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Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour Skip-the-Line Ticket

4.1 (1089 Reviews)

Starting From

₹ 4,796 per adult

₹ 5,329

10% off

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today

Skip the lines and enter the most important museum of Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula on a guided tour of Topkapi Palace. See the four main courtyards, Audience Hall, the high court and the treasury.

About this activity

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

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Duration 20.0 minute - 3.0 hour

Check availability to see starting times.

Live tour guide

English

Choose from available dates

Details on this Activity

Itinerary

Proudly created by istanbul.com 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. Please note that the Topkapi Palace Museum is closed only on Tuesdays.

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
Discover the second biggest church of Istanbul Hagia Irene

Know before you go

• Please note, this attraction cannot be visited without the guide • All children will be asked to present their valid passports at the entrance of the museums in order to validate their age • It is mandatory for guests to use a headset during the tour. For this reason, be sure to bring your ID card with you when you come to the Topkapi Palace Tour. ID cards will be taken during the use of the headset and will be returned at the end of the tour

Includes


Internet with eSIM (limited time) Audio guide Skip-the-line hosted entry ticket for the Topkapı Palace and Harem section (if option selected)

Reviews from other travelers

GetYourGuide traveler - United States

1 /5

(Written on 2024-10-23)

This was not a tour of the Palace. The tour guide was only a walking map - he explained where everything was but showed us nothing. Then the tour dropped us off at the harem and when we were through w (Read More)ith that, the lines to all the other exhibits were 100s of people deep. I was told this tour was 1.5 hours and max 15 people. When I goth there, I was told it was only 45 minutes and no max number of people. There were 42 people! No refunds even the tour was only half as long. We were only able to see the harem quarters and sacred relics.

Kasturi - United Arab Emirates

3 /5

(Written on 2024-09-30)

There were two things that I wasn't happy about. Firstly, 45 minutes is not enough to explain the history and context of Topkapi Palace given it's geographical spread. And second point is that the gui (Read More)de did not encourage the questions. Which is a result of a tight 45 minutes tour. Being an architect I was curious to know why there was a roman/ classical influence on the palace architecture. I pointed it out to the guide and wanted to ask about it. And he shut me off saying my opinion was not important and there is no time to answer questions. It was quite rude. He said the questions will be taken at the end of the tour but he left as soon as we entered the Harem. I would not recommend this tour as 45 minutes is not enough and you are not allowed to ask questions.

Mariëlle - Netherlands

3 /5

(Written on 2024-09-30)

There was little tour the English speaking guide, is a student who walks with you to the fast enterance and then dumps you!! It clearly states that a guide is part of the tour! This was not the case!

GetYourGuide traveler - United Kingdom

3 /5

(Written on 2024-10-19)

The waiting area is by the entrance of a cafe - too crowded. The guide could spend more time with us

GetYourGuide traveler - Mexico

2 /5

(Written on 2024-09-25)

The truth is I didn't like it at all, the guide only spoke outside the buildings in the middle of the courtyard and half explained to us, but you enter each room and you don't understand anything or w (Read More)here you are, especially in the harem, I honestly thought the guide would be explaining to us all the time and not just give a general explanation.

GetYourGuide traveler - United Kingdom

3 /5

(Written on 2024-11-22)

The Topkapi palace itself is great, well worth a visit even though it’s not cheap The guided bit was pointless, maybe worth doing on a busier day but as I could have just bought an online ticket and w (Read More)alked in the guide made it slower The deal was just that they basically got you all together and scanned you in, so I had to wait for about 40 people to be scanned through the main gate then the Harem, when I could have just walked in by myself and not paid a premium or waited The guide also didn’t show us the audio guide scan on the way in so I didn’t have that either Just pointless on the day that I went, just buy an online reservation and go yourself

Monia - France

3 /5

(Written on 2024-10-29)

The palace is really worth a visit: it is magnificent and taking your time is essential. The organization needs to be completely reviewed! The guide only serves to get us into the palace and then the (Read More)harem: which we could have done alone with our QR code. The explanations: there were none!! We paid for a self-guide (headphones provided against ID) which we never got!! The guide told us to download the app via a QR code but it didn't work at all and the reference numbers on the signs were not the same as for the app (e.g. 512/206 for the audio guide and 1/2/3... on the phone app!!). A visit without explanations: what a shame. The so-called skip-the-line pass is useless because everyone has it for entry at the same time. We were waiting for the guide for nothing: once you're in the harem, live your life!!

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₹5,329
₹4,796 per adult