Topkapi Palace in Istanbul Tickets and Tours

Located on a triangular promontory overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace is one of the richest museums in the world and can be considered the best and most visited in Istanbul, along with the neighbouring Hagia Sophia. Here's everything you need to know about how to buy tickets, when is the best time to visit and how to avoid the queues at the entrance.

Because remember, this is a palace worth seeing from every angle and perspective and one of the greatest architectural works in the world. That's why I encourage you to book a guided tour so you can learn all the details about the different corners, rooms and items hidden inside. Keep reading!

The perfect choice

Istanbul Topkapi Palace Guided Tour

Discover Topkapi Palace

Enjoy a one-hour guided tour of Istanbul's Topkapi Palace with a professional guide, during which you will have free access to all the palace rooms, except the harem.

From S$112 at Hellotickets

With this guided tour of Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, you can discover one of the most visited monuments in the Turkish city in great detail and avoid the queues at the entrance.

Covering more than 700,000 square metres, the palace has four courtyards and several different buildings inside, including royal stables, an armoury and a treasury, all of which you can access with this ticket, which only excludes access to the harem. You will be accompanied at all times by a professional guide who will explain everything you need to know about the interior. You will also see some of the most valuable objects in the world, such as the Diamond of the Cutler and the Topkapi dagger**.**

Why I like this option... It is ideal if you want to avoid the queues at one of the most visited monuments in the Turkish city.

You can buy them at the ticket offices right at the main entrance to Topkapi Palace. However, during high season, bear in mind that you may have to queue for up to two hours, which will affect your sightseeing plans, especially if you are only visiting Istanbul for a day or two.

Once you have your tickets at the ticket office, you can start exploring Topkapi Palace and discover all its parts, with the exception of the Harem, which requires a separate ticket. If you intend to buy your tickets at the ticket office, I recommend buying them all at once (Palace + Harem) to save time.

However, I always recommend booking a guided tour so that you can learn all about this iconic place.

The price of the palace tour is £7; however, to access the Harem, you will need a separate ticket, which costs £4. Visiting hours may vary on special days, with shorter opening times in general.

There are also two combined tickets that are often purchased: the pass that combines Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene, which costs 200 TL (€12.41); and the pass that combines Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem, which costs 285 TL (€17.68).

A guided tour of Topkapi Palace usually costs around S$112, but bear in mind that this includes priority access and explanations from the guide who will show you the highlights of the enormous palace and put them into context, something you will greatly appreciate.

Are guided tours of Topkapi Palace worth it?

In my opinion, yes. This is the best option to enhance your experience in one of the most iconic places in the world and highly recommended if you are a first-time visitor. With this option, you will be able to connect with an experienced Istanbul historian and learn a great deal.

Once you book your guided tour of Topkapi Palace, you will receive a confirmation email with the meeting details, and your name will be verified on the guide's official list.

Types of guided tours of Topkapi Palace

• Guided tour of Topkapi Palace (small group) — from 112

Priority access and a one-hour tour with a professional guide through the main rooms of the palace (except the harem). Ideal for those looking for a quick and well-explained visit.

• Full guided tour: Topkapi Palace + Süleymaniye Mosque + pottery workshop — from S$223

A 4-hour tour combining history, architecture and local craftsmanship. Includes guided tours of two key monuments and a cultural experience in a traditional workshop.

• Private guided tour of Topkapi Palace — from S$179

Perfect for those who prefer more personalised attention. Half-day private tour with an expert guide and access to exclusive areas such as the palace's private chambers.

Are tickets and visits to Topkapi Palace included in any city sightseeing passes?

Istanbul has three discount tourist passes: the Istanbul Tourist Pass, the Istanbul Welcome Card and the Istanbul E-Pass. The good news is that both the Topkapi Palace and the Harem are included in both passes.

I recommend visiting the websites of both passes to compare prices, as they vary depending on the number of days.

Except for Tuesdays, the palace is open to the public every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Although the palace is huge and there is plenty of space for everyone, some specific areas, which house the museum's highlights, can get very crowded. Therefore, if you want to enjoy greater freedom and comfort, I recommend avoiding the time slot between 10:00 and 15:00.

It usually takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to see the highlights of the museum. This includes passing through the three main gates (the Imperial Gate (Bâb-ı Hümâyûn), the Gate of Greeting (Bâbüsselâm) and the Gate of Happiness (Bâbüssaâde)), the four courtyards, the Harem and the Royal Gardens (also known as the Rose Garden or Gülbahçe).

Topkapi Palace is located in the Sultanahmet neighbourhood, one of the best neighbourhoods in Istanbul, in the Fatih district, very close to the famous Hagia Sophia. The most practical way to get to Sultanahmet is via the Bagcilar-Kabatas tram (line T1).

The nearest tram stop is Sultanahmet. Remember that Sultanahmet Square and most of the connecting roads are closed to traffic, except for the tram and Istanbul tourist buses.

If you are departing from Taksim Square, you can take the funicular to Kabatas. And if you are departing from Tünel Square, you can do the same to Karakoy. From any of these destinations, you can take the T1 tram line to Sultanahmet.

If you are staying in hotels in Sultanahmet, then you only have to walk to the palace.

Topkapi Palace houses the finest examples of seals, books of great historical importance, jewellery, handicrafts and inscriptions. You can also see the clothing of the time, such as the sultans' costumes and traditional dress. The imperial kitchen is also worth a visit, as it houses the finest collection of porcelain items exported from China.

The palace treasury includes an impressive collection of jewels such as emeralds, rubies and diamonds; some of these luxurious minerals are also embedded in swords, costumes and crowns.

The Baghdad Pavilion, which has a very distinctive decoration thanks to its beautiful blue tiles, houses a sanctuary with some relics of the prophet Muhammad, paintings and sacred manuscripts. And, of course, the famous Harem, the private part of the palace where the sultans' wives lived and went about their daily lives.

Collections of Topkapi Palace

Among the items in the immense collection are:

• Weapons: Some are ornamental and have been used to represent status and power, as well as for warfare. They belonged to some of the most important sultans of the Ottoman Empire, such as Mehmed II, Bayezid II, Selim II, Suleiman the Magnificent, Mehmed II...
• Chinese and Japanese porcelain: Both are on display in the palace kitchens and some are of tremendous historical value.
• Copper and gold utensils: Although gold utensils are in the minority, they are very well cared for and decorated, while copper utensils and works are an important part of the kitchen.
• European porcelain and glassware: There are an estimated 5,000 pieces from various European countries.
• Imperial treasure: This includes decorative weapons, crowns, jewellery and gifts for sultans.
• Istanbul glassware: Around 2,000 pieces made in Istanbul.
• Sacred items: Sacred relics, the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad, hairs from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad, the tray used by Abraham, Moses' staff, David's sword, the swords of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, Joseph's tunic... For more information on these sacred items from the palace, visit the following website.
• Artistic section: Portraits of sultans, including valuable portraits of the 36 sultans who ruled the Ottoman Empire.
• Textile Art: Collection of sultan's clothing and some examples of Ottoman textile art.

• Buy your tickets in advance to avoid long queues, especially during high season and peak times.Book your tickets for 9:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m., when there are fewer crowds. Also avoid weekends if possible.
• I recommend opting for a guided tour because Topkapi Palace has a long history and is very large, so it is helpful to know where to go and what to see to make your visit an unforgettable experience and not prolong the tour. Ninety minutes is more than enough time to see the most significant parts of the museum.
• The harem section of Topkapi Palace and the Museum of Saint Irene (formerly a church) can be visited independently.
• The palace is divided into four courtyards. In the first, you will find a beautiful garden with huge trees, a museum gift shop, a café with a historic feel and a ticket office.
• I recommend spending the same day visiting the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, as they are within walking distance of the palace.
• Avoid unofficial guides (official guides have an official badge).
• Try one of the four quality restaurants located inside the palace with views of the Bosphorus.
• Check the weather forecast and plan your day for a sunny and pleasant day.

Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the educational and administrative centre of the Empire. It was built on the tip of the historic peninsula between 1460 and 1478 on the orders of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453.

Topkapi Palace continued to be the residence of the Ottoman sultans until 1850. When it became unsuitable for certain cultural activities such as ceremonies and other formal events, the sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace in Besiktas (see the excursions to the Bosphorus Strait). Despite the move, collections such as the royal treasure and the Holy Relics of the Prophet Muhammad remained in Topkapi. In 1924, on the orders of the leaders of the Republic of Turkey, Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum.