Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is the mysterious residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire and a real treasury. Topkapi Palace

Majestic, monumental and luxurious Sultan's palace“Topkapi” (Top Kapi) in Turkey, like a magnet, attracts tourists from all over the world.

Once you go there, you will plunge into a world where twenty-five Turkish sultans once lived and ruled. It is better to set aside a whole day to tour the palace. You won't be able to see everything at once.

Therefore, before you go to an amusing trip about the palace, we advise you to read our article so as not to miss anything.

In contact with

History of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

For four decades, the heart of the Ottoman Empire was Top Kapi, Türkiye, the palace (photo of the harem in our article just below) was ordered to be built by Sultan Mehmed. This happened in the 70s of the 15th century, but after that the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace constantly “grew” and changed. Initially, several mosques, a mint, hospitals and a bakery were built.

In the first fifty years, Top Capy was only a working residence. The Sultan's wives lived in a harem outside the Topkapi Palace. The harem on the territory was built only under Sultan Suleiman I. One of his concubines, Roksolana, wanting to be closer to her husband, “pushed” the Sultan to large-scale reconstruction of the palace.

Almost until the end of the 19th century, Turkish sultans lived in the palace. And only Abdul-Mecid I, in 1854, decided to move to new palace Dolmabahce. With the coming to power of Turkey's first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in 1923, Topkapi became a museum, which is now visited by hundreds of tourists every day.

The name Topkapi is translated from Turkish as “cannon gate”. This name for the residence of the sultans was not given by chance. The first thing that all visitors notice is the majestic gate that gives access to the heart of the castle. When the Sultan entered or left the palace, a cannon shot was heard. There are also some in Turkey that are worthy of your attention.

As if Small town in Turkey, Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, a photo that amazes with its wealth and beauty, was equipped with everything necessary for life. It is so huge (its area is more than 170 hectares) that there was everything from mosques and workrooms of the sultans, to hospitals and Janissary barracks.

The population of Istanbul is increasing several times every day, so that the country may soon become a leader in population. Click here and find out where it all started.
You may also be interested in such a landmark as the Sultan Suleiman Palace in Istanbul, about which you can find out more.

The territory is divided into four courtyards. You can also get into each of them through monumental gates. Passing through the main gate, you will see a huge fountain, which was built by order of Padishah Ahmed III in 1728.

Further, through the “Brilliant Gate” you will find yourself in the first courtyard. Here you can see the gendarme headquarters, various living quarters, as well as the ruins of a bakery. You should definitely visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the mint building. There is a church on the territory of the first courtyard.

To get to the second courtyard, you will need to go through another gate called “Bab-i Selam”. There is also a magnificent garden with cypress trees and a tower that once served as a prison for convicted high-ranking persons.

Of particular interest to tourists are the “Palace Kitchens”. Food for the sultans was prepared here, and almost a quarter of the entire palace staff worked here. Today in the kitchen halls you can see a rare collection of porcelain. The oldest exhibits date back to the seventh century, these are dishes from the Tang Dynasty. The most valuable items are made from white porcelain.

The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul houses one of the world's largest collections of weapons. Those who are interested are advised to take a look at the collections of Islamic frescoes and manuscripts.

The exhibition of jewelry and jewelry is truly unique. Golden candlesticks, hookahs, luxurious ivory boxes, as well as the famous “Kashikchi Diamond” are just a small part of what you can see in the inner treasury complex.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the collection of the Sultan’s caftans. The clothes and silk prayer rugs are truly works of art.

Harem deserves special attention. The high wall with which it is surrounded used to hide the concubines from the views of strangers. There was everything for a comfortable life for the Sultan's wives: two mosques, Turkish baths, kitchens and even a swimming pool. Visitors will be able to see collections of luxurious jewelry and clothing, and stroll near the fountains. Istanbul amazes with its numerous magnificent... I would like to see all the sights, this will help you.

We have collected the most interesting and significant places in Topkapi Palace; you will find photos of all the rooms of the Istanbul Palace in our selection.

Contacts

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one of the most colorful attractions. Here Selim the Drunkard drowned in a bathhouse, Ibrahim the Mad went crazy, Suleiman the Magnificent shone and the famous Roksolana weaved intrigues.

