Carbon Neutral 100%
Destinations
Top destinations of the moment in Europe
  • Tour Ideas
Trip Types
  • Travel Style
  • Interests and Activities
  • Tour Ideas by Month
  • Continents and Regions
An update from Evaneos
Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace (Turkey)

Practical information on Topkapı Palace

  • Family
  • Viewpoint
  • Museums
  • Castle and fortress
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Unesco World Heritage
  • Essential
4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
A two-minute walk from the Hagia Sophia.
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
A few hours

Reviews of Topkapı Palace

Timothée D. Seasoned Traveller
285 written opinions

A royal palace in the heart of Istanbul, the Topkapi was the Ottoman sultan's residence from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

My suggestion:
I strongly advise you to visit the harem which, in my opinion, has the most beautiful rooms in the Topkapi complex.
My review
The Topkapi Palace is an amazing complex on the banks of the Bosphorus which once upon a time was a real town within a town, with more than 4,000 inhabitants, housing gigantic kitchens, bakeries, mosques, and an incredible number of courtiers, not to mention hundreds of women for the Sultan to choose from in his famous harem.
Interior of the Topkapi Palace
Olivia Merlen Seasoned Traveller
20