Topkapi Palace: Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets & Exploration of the Ottoman History

Explore the Topkapi Palace on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Learn about Ottoman history and the life of the Sultan’s family in the harem. Immerse yourself in the heart of the Ottoman Empire and admire the stunning views over the Golden Horn.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı More than just an Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, it was the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council for almost 400 years long. Topkapi Palace is a great monument of Oriental architecture which resembles the power of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Topkapı Sarayı Harem Dairesi - Visit the harem, ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded domestic and political power. The harem housed hundreds of women and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a wide range of duties.

Take a moment to spot the cupboard doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Walk through the Harem is also the only way to see the very early, exceptionally-crafted Iznik tiles decorated with floral designs and verses from the Quran.

What's Included
  • Entrance to Topkapi Palace & Harem included
  • Guided by a Professional Tour Guide
What's Not Included
  • Transfer
  • Food and Drinks
Additional Information

Discover the Topkapi Palace on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Learn about Ottoman history in the Palace and the life of Sultan’s family in the harem.

Discover how the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards was a self-contained city, which most inhabitants rarely left. Explore the outer-terraced gardens and admire the view over the Golden Horn.

Immerse yourself in the heart of the great Ottoman Empire. Stroll through the palace, and imagine the ruling Sultans who lived in its hundreds of rooms with their vast families and countless servants.

Visit the harem, ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded domestic and political power. The harem housed hundreds of women and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a wide range of duties.

Walk through the Harem is also the only way to see the very early, exceptionally-crafted Iznik tiles decorated with floral designs and verses from the Quran.

Location
Fountain Sultan Ahmed III
Meet your Tour Guide holding a sign with Tourmania logo
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(22 Ratings)
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1 star
Sue_m
Sep 21, 2024
Great guide, great group size, great tour at reasonable price. - The tour guide Fatih was fantastic - enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. It would have been much less interesting if you just wandered through. Fatih explained significance and put in historical context. Group size of 12 was good as was avoiding queues.
Review provided by Viator
Goplaces828245
Sep 19, 2024
Ask for Elif as your guide and you will not be disappointed. - This is a fantastic tour especially if you are guided by the lovely lady Elif. She has great English and is very well educated. The tour was comprehensive and full of useful historical facts and stories. Do not hesitate to book this one.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_g
Sep 16, 2024
Informative and engaging - A guided tour really is the best way to experience this sprawling historic site. Elif was a wonderful tour guide, our group was small, and we heard many interesting facts about the lives of the sultans and Ottoman history. We visited Hagia Irene, the harem, and the major palace areas. Elif guided us through these major areas and then told us about the remaining attractions that we could visit on our own after the tour - there’s a few pavilions you can go inside, plus the treasury exhibit, an arms exhibit, and a clock exhibit. Overall, my husband and I were very happy with this tour as we felt like it really brought the history alive for us.
Review provided by Viator
Shohreh_e
Sep 10, 2024
Fantastic Day of History - Fatih had great communication with us as to when and where to meet him. He was patient and knowledgeable. The palace itself was beautiful. The harem is can’t miss. Highly recommended!!!
Review provided by Viator
F6607vdlaurieb
Aug 29, 2024
Fabulous tour guide - The guide was a delight. Extremely knowledgable and kind. It was a pleasure to have her company. A thoroughly charming young lady
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z00dc
Aug 14, 2024
Our guide Elif is super nice! - Our guide Elif is so nice, and I think she delighted our trip! When we visited Topkapı Palace she introduced and illustrated with so many details and funny stories about the Topkapı Palace. She is super nice, which made our trip in Istanbul happier!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shashins
Jul 17, 2024
Highly recommended tour guide - Elif is a fantastic guide. She is knowledgable, and patient. We were so immersed in the tour, especially with her many anecdotes and historical inflection points, that the 3 hours went by very quickly. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Topkapi palace!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexanderra7012cl
Jul 16, 2024
Very relaxing and informative experience - The topkapi palace was very nice and our tour guide taught us a lot about it. The tour itself was very relaxing and informative. I liked that we could take many breaks due to the hot sun that day and stop to buy lemonades and stuff like that. Very relaxing experience, and I liked it a lot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation24598355903
Jul 9, 2024
Amazing tour and guide!!! 10 stars - I just wanted to share what an amazing experience we just had with your guide,Elif. Elif was nothing short of spectacular! From the moment we met, it was clear that we were in for a unique and enriching experience. Elif exudes a passion for the local culture and history that is absolutely contagious. Her deep knowledge of every location we visited was impressive and added so much depth to our understanding of the sights and sounds around us. I cannot recommend Elif highly enough. She turned what could have been a standard tour into an unforgettable adventure. Thx you again!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kishoreksrao
Jun 28, 2024
Great tour with a lot of details and hist - Elif was fantastic! She explained everything very well and with a smile!! She was very knowledgeable with a lot of details. 10 on 10!! I would highly recommend this guide and the tour company. They were excellent with expectations and communications with me.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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