Topkapi Palace at a glance
Why you should visit: For breathtaking architecture, Ottoman history, and countless treasures
How long to visit: 2-4 hours – even more if you have the stamina!
Top things to see: The Harem, the Imperial Council Chamber, the Treasury for priceless artefacts
The Topkapi Palace is one of the absolute top things to see in Istanbul. Exploring its countless elegant pavilions, tile-covered rooms and astonishing exhibitions can feel like going back in time to the era of the Sultans. It’s an awesome glimpse into their daily lives.
The palace is also massive. Like, huge. There’s so much to see. It can feel a bit overwhelming walking through the gates and looking at the map. In this blog, I’ll provide some information on the top things to see in Topkapi Palace so that you can visit with a plan. I’ll also answer some key questions such as how to visit and how long to spend at the Topkapi Palace.
What’s in this blog:
- What is the Topkapi Palace?
- Is the Topkapi Palace worth visiting?
- Top things to see at the Topkapi Palace
- How long to spend at the Topkapi Palace?
- When to visit the Topkapi Palace?
- Things to do near the Topkapi Palace
What is the Topkapi Palace?
A huge palace complex on the shores of the Bosphorus, the Topkapi Palace was the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. Throughout this time it was also home to many of its sultans.
It was built just six years after the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, originally called the New Palace. Over the centuries it was expanded and modified by each sultan who lived there. This has resulted in the huge complex we can visit today. Across four large courtyards, you’ll find buildings, pavilions and gardens in a variety of styles.
In the final years of the Ottoman Empire, the royal court moved to Dolmabahçe Palace. After the end of the Empire, and at the founding of the Türkiye republic, it was turned into a museum.
Is Topkapi Palace worth visiting?
Absolutely. The Topkapi Palace is one of the top sights in Istanbul. If you’re interested in history, there’s nowhere better to learn about the Ottoman Empire, the daily life of the sultans, and how it exercised its power.
And if you’re not so interested in history, there’s plenty else that makes Topkapi Palace worth visiting. Countless rooms of incredible beauty, astonishing architecture, and exhibition rooms filled with items of indescribable opulence. If you’re visiting Istanbul, I’d definitely recommend dedicating some time to the Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace Guided Tours
Covering around 600,000 square metres, the Topkapi Palace is huge. Across four (yes, four) huge courtyards are countless buildings, exhibitions and rooms to explore. There’s a lot to see. Working out where to start and what to prioritise can feel overwhelming.
A great way to explore the Palace is to get a guided tour. As well as helping to bring the site to life, your guide will also make sure you don’t miss any highlights. You can book the top rated guide here, or explore a range of options below.
If you prefer to explore by yourself, read on for my guide of some of the highlights and top things to see in the Palace.
Top things to see at Topkapi Palace
Imperial Council Chamber
The Topkapi Palace was the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire – and the Council Chamber was where many of the most important decisions were taken. The Imperial Council would meet here to discuss affairs of state. The Sultan would sometimes listen in, hiding behind a golden grille high in the wall. If he was unhappy with a decision, he’d tap the grill, or close its curtain.
Over the centuries, the Council gradually lost its importance – first to the grand vizier, and eventually to a western-style cabinet government. But for a few hundred years, decisions on the Ottoman Empire were taken from here.
The rooms are surprisingly small – sofas lining the walls for the council to sit. But they are beautiful, lavishly decorated with distinctive domes, one of the absolute top things to see at Topkapi Palace. A globe hangs from the ceiling, representing Ottoman dominance over the Earth. In the centre of one of the rooms, you’ll see a fountain. When running, the sound would allow the council to hold secret conversations.
Palace kitchens
The Palace’s huge kitchens are visible from much of the complex. Made up of 10 domed buildings, with 20 large chimneys, they once housed 800 members of staff, feeding the Palace’s 4000 residents. It was quite an operation.
After a fire in the 16th century, the kitchen complex was rebuilt in the style we see today, designed by perhaps the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire – Mimar Sinan, who also designed the Süleymaniye Mosque. It’s an architectural triumph. Inside the kitchen’s buildings you’ll find a variety of exhibitions on the kitchens as well as a huge collection of Chinese porcelain, which came to the Empire over the important Silk Roads.
Imperial Treasury
One of the most popular exhibitions in the Topkapi Palace is the Imperial Treasury. It displays an astonishing collection of objects encrusted with jewels and made with precious metals, including gifts to the Ottomans and spoils of war.
Across several rooms filled with countless priceless items, there are a few particularly important ones to look out for. One is the Spoonmakers Diamond – one of the largest diamonds in the world. It is so called because after being found in a rubbish dump, it was purchased by a street peddler in exchange for three spoons. Eventually it was purchased by a grand vizier.
The most famous item in the collection is the Topkapi Dagger, made in the 18th century and encrusted with three huge emeralds. It was meant to be a gift to the Shah of Iran at the time. But before it could reach him, he was assassinated, and the dagger was returned to the palace. Elsewhere you’ll also find a rather impressive sword of Suleyman the Magnificent.
Weapons Room
Even for a pacifist such as myself, it was hard not to get a little carried away in the Topkapi Palace’s weapons room, reverting to a little boy amazed at some of the weapons on show. It’s a huge collection – around 400, from the Ottoman Empire and beyond. Some of the curved swords and daggers – decorated with jewels, of course – are quite stunning.
The Gate of Felicity
A pretty rococo style gate leads the way from the second to the third courtyard. It was here that the Sultan would preside over important ceremonies. Funerals of the Sultan were also held in front of the Gate of Felicity.
The Gate led the way to the personal chambers of the Sultan. You once needed special permission to pass through. Now, you can easily walk through to the third courtyard, where you’ll find the Audience Chamber. In here the Sultan would sit on his throne, greeting and receiving gifts from ambassadors.
Marble Terrace
Found in the fourth courtyard is the Marble Terrace – in my opinion the most beautiful part of Topkapi Palace. Here you’ll find lovely manicured gardens – including the tulip garden, a fountain, and some utterly beautiful tiled pavilions. These include the Baghdad Pavilion – built in 1639, making it one of the last examples of classical palace architecture. Equally beautiful is the Revan Kiosk, where the Sultans’ turbans were once kept.
After a day of trawling around the Topkapi Palace, you can have an opulence overload by the time you reach the fourth courtyard. But these pavilions really are worth a look.
Views of the Bosphorus
Also in the fourth courtyard, close to the Mecidiye Kiosk, is a terrace with incredible views across the Bosphorus. There are a few benches – a perfect place to sit and admire the view, and give a bit of respite to tired legs.
Important note: The sights I’ve listed so far are included in your standard ticket to the Topkapi Palace and also the Istanbul Museum Pass. For the two sights below, you might need to pay a small additional fee if you’re using an Istanbul Museum Pass. If you’re not using a Museum Pass, you can get a combined ticket at the Topkapi Palace box office. Either way, they’re two of the best things to see at the Topkapi Palace and are well worth making the additional effort.
Aya Irini (Hagia Irene)
Found close to the entrance, the Hagia Irene is all too easily missed. Don’t. It’s thought to be the oldest church in Istanbul, possibly dating from as early as 360 A.D.
Unlike most Byzantine churches in the city, Hagia Irene wasn’t turned into a Mosque by the Ottomans. Instead, the building was used as an armoury, and fell into disrepair. You can still see some of the mosaics and art from the Byzantine period – including a simple black cross on a gold background, believed to have been added in the 8th century after an earthquake.
It’s an astonishing achievement of Byzantine architecture, and a wonderfully atmospheric place to walk around and consider the pre-Ottoman history of the city.
The Topkapi Palace Harem
A huge complex in and of itself, Topkapi Palace’s Harem was the private area of the Sultan and his family. It’s made up of over 300 rooms, though only a few are open to the public. For centuries the Harem was a subject of fascination to the West, who imagined it as a place of debauchery. But in reality, it was essentially the Sultan’s imperial family quarters – and for the many concubines here, a prison.
The only men allowed inside were the Sultan, his sons, and the black eunuchs who guarded the premises. At its height, there were over 1,000 women there – many enslaved Christians or Jews living in cramped conditions, in stark contrast to the opulence of the rooms where the Sultan and his family lived.
The Harem is one of the highlights of a visit to Topkapi Palace. It’s a labyrinth of courtyards, exuberant chambers, luxurious hamams and masterful tilework, and one of the most evocative parts of Topkapi Palace – an excellent place to imagine the life of the Sultans.
But as I said above – it’s important to consider that this wasn’t just a luxurious palace, but also a prison. A reminder of the horrors we inflict on each other, the oppression that such outward beauty often relies on.
How long to spend at the Topkapi Palace?
You could feasibly spend a whole day exploring the Topkapi Palace. More, probably, and you still wouldn’t see anything. But it’s so big, you can easily get fatigue. I’d recommend choosing what you want to see and dedicating time to those parts, rather than trying to see absolutely everything. Still, I’d suggest dedicating at least half a day to exploring Topkapi Palace so that you don’t feel like you’re rushing. It’s probably best to spend around 2-4 hours there.
When to visit the Topkapi Palace?
Around 3 million people visit the Topkapi Palace a year. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Istanbul. This means it can get very busy, especially in peak seasons. I’d suggest going early to beat the queues. And once inside, head to the places that are likely to get busy first – such as the Imperial Treasury and the Harem.
Which ticket option is best to visit Topkapi Palace?
There are a number of ticket options for the Topkapi Palace, which can be a bit confusing. Your options are:
Istanbul Museum Pass: The best option if you want to visit most of Istanbul’s key sights. But note that unless you visit a lot of attractions, this won’t be cost-effective, and reviews are mixed. Some museum passes also don’t include entrance to the Harem and Hagia Irene, which are two of the top things to see in Topkapi Palace. Visit website.
Topkapi Palace ticket: If you buy your ticket online from certain vendors, you can get a ticket to just the main part of Topkapi Palace. I believe you can also buy this ticket type at the ticket office. I do not recommend this ticket type, because even if you are pressed for time, the Harem should not be missed, and is not included in this ticket type.
Combined ticket (buy on-site): This is the best ticket option for most people. It includes entrance to the Topkapi Palace, the Harem, and Hagia Irene. The best way to book this is at the ticket office – but if you want to have the comfort of having a ticket in advance, see the next two options.
‘Skip the line’ tickets online: In peak seasons you might want to book in advance. You can do this on a number of third party sites – the best I’ve been able to find is here. But it may be more expensive than on-site, and doesn’t include entrance to Hagia Irene.
Booking a guide: For anyone who wants a deep understanding of the Palace and the people who lived there, I’d recommend a guided tour. This is also a cost-effective way to get ‘skip-the-line’ entry booked in advance. Book the top-rated option here.
Things to do near the Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace is centrally located, right in the heart of Istanbul’s tourism district Sultanahmet. It’s just a short walk away from many of the other main sights in the city, including the Basilica Cistern, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
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