Ottoman Istanbul Tour: History and Myths Unveiled

Explore the Topkapi Palace and Harem on a small-group guided tour with priority admission. Discover the history and myths of Ottoman Istanbul, see the Holy Relics and Imperial Kitchens, and admire stunning views of the Bosphorus.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sultanahmet District - Meet your expert guide and join your small group for a walking tour of Topkapi Palace and see its Harem, too.
    Visit the top site in Istanbul with priority admission tickets.
  • Topkapi Palace - Start your tour after you pass Sultanahmet Square.
    Enjoy your guide’s commentary about Topkapi and the Ottoman Sultans who…
What's Included
  • Small group tour
  • Expert local guides
  • Headsets to hear the guide better
  • Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace
  • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem
  • Starting from Galata Port (If this option is selected)
Additional Information

Explore the rich history and legends of Ottoman Istanbul on an intimate guided tour.
Enjoy priority access tickets to skip the queues, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.
Experience the Harem firsthand, the secluded residence of the Sultans.
Discover the Holy Relics, Imperial Kitchens, Royal Court, and the terraced gardens adorned with tulips.
Take in…

Location
Ersoy Bufe
At Meydanı Caddesi
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(147 Ratings)
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T6083lmkatherineb
Feb 23, 2025
Topkapi Palace and Harem - Despite the terrible weather (snow/rain mix and very cold), this tour was wonderful! Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the palace, its inhabitants and its history. The tour lasts three hours, but you should plan to spend at least another hour or two at the on-site museum afterwards.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Catherine_d
Feb 15, 2025
We had a fantastic... - We had a fantastic experience on the tour, and Kubra was an amazing guide! She was so knowledgeable. We learned a lot and felt that the tour was very well organized!
Review provided by Viator
Nikki_k
Jan 23, 2025
This was the first tour... - This was the first tour of our trip, and Kubra truly set the bar high. She was absolutely wonderful, bringing the palace to life with her deep knowledge and genuine appreciation for its history. We were fortunate to have her all to ourselves for the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Myra_a
Jan 12, 2025
Amazing! - Emre was excellent! He brought the tour to life with his humor and knowledge and took his time to explain things. Thank you Emre!
Review provided by Viator
Marrgaritka
Jan 9, 2025
Worth every penny! The guide made the palace come to life for us. - We had an amazing experience on the guided tour of Topkapi Palace! The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and brought the history of the palace to life with engaging stories and fascinating details. It was worth every penny, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Istanbul!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Colinmc12
Jan 9, 2025
Great Tour with Mert as the Guide - I had Mert as my guide for this tour and another tour the previous two days back for both the mosques. He did a great job on both tours and was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linda_l
Jan 4, 2025
The must see Topkapi Palace with the must see tour - We used the same tour company for the Blue Mosque and we had a different tour guide who was also excellent!! The Topkapi Palace was HUGE and visiting without a guide would be difficult. He provided a well timed tour of all the highlights, including the Harem and was so knowledgeable of the history, architecture and artifacts. We were able to breeze through the entry into the harem and other areas. He pointed out other exhibits to go to on our own. The only problem with the 1 pm start in the winter is that the complex closes earlier so we were not able to explore the church or thoroughly explore the exhibits like you could in the spring or summer. Our guide Giba? was wonderful and we are so happy that we booked this tour for a must see monument.
Review provided by Viator
Paolo_p
Jan 1, 2025
Worth a trip - The palace is very interesting on its own [take your time visiting it] The guide was very helpful for understanding
Review provided by Viator
Harjinder_s
Nov 20, 2024
A great guide - Boy our tour guide was very knowledgeable concerning the Palace and ottoman history. I learned so much regarding the palace and intrigue in the palace.
Review provided by Viator
Nehan_n
Oct 30, 2024
Good tour guide, way too rushed - Your guide had a lot of information but was a little rude when you asked him questions (i find a lot of people in Turkey to be rude thou). He explained everything so well and I learned so much. The worst part of the tour, and probably hey I wouldn't encourage people to use this package is it was WAY TOO FAST. We had to rush to fit everything in 3 hours and even then we had to do lot on our own. Our tour guide did set expectations before our tour started and said we could visit anything we wanted on our own but who's gonna go walk around the entire complex again? This tour should be 5 hours WITH the tour guide for everything.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 14 guests
1 Adult
February 2025
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