The museum contains priceless treasures of the sultans, the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad and even one Christian shrine - the right hand of John the Baptist. There are also beautiful mosaics and stained glass windows, gardens and flower beds, fountains and gorgeous views of the Bosphorus.

Whole 400 years Topkapi Palace served as the main residence of the sultans. As many as 25 sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived in this magnificent place!

The palace complex was built in the middle of the 15th century on the site of the Byzantine Acropolis by order of Mehmed the Second (the Conqueror). At first, the Sultan himself lived in the palace, arranging official receptions and meetings here. But already in the middle of the 16th century Sultan Suleiman I, at the request of Roksolana, built a harem of the Topkapi Palace on the territory, where his wives and children settled.

"Topkapi" is translated as "cannon gate". A cannon shot was fired whenever the Sultan left or returned to his residence.

Square palace complex amounts to 700,000 sq.m. At one time, a shelter, a treasury, an armory, and something like the Turkish government could easily fit here. Well, and of course, stables, bakeries, terraces with fountains and luxurious gardens... History says that all this luxury was served by about five thousand servants!

Visually, the territory of the palace is divided into four courtyards - each with its own gate. The first and second courtyards belonged to the outer part, the third and fourth - to the inner.

IN First yard one can enter through the main Gate of the Lord, decorated with marble and verses from the Koran. Now there is an Archaeological Museum, the old Mint, the Church of St. Irene and many picturesque fountains, gardens and pavilions. The ticket office for entering the museum is also located here.

In Second yard enter through the giant Gate of Greetings. The yard is beautiful park with a harem, bakery, stables and palace hospital around the perimeter. Here the Sultan received guests and “communicated with the people.”

Login Third courtyard(heart imperial palace) opens through the Gate of Happiness (Gate of White Eunuchs or Gate of Bliss). Lush gardens, a throne room, a library, a treasury and a harem - what else is needed for the working days of a sultan?

Well and Fourth yard with several terraces and pavilions, it was once considered the personal territory of the Sultan.

In 1923 By order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Topkapi Palace was declared a museum. Now here are unique collections of the Sultan’s household items and, of course, the richest Sultan’s treasury!

2. Useful information

2.1. Where is

In the center of old Istanbul in the Sultanahmet area on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, a 15-minute walk from and.

The entrance to the palace is easy to find by following the signs:

Location on the map:

2.2. How to get there

Book an excursion

A tour is a great way to visit Topkapi Palace. And the transfer will be included in the price, and the guide will tell you a lot of new and interesting things. The excursion can be booked either at your hotel or online. By the way, many sightseeing tours of Istanbul include visits to Topkapi Palace:

Light Rail

On light rail T1 get to the Sultanahmet stop. If you stand with your back to tram tracks, leaving the carriage, then on the right there will be Blue Mosque, and on the left is the palace.

On foot

The museum can be easily reached on foot from Aksaray, Laleli, and Gulhane.

Against archaeological museum– another sign towards Topkapi Palace:

Taxi

Traditionally, taxis are the most convenient, but also the most expensive form of transport in Turkey. You can simply catch a taxi on the street, you can order it at the hotel, or you can order it in advance private transfer.

2.3. Visiting time

The museum is open to tourists from 09.00 to 17.00(from November to mid-April) and from 09.00 to 19.00(from mid-April to late October).

2.4. Price

Box office with tickets to the palace. Entrance price to the territory – 60 liras, to the harem - 35 liras, both included - 95 liras:

You can also buy a ticket in advance. This ticket includes transfer from the hotel and will avoid queues.

Not all lounges are open daily. Next to the ticket office there is a sign indicating the pavilions available for visiting:

It operates at Topkapi Palace. So if it is available, there is no need to stand in line:

3. Photo walk around the palace

The ticket office and entrance to the palace are located in different places. Here you can see the entrance with turrets, but first we go to the right to the ticket office (that’s where the crowd comes from) to buy a ticket:

Main Gate (“Welcome Gate”):

Above the entrance there is something in Arabic:

We enter the territory. In the center there are green lawns, along the perimeter there are rooms with halls and exhibitions:

Palace grounds:

Typical tour group:

The territory is very pleasant - once upon a time the sultans lived here with their retinue:

There is greenery everywhere, monuments and monuments at every step:

The walls are decorated amazingly:

You can rent an audio guide for 20 liras:

Conference hall:

This room used to look something like this:

We enter the pavilion with a unique collection of watches. It’s a pity that photography is prohibited in many places of the palace:

I took a photo secretly behind the guard's back. The watches in the collection are very different: from miniature wristwatches to floor-standing giants with complex mechanisms. The watch collection is one of the best displays in the entire palace:

The palace has a separate room with portraits of all the reigning sultans:

Entrance to the treasury of the Ottoman sultans. Unfortunately, photography indoors is also prohibited:

What's not there! An amazing collection of jewelry: emeralds, rubies, pearls, jade, diamonds, gold and silver... There is also the throne of Sultan Murat IV made of expensive ebony with inlays. And an Indian music box made of pure gold. And the famous Topkapi dagger: with a golden handle, a bunch of diamonds and three giant emeralds. And even a valuable gift from the Russian Tsar Nicholas I (a stunningly beautiful order with precious stones).

The treasury also contains the Kashikchi Diamond or the Spoonman’s Diamond (an 86-carat diamond surrounded by 49 diamonds). According to legend, a poor man found it in a heap of garbage and, without thinking twice, exchanged it for three wooden spoons.

The palace offers stunning views of the Bosphorus. Ideal point for photography:

There are many cafes on the territory:

The place is popular, there are a lot of tourists, so the prices are much higher than average:

But you can drink coffee and enjoy the gorgeous views:

A huge plane tree that is more than 700 years old:

General diagram of all the buildings of the palace. The first courtyard, where tourists enter immediately after the turnstiles, is highlighted in different colors. Already from the diagram it is clear how large an area the palace complex occupies:

On the side of the strait there is a neat garden with roses:

A lot of rooms on the territory are allocated for kitchens. The photo shows a diagram of these rooms. The arrows in the diagram indicate the recommended workaround:

Arrow towards the kitchen:

Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside the premises. Kitchen utensils from different eras are displayed there, from giant cooking vats to elegant cutlery. The vats are really gigantic; you could probably boil a whole bull in there. There are a lot of dishes made of pure gold: spoons, tureens, dishes.

Farthest courtyard with benches:

View of the Bosphorus and Istanbul. On right - :

This building was closed:

Opposite it is a nice pond with water lilies:

Another room of the palace:

At this point in the palace the moon appears earlier than in the rest of the territory. Therefore, it was here that the Sultan ordered the construction of a special gazebo for meals during Ramadan (when eating is allowed only after sunset). While mere mortals are patiently waiting for sunset, the Sultan can already begin dinner:

Description of the gazebo:

Small copy of Topkapi Palace:

Have you noticed that there are not many tourists in the first photos? This is because it was early in the morning. Here's what's happening around lunchtime:

So it’s better to come early, otherwise you’ll have to wander around the palace in such a crowd.

4. Conclusions

The Sultan's Palace is a very beautiful and colorful place that is definitely worth a visit! Beautiful territory, gorgeous views, interesting buildings, rich expositions... Somewhat reminiscent of . But we liked the option in Turkey no less.

I was especially impressed by the treasury of the sultans and the hall with a unique collection of unusual watches of gigantic size. The treasury contains simply incredible exhibits of stunning beauty!

We spent about two hours exploring the entire palace. At the same time, we only looked at the palace itself; we did not go to the territory of the Harem.

We came to the museum at 9.45 am– and there were relatively few people. But by noon, an impressive crowd had already gathered near the ticket office. By the way, Topkapi Palace is that rare case when exploring the museum with a guide is more interesting than without one. You can at least take a guidebook to read the history of the different rooms - it’s much more interesting than just wandering around the territory.

5. Video

We filmed in the palace short video. You can view it here:

Have you already been to Topkapi Palace? What impressed you the most? Have you watched the series “The Magnificent Century”? Does it convey the atmosphere of Topkapi Palace or is the real picture and the image on the screen very different? I haven’t watched the series, but after visiting Topkapi I wanted to watch it, would you recommend it or not?

By the way, if you are just going to Istanbul, but have not yet chosen a hotel, then I advise you to look on the hotellook search engine website (there you can find the best deals from 40 booking systems) or choose one of these inexpensive hotels with good rating: out of 5)

In Istanbul (Topkapi Sarayi) is one of the main attractions of the city. For 400 years, Topkapi Palace was the main residence of the sultans. From here, 25 sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled the country.

In one of the courtyards of Topkapi Palace

A little history

It was built after the conquest of Constantinople in 1475-1478 by order of Sultan Mehmed II (the Conqueror). At first, the Sultan himself lived in the palace, official meetings and meetings, receptions were also held here, and in the mid-16th century, at the request of Roksolana, Sultan Suleiman I built a Harem in the palace, where women and children settled.

How to get there

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is located in the center of the old city in the Sultanahmet district.

Take the T1 tram to the Gulhane stop and walk a little up, as if going back. By the way, there is a wonderful one nearby. Or get off at the Sultanahmet stop and walk down past Hagia Sophia.
If you are traveling with Asian side Istanbul, it is convenient to use Marmaray and get off at Sirkeci station

Topkapi Palace opening hours

Opening hours of Topkapi Palace:

from 9:00 to 16:45 from October 2 to April 1, ticket office closes at 16:00
from 9:00 to 18:45 from April 1 to October 2, ticket office closes at 18:00

Topkapi Palace is a magnificent architectural monument of the 15th century. This majestic palace complex was erected on the initiative of Sultan Mehmet in 1479. For several centuries in a row, Topkapi was considered the main residence of the rulers of the Ottoman state. Today it's wonderful museum complex, which should be watched by everyone who has ever visited Turkish lands.

The name “Topkapi” translated into Russian means “cannon gate”. This name is justified by a historical fact: whenever the padishah traveled outside his monastery, cannon shots were heard, which were carried throughout the area for several kilometers.

The palace architecture is extremely interesting. Topkapi includes 4 equal courtyards, each of which is famous for its unique attractions. The courtyards have a clear division, but at the same time they are all united by a high stone wall surrounding them.

First courtyard (Alay Meydanı)

One of the main attractions of the First Court, called by Europeans the “Court of the Janissaries,” is the Church of St. Irene. This is one of the first Christian shrines in Constantinople, which served for a long time as the main abode of the patriarch. The church suffered several times from various disasters (fire and earthquake), but was always restored. Even after the Ottoman conquerors came to these lands, the church building was not deprived of its Orthodox status, which is surprising, because the Turks usually remodeled Christian churches in the mosque. Ottoman warriors used the shrine as an armory for a long time (for 3 centuries). In the mid-19th century, a museum complex of antiquities and weapons was opened here.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the museum exhibition was disbanded, and today the Church of St. Irene (Aya İrini or Aya Irene) is increasingly used as concert venue because of the magnificent, mesmerizing acoustics. At the same time, the building has not lost its charm over the years and continues to attract tourists from all over the world.

Gate of Welcome (Babüsselam)

Of particular interest is the Orta kapa gate (Babüsselam or Gate of Greetings), also located in the First Courtyard. Through them you can get to the Second Palace Courtyard. Historical facts indicate that only the ruler himself had the right to enter on horseback through the arch of this gate, framed by two tower columns. The rest had to walk. Foreign guests of the residence used a different gate to enter. The gatekeepers carefully monitored this. On one side of the gate there was a waiting room in which visitors could wait for days, or even weeks, for an audience with the padishah. On the other side is the room of the executioner, who, by the way, had another position - head gardener. Under the gate, in the dungeon, there were prison cells in which prisoners sentenced to death were kept.

Entrance of the Sultan (Babıhümayun)

It is also interesting to admire the architecture of another gate leading to the First Courtyard. This is the third ceremonial gate, called “Entrance of the Sultan” (Babıhümayun).

Second courtyard (Divan Meydanı)

The second courtyard of Topkapi is known as "Divan Square". This territory was most often used for important receptions and state ceremonies.

Sofa (Divan-ı Hümayun)

In this courtyard there was a “Divan” (Kubbealtı or Divan-ı Hümayun), where high-ranking viziers led by the padishah met several times a week to resolve matters of national importance.

Tower of Justice (Adalet Kasrı)

Above the Divanna rises a tower of magnificent beauty and grandeur, bearing a very bright and succinct name - “Tower of Justice” (Adalet Kasrı), which originally served as an observation post.

Treasury (Dış Hazine)

The main asset of the Second Topkapi Courtyard after the Divanna is, of course, the Treasury (Dış Hazine). Today, a weapons museum complex has been founded in its building, in which an entire arsenal of weapons of various types is exhibited. historical periods, as well as samples of military uniforms and other paraphernalia used for uniforms.

Third Court (Enderun Avlusu)

Third Courtyard (Enderun Avlusu)

Another gate leads into this courtyard with the attractive name “Gate of Bliss.” Another name for them is the audience gate. Having passed through them, the visitor found himself in a huge throne room, above which towered the golden throne of the padishah, decorated with precious stones. The Sultan sat on it. All the rest were traditionally placed directly on the floor, on special pillows. To prevent anyone from hearing what was happening in the hall outside the door, a small but loudly murmuring fountain was built right next to the entrance.

Library of Ahmet the Third (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi)

The central part of the courtyard is decorated with the library of Sultan Ahmet the Third (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi). Once upon a time, real treasures of ancient literature were kept here. Today the books are displayed in other museum displays, but the library building is definitely worth a visit to admire the amazing Ottoman architecture. Here you can also see an amazing collection of items from the padishah’s wardrobe. Some of the most expensive exhibits are considered to be the children's caftan of Sultan Selim, as well as the robe of Mehmed the Conqueror, which, according to scientists, is already more than 5 centuries old.

Sultan's Treasury (Enderun Hazinesi)

But, of course, the most attractive place for a traveler in the Third Courtyard of Topkapi is the Sultan’s Treasury (Fatih Köşkü or Enderun Hazinesi). The variety of the collection of countless treasures made of gold, silver and gems is amazing! One of the most noticeable and expensive exhibits is the military armor of Mustafa the Third. The chain mail, made of iron, is decorated with a scattering of precious stones and covered with a layer of gilding. The Sultan's shield and sword are inlaid in the same way.

Throne of the Padishah

The throne of Padishah Murat the Fourth is called the real “pearl” of the treasury. It itself is made of rare ebony wood, and precious and semi-precious stones are scattered around its entire perimeter.

Topkapi Dagger

In another room there is another important exhibit - the Topkapi dagger (Topkapı hançeri). It was made by Turkish craftsmen as a gift to the Persian Shah. Many diamonds and several large emeralds adorn this dagger. True, he never reached the addressee. While the gift was on the way, the Shah was killed, so the Topkapi dagger returned to the treasury.

Almaz Kashikchi

The treasury also contains a huge Kaşıkçı elması diamond, the history of which is very interesting. According to legend, a certain poor man discovered this stone in a huge pile of garbage. Of course, the commoner did not know how valuable the gem was, and exchanged it at the market for 3 wooden spoons. Since then, the stone has been called the Spoonman's Diamond.

These are not all the exhibits from the Topkapi treasury. All the splendor of the rooms is difficult to describe in words; you need to see it with your own eyes at least once!

Fourth Courtyard (Dördüncü Avlu)

This courtyard is an example of harmonious beauty and peace. It was built exclusively for the padishah’s rest and solitude, so it is more reminiscent of a marvelous Garden of Eden. From here you can enjoy magnificent views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus Strait and the Princes' Islands.

Bagdat Pavilion

On the territory of the courtyard there are many terraces and pavilions, the most notable of which are the Bagdatsky and Revan pavilions, as well as the Sunnet room.

Sunnet Odası

The Sünnet Odası room, as the name implies for those who have at least a superficial understanding of Muslim traditions, was intended for the obligatory circumcision ceremony of the Sultan’s heirs.

Revan Pavilion (Revan Köşkü)

The Baghdad Pavilion (Bağdat Köşkü) as well as the Revan Pavilion (Revan Köşkü) are magnificent monuments of Ottoman architecture, the appearance of which can be traced to the influence of the Persians. The buildings are light and elegant, but at the same time they look luxurious and monumental. You can look at the exquisite tiles that decorate the walls of the pavilions literally from top to bottom for hours and find more and more new details in them.

Opening hours of the Topkapi Palace Museum and cost of admission in 2020

You can purchase tickets to Topkapi Palace, which provide skip-the-line entry, a floor plan of the palace and the necessary information from a representative who will guide you through the shortest route

The museum is closed on Tuesdays; also on the first day of Bayram it is open from lunch.

The entrance ticket costs 72 Turkish lira.

Entrance to the Harem is open every day except Tuesday and is paid separately - the ticket price is 42 Turkish lira.

For Museum Card holders, admission is free.

Audio guide – 45 liras.

During the winter period from October 2 to April 1: Topkapi Palace Museum, Harem and St. Irene Church are open from 09:00 – 16:45 (ticket sales until 16:00)

During the summer period from April 1st to October 2nd: The Museum, Harem and Church of St. Irene are open from 9:00 – 18:45 (ticket sales until 18:00)

The Church of St. Irene is open to the public from 9:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket costs 30 Turkish lira. After 16:00 the ticket office is closed.

When visiting religious sites, try to adhere to the established rules in clothing: short shorts and miniskirts, as well as open blouses and strapless tops are not acceptable.

Baby strollers are not allowed into the museum.

There are several restaurants on the museum grounds.

Karakol Restaurant

In the First Courtyard there is the Karakol Restaurant, as well as a small cafe BKG Müze’nin Kahvesi. There is also such a cafe in the Second Courtyard.

Restaurant Konyalı lokantası

In the Fourth Courtyard there is the Konyalı Lokantası restaurant, which offers a magnificent view of the Bosphorus Strait.

How to get to Topkapi Palace:

From Sultanahmet station you need to walk past the front of the Hagia Sophia Museum (Hagia Sophia), following the signs towards Topkapi Palace.

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul: excursions in Russian, ticket price 2020

Another of the key attractions of Constantinople, and there really are a lot of them, is the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. In this article we will be happy to tell you about it centuries-old history and share various practical information. For example, we’ll tell you about excursions to Topkapi, their prices and schedules, and if you want to visit the palace on your own, then about the cost of entrance tickets, as well as where you can buy them cheaply in advance, so as not to wait in a potentially impressive line! Make yourself comfortable and let's begin. 😉

History of Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is the former residence of 25 sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who ruled the country from here for 400 years, from 1465 to 1853. Currently a popular attraction.

Construction of the palace began on the orders of Mehmed the Conqueror and was formally completed in 1479, although in fact construction continued for a long time, and the number of extensions to the palace grew and grew. total area The palace's territory ultimately amounted to 700,000 square meters.

The palace consists of several buildings with four courtyards connected by gates. The main entrance is considered to be the Imperial Gate, located on the side. The first courtyard includes the 18th-century imperial mint, the Church of St. Irene, with its armory located in its building, and the weeping fountain. Opposite the Imperial Gate is the Gate of Salutation, leading to the second courtyard and palace. From the Gate of Greetings one can go to the Gate of Happiness, through which visitors to the palace enter the third courtyard, which houses the harem, the inner chambers, the Audience Hall, the library of Sultan Ahmed III and the Palace school, where government officials were trained. Then you can go to the fourth courtyard, which is the personal garden of the Turkish Sultan, where the Bashlala Tower, the Sofa Mosque, the circumcision room and the room of the main palace physician are also located. From here they open beautiful views to the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.

In 1854, Sultan Abdulmecid I changed his residence to a new one, just built. Well, since 1923, Topkapi Palace, by order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, has opened its doors as a museum. The number of exhibits presented to the public is 65,000 units, and this is only a tenth of the museum’s collection.

Opening hours, entrance fee, Topkapi official website

Opening hours: from 9:00 to 17:00 from November 1 to April 15; from 9:00 to 19:00 from April 16 to October 31. The day off at the palace is Tuesday.
Cost of admission in 2020: the palace itself is 72TL (Turkish lira), the harem in the palace is 42TL. Read below on how to book tickets online to avoid standing in lines at the ticket office.
Official website of Topkapi: https://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/en

Topkapi Palace on the map of Istanbul

The exact address of Topkapi Palace:

How to get to Topkapi Palace on your own

The palace is located in historical center Istanbul - Sultanahmet district. If you rent a hotel nearby, which in the case of a short-term trip will be the best solution - you won’t have to spend extra money on travel to the main attractions, then the easiest way to get to the palace will be on foot. By the way, look for a selection of inexpensive but high-quality hotels near Topkapi Palace in our article -. Well, to get to Sultanahmet from other parts of the city, you will need to take the tram to the Gülhane Parkı stop, from where the palace is a stone's throw straight through the park of the same name.

If you don’t want to deal with city logistics during your vacation, you can always take sightseeing tour around the city, including a visit to Topkapi Palace. This is very convenient and allows you to significantly save time.

Excursions to Topkapi Palace in Russian - prices 2020, where to buy

You can visit Topkapi Palace on your own by purchasing tickets online or at the box office, or as part of one of the excursions. The easiest way to book excursions to Topkapi Palace in Russian is to use the services of a popular travel service. All excursions you will find there are conducted Russian speaking guides for small groups of tourists, which is very convenient.

TOP 3 excursions to Topkapi Palace

1 place —
One of the main attractions that tourists will see during this sightseeing tour of Istanbul will be Topkani Palace. With the help of a Russian guide, it is easy to find out how and how the rulers of the Ottoman Empire lived. The chronicle of the palace contains 400-year-old chronicles, which mention the names of 25 sultans. The guide will tell you only about the most outstanding ones, and will also invite you to admire the interiors of the palace and its authentic treasures. The program will be complemented by the majestic Sultanahmet Mosque, Hippodrome Square, where the history of Istanbul was born, Hagia Sophia Cathedral - a silent witness to the “golden age” of the Byzantine Empire and the secrets of the Basilica Cistern.

Cost of the excursion – 140€ for 1-4 people.
2nd place —
While visiting the Topkani Palace, you will find yourself inside the “magnificent century” of the Ottoman Empire. You will walk through the intimate chambers and look at the exquisite interiors of the interior of the palace chambers, and also look into the holy of holies - the harem, to find out what the sultans' concubines dreamed of. Before visiting the Topkani Palace, visit the Hippodrome Square to trace the history of the fall of the Byzantine Empire and learn about the popular entertainment of the inhabitants of Constantinople. And after visiting the palace, you will find out who saved the Hagia Sophia from destruction, why the Blue Mosque became a symbol of the city, what Suleiman the Magnificent became famous for and what is walled up in the minaret of the Sulaymaniyah Mosque.

Cost of the excursion – 120€ for 1-5 people.
3rd place —
Once in the treasury of the Turkish padishahs - the Topkani Palace - you will find out what made Mehmed II order the construction magnificent palace on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. You will visit the armory, a harem, a hall for storing jewelry, and a library with ancient manuscripts. The guide will help you imagine the events that took place within the walls of the palace throughout its 400-year history. In the exhibition of handicrafts made from precious stones, porcelain, gold and silver, talk about the techniques of creating wondrous masterpieces, and then you will have time to stroll through the wonderful gardens and parks of the palace complex. Will complement sightseeing tour in Istanbul, visiting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square with its Egyptian obelisk, Serpentine Column and German Fountain.

Cost of the excursion – 90€ per person.

Other interesting excursions for Istanbul, look in our special article -.

How to buy a ticket to Topkapi Palace online

Almost all the attractions of Istanbul are very busy during the season from May to September, which can be an obstacle for those who want to visit as many places as possible in a short time, due to the permanent presence of queues at the ticket office. The situation can be saved if you buy tickets to Topkapi Palace online yourself. Or buy the Istanbul Welvome Card/Museum Pass, which includes tickets to several places at once - this way you can save a lot of money! So, let's understand the existing proposals. 😉

Topkapi Palace is literally in the thick of all the most interesting things in Istanbul, so once you finish exploring it, you definitely won’t have to think long about where to go next. And we, with your permission, will guide you a little. 🙂

1. If you are tired while visiting the palace, then good place for relaxation afterwards there will be a place where you can sit in a cafe or just take a walk in the shade of the trees.

2. After relaxing in the park, you can head towards Sultanahmet Square, around which the most popular attractions of Istanbul are located. For example, the most famous mosque in the city is. The big plus of Blue Mosque is that visiting it is absolutely free.