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
  • Headsets to hear the guide better
  • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem
  • Expert local guides
  • Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace
Additional Information

Explore the rich history and legends of Ottoman Istanbul on an intimate guided tour.
Enjoy fast-track entry with an expert guide, bypassing the long queues.
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 breathtaking…

Location
Ersoy Bufe
At Meydanı Caddesi
We meet at Ersoy Bufe. This is a small food kiosk just by the side of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square. It is across the German Fountain. Your guide will be in front of the Ersoy Bufe with a sign that says, “Walks in Europe.”
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(140 Ratings)
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Margaret_h
Oct 5, 2024
Great Introduction to Palace Living - Guide spoke very good English was very knowledgeable AND personable! Saw all the most interesting features of this site and had information from the guide on recommendations of what else to review on our own.
Review provided by Viator
8pcjhfy7zd
Oct 1, 2024
Topkapi Papace - The palace was huge so having a guide (Erme) to show us through was the way to go. He was brilliant and his knowledge immense.
Review provided by Viator
Naeema_m
Sep 28, 2024
Topkapi Palace gets more enriched with a guide. - The most memorable part was the Holy exhibit. Also our guide was amazing, kind and very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Mary_m
Sep 28, 2024
Topkapi palace is a must see destinations in Istanbul - Emre was a wonderful guide. He had an extensive knowledge base that he shared in an entertaining and enthusiastic manner. He took great care of us, and even made sure that we found our way back to the tram. The Topkapi palace is fascinating, and I enjoyed it a little more than the forbidden city in Beijing.
Review provided by Viator
Byron_k
Sep 28, 2024
Really interesting - Overall, great tour. I didn't realize the Harem portion also included the Stan's rooms and his mother's, so it's worth it to get that entry included. Our tour guide was also very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. The only downside is that the palace gets crowded, so be aware...not sure how to avoid them.
Review provided by Viator
Marisa_b
Sep 23, 2024
A piece of living history - This is a very large complex with such a rich history. This tour really helped bring that history to life and to experience it.
Review provided by Viator
Vlaurend
Sep 22, 2024
Absolutely wonderful guide - Highly recommended. We would have missed so much fascinating information about Ottoman history and palace life if we had just gone by ourselves. Our guide, Murat, was absolutely wonderful and answered all of our detailed questions so openly and knowledgeably. His English fluency was as impressive as his depth of knowledge. He also knew how to navigate our small group around the big cruise ship tours. We didn't have time to see everything, but would have gone to the artifacts exhibits after the tour if we hadn't had 2:30 lunch plans. Expect it to take longer than 3 hours if you go in the middle of the day like we did. Our tour was supposed to be 11am-2pm but it went over, as we needed to wait for crowds to dissipate. To kill time, Murat added another nearby location to the tour before we entered Topkapi Palace. We would not have known about it and were glad to have learned about this little known place, which we were asked not to mention, as it is not normally included in this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kerriek_99
Sep 18, 2024
Topaki palace - Our guide was so knowledgeable about not only the palace but in which order to see things to best avoid the worst of the crowds. It was an amazing sight to see but having the guide just made it extra special. Well worth the money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gwend
Sep 29, 2024
Great time with excellent guide - Bekut was a very professional guide. We maneuvered the large crowd to see the beautiful sights!!! We had free time to explore but yet she was available for any questions!
Review provided by Viator
Rina_m
Sep 22, 2024
Well guided tour - The Guide e Esmer was good and planned all very well, however didn't go too much into detail of artitechtral aspect of topkapi palace. Explanation for Harem was superb
Review provided by Viator
From $71
up to 14 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).