo-guided tours. These tours seamlessly blend multiple attractions into a single package, optimizing time and value. You can visit a variety of cultural hotspots under professional guides, who will share interesting anecdotes and accompany you to explore hidden gems within these historical landmarks. You can also explore these attractions by yourself with an audio guide, available in 9 languages, included in these tours.
Combo: Hagia Sophia + Topkapi Palace + Basilica Cistern Guided Tour Tickets
Cancel any of these tickets up to 24 hours before the scheduled time and get a full refund.
Shortly after his conquest of Constantinople (the olden name of Istanbul) in 1453, Mehmed the Conqueror started building the first level of the palace. He also lived here until his death in 1481. Sultans stayed at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul until the nineteenth century. After a huge fire that devastated the royal kitchens in 1574, Sultan Selim II entrusted Mimar Sinan with restoring the damaged section of the palace. The Topkapi Palace remained an Ottoman stronghold throughout this period.
The first courtyard, also known as the First Court, is the palace’s largest and sole public space. Throughout the reign of the Ottoman Empire, the Imperial gates were opened to anyone unarmed. The wide expanse of the courtyard was perfect for celebrations and parades, and it was probably the busiest of the palace's squares.
The Salutation Gate opens up to the Second Court of Topkapi Palace. Known as the Divan Square, the Second Court used to be the administrative center. This area would only be opened to the members of the court and other formal visitors. In the Domed Chamber, also known as Council Hall, members of the Council met many times a week to deliberate imperial concerns.
The harem was really the sultan’s family’s dwelling quarters, and it was rigorously partitioned by gender. In the 16th Century, Murat III got apartments built here, which eventually became the sultan’s palace as well. The harem, like the remainder of the palace, was constantly refurbished and expanded to meet growing demands. The outcome today is a complex plan with a variety of architectural influences.
The Felicity Gate, with its canopied entrance, opens to the Third Court, or innermost square, which accommodated the Sultan’s private home and the internal imperial school. The sultan, his family, his staff, and the infrequent authorized guest were the only ones who could enter. Visitors to the Sultan were limited to the Audience Chamber and were required to conform to a strict protocol.
Situated at the eastern end of the court, the Topkapi Treasury includes priceless riches like silver, gold, emeralds, jades, rubies, pearls and diamond-encrusted artifacts. The Treasury was built in 1460 while Mehmed the Conqueror reigned and was originally used as a reception hall. The jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent and the remarkable Throne of Ahmed I, studded with mother-of-pearl and fashioned by Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, builder of the Blue Mosque, are also worth seeing.
The third courtyard connects to the Fourth Court, which features tiered lawns and pavilions. It is home to the Baghdad Pavilion, Circumcision Chamber, and Yerevan Pavilion, all of which are ornamented lavishly. The charming gilt-bronze Iftar Pergola, where sultans often broke their fasts if Ramadan occurred in the summertime, is one of the most distinctive features in the fourth courtyard.
The palace cooks and confectionaries, which currently house the imperial porcelain exhibit, as well as the External Treasury, were all located in the second courtyard. The porcelain collection demonstrates the empire’s global reach, with items acquired from Europe, as well as China and Japan. Celadon from China was treasured as dinnerware because it was thought that if the food served in it was poisoned, it would change color.
The Royal Arms were also kept in the External Treasury. The artifacts in the collections, like other objects at the Topkapi Palace Museum, were either made by workshops on the Sultan’s orders, acquired at markets, received as presents from visiting diplomats, or accumulated from conquered people.
You can reserve tickets for your group in advance using the online ticket booking system. As Topkapi Palace only permits a limited number of guests at a time and in slots, pre-booking your tickets ensures your entry into the palace. You can also plan your trip ahead of schedule and the flexible cancellation policy allows you to get a full refund if your plans change as well!
Book Topkapi Palace TicketsTopkapi Palace Opening Hours:
Winter: From October 30th to April 15th
Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene: 9 AM to 4:45 PM
Summer: From April 16th to October 29th
Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene: 9 AM to 6 PM
Closed Dates: Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays, 1 May, the first day of Ramadan, and the first day of Sacrifice.
Topkapi Palace HoursTopkapi Palace is located at Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
By Car: Take the Adnan Menderes Boulevard onto Turgut Özal Millet Cd and then on to Alemdar Cd to reach Topkapi palace.
By Train: The closest train station is Marmaray Sirkeci İstasyonu station which is a 15-minute walk from the palace.
By Tram: The closest tram stop is at Gülhane Istasyonu which is a 10-minute walk from Topkapi Palace.
By Bus: The closest bus stop is at Sarayburnu, which is an 18-minute walk from the palace.
Get Directions to Topkapi PalaceWheelchair Accessibility: Topkapi Palace is mostly accessible by wheelchairs. The main entrance has ramps for easy access. Most of the doors have ramps to get over the marble door frames. All four courtyards can be accessed by differently-abled individuals by the use of wheelchairs. There are also wheelchair accessible toilets in the palace. You can also rent a wheelchair from the entrance.
Audio Guides: You can avail audio guides at the palace to explore the palace by yourself as well. You may be charged extra for it if it isn’t already included in your ticket.
Toilets: There are toilets available throughout the palace.
Topkapi Palace Museum Shop
On the right side of the Topkapi Palace entrance, you will find the Museum Shop which sells merchandise and memorabilia. You can buy postcards, replica attire, and the likes of these from the museum shop.
Address: Museum Shop, Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
While there are no restaurants or eateries within the palace, there are places nearby where you can enjoy a delectable meal.
Roof Mezze 360: This rooftop restaurant offers traditional Turkish food with a global twist.
Turgut Kebab Restaurant: This dine-in and takeaway restaurant is the best place to go if you are craving kebabs.
Fish Home Ahhir Kapi Restaurant: If you love seafood, this is the restaurant that you must head to after your visit.
Şiva barbecue: This is the best place to go for all the barbecue fans visiting the Topkapi Palace.
Budget: Star Holiday Hotel, Sultanahmet Hotel Han, Meddusa Hotel
Mid-range: Zeynep Sultan Hotel, The Million Stone Hotel, Bon Design & Suite
Luxury: White House Hotel Istanbul, Agora Life Hotel, Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul
Hagia Sophia: A Byzantine cathedral turned mosque, the Hagia Sophia is an iconic landmark soaked in rich history as a melting pot of a myriad of cultures.
Blue Mosque: Located right opposite Hagia Sophia and built to outrival the Sophia, the Blue Mosque is famously known for its blue tiles.
Madame Tussauds Istanbul: Meet some of your favorite stars and icons at the life-like wax museum at Madame Tussauds Istanbul.
Bosphorus Cruises: Nestled right in the middle of Asia and Europe, the Bosphorus strait allows you to discover the beauty of Turkey from a completely different perspective.
A. Yes, there are tickets available for Topkapi Palace, and they can be booked online as well. Book your tickets online.
A. You can buy your Topkapi Palace tickets online here.
A. Yes, there are great deals and discounts available on Topkapi Palace tickets here.
A. Yes, Topkapi Palace is now open for visits.
A. Yes, there are many guided tours available for Topkapi Palace. Check them out here.
A. Topkapi Palace is mostly wheelchair accessible with ramps available at most locations. There are also wheelchair accessible toilets available at the venue.