The Topkapı Palace Guided Tour is available daily, except on Tuesdays. Multiple time slots are offered for your convenience: 10:00 / 12:15 / 16:15.
Please make sure to check in with your guide before the tour start time at the Imperial Mint (Darphane-i Amire), located next to the Hagia Irene Church, inside the First Courtyard of Topkapı Palace.
About This Activity
Highlights
- See the great architecture of the Istanbul Topkapi Palace
- Learn the magnificent history of Topkapi Palace Museum
- Be amazed by walking through the amazing Harem Section of the Palace
- See breathtaking views of Istanbul over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus
Includes
- Guided Entry to Istanbul Topkapi Palace
- Entry to the famous Harem Section of Topkapi Palace
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
A Glimpse of Life and Luxury during the Ottoman Empire
In the 1600s, Evliya Çelebi, a famous Ottoman author and traveler, said of Topkapı Palace: "Never hath a more delightful residence been erected by the art of man."
See it for yourself and get the most out of your visit to Topkapı Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years.
Topkapı Palace has many unique collections on display including weapons of the Ottoman Army, beautiful fabrics, jewels, and art, as well as an amazing collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
There is even a Holy Relics Chamber which contains personal items of the Prophet Muhammad, the staff of Moses, and the sword of David, to name only a few. What a collection!
The Harem at Topkapi Palace served as the private residence for Ottoman Dynasty members and elite women for centuries. Access was restricted to Sultans, their families, and select personnel. With over 300 rooms, nine baths, and two mosques adorned with exquisite tiles, the Harem showcases Ottoman opulence from the 16th to the 19th century. Key structures include the Privy Chamber of Murad III and the Twin Kiosk/Apartments of the Crown Prince. The Main Entrance, Court of the Concubines, and Imperial Hall are also notable. Explore this historical and architectural gem with your Istanbul Tourist Pass®.
The most visited museum in Turkey, Topkapı Palace is an absolute must-see while you're in Istanbul so add it to your itinerary now!
Less queuing, more viewing!
For this amazing experience and more, Buy Your Pass Now! Istanbul Tourist Pass® is here to make your Istanbul trip an unforgettable experience!
Times & Duration
You can make Topkapi Palace Guided Tour reservations easily for your desired date and time in the Manage My Pass section.
Available sessions are 10:00 / 12:15 / 16:15
Where Exactly Will We Meet?
Your guide will meet you at the Imperial Mint (Darphane-i Amire), which is located right next to Hagia Irene Church, inside the First Courtyard of Topkapı Palace.
The First Courtyard is completely free to enter. You do not need a ticket to access this area.
How Do I Get There? (Step-by-step)
Find the Main Gate of Topkapı Palace.
This gate is called Bab-ı Hümayun (The Imperial Gate).
You’ll see it at the end of Sultanahmet Square, directly across from the main entrance of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.
Walk through the gate.
You’ll now be entering the First Courtyard, also known as the Outer Courtyard.
This area is open to everyone and does not require a ticket.
Pass through a quick security check.
This is a routine check and usually takes just a few minutes.
Look for Hagia Irene Church on your left.
It's a large, historic Byzantine church inside the courtyard.
Next to it, you’ll see the Imperial Mint (Darphane) building.
Your guide will be waiting near the Mint.
Our staff will be holding a sign or wearing a badge so you can find them easily.
When Should I Arrive?
Please aim to arrive at the meeting point at least 15–20 minutes before your tour time. This gives you enough time to:
Pass through security,
Find the meeting spot without stress,
Ask for help if needed,
And be ready for a smooth start.
Where You'll Be
How to Get There?
Getting to the Topkapi Palace Museum Guided Tour with Harem Including Entry Tickets is convenient and accessible from various parts of Istanbul. Here’s a guide to help you reach this iconic landmark:
From many regions of Istanbul, reaching Topkapi Palace Museum is easy and quick. Here is the most recent instructions to enable you to visit this ancient site:
Tram: Topkapi Palace may be reached most quickly via the T1 Tram Line (Bağcılar-Kabataş). Leave at the Sultanahmet station, or Gülhane. From either stop, the museum entrance is about a five- to ten-minute' walk.
Metro: Travel to Vezneciler Station on the M2 Metro Line. From there, you may either follow the tram directions above or stroll for around twenty minutes or change to the T1 Tram Line at Laleli-Üniversite station.
Bus: Many buses headed toward Eminönü or Beyazıt pass near Sultanahmet Square. You may then go to the museum or move to the T1 Tram Line.
Taxi: All across Istanbul, taxis are very common. Tell the driver you are en route to Sultanahmet's Topkapı Sarayı, Topkapi Palace Museum. To prevent overcharging, we recommend you check the taxi meter to see if it is operating and also check your navigation app to follow the route.
On Foot: Many famous landmarks, like Topkapi Palace, are within walking distance from Sultanahmet. Just use your navigation app or simply ask residents for direction or follow the signage pointing you toward Topkapi Palace Museum.
Try to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon, particularly in busy tourist seasons, for a less packed experience.
All About Topkapi Palace Museum
Topkapı Palace, one of the largest and most eye-catching structures of the Ottoman period, contains historical elements in abundance. This building, which has managed to preserve its splendor until today, is open to visitors as a museum. The Topkapı Palace Museum is divided into different sections and each section is believed to have a different function, hosting millions of visitors throughout the year. When it comes to the size of the palace, it is not possible for all parts of it to be open to visitors. However, a large part of the palace is available for visitation.
Topkapi Palace with its Unique Architecture
Topkapi Palace Museum is among the best places to visit in Istanbul. It amazes its visitors with its impressive history. This palace, which was built by the famous Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror right after the conquest of Istanbul, hosted dozens of Ottoman Sultans and powerful personalities of history.
Its construction was started in 1460 and completed in 1478. It was built on a land of 700,000 square meters. Being located in Sarayburnu, at the tip of the Istanbul peninsula between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace can be seen from almost anywhere in Istanbul.
Four hundred years of the empire, especially during the era of Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Sultan Abdülmecid; Topkapı Palace, has managed to maintain its importance since the day it was built. This structure can also be considered as the center of education, administration, and art.
The Topkapı Palace museum, which was opened to the public as a museum after the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, has an interior space of 400,000 square meters. At the same time, this palace is the first museum of the Republic of Turkey. Topkapı Palace has collections and approximately 300,000 archive documents. It is one of the largest palace museums in the world. The palace, which has many different works under its roof, is flooded by both local and foreign visitors every year.
Surrounded by gardens and squares, the palace has four interlocking courtyards. Each courtyard has a different purpose. For example, the courtyard used by the statesmen was not the same as the courtyard used by Sultan's concubines. At the same time, Sultan's family members used a completely different part of the Palace.
Topkapı Palace museum, which combines aesthetic appearance with baroque architecture, perfectly reflects the magnificent Ottoman culture and lifestyle. In addition to the showiness of the palace, there are also special corners, as the Sultan and his family loved.
It is possible to find traces of history in this building, where the plain walls are decorated with fine details. The precious jewels in the palace, ...
Know Before You Go
- The guided tours are performed in English.
- Please meet your guide at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before your preferred tour time. Click "Get Directions" above to find the location on Google Maps.
- Istanbul Tourist Pass® holders do not pay admission at the Topkapı Palace Museum.
- Children will be asked to present their passports at the entrance to confirm their age.
- The Harem Section is included in the Pass.
- The museum is only open for half a day on the first day of Ramadan and the Sacrifice Festivals.
- Be sure to bring your ID card with you when you come to the tour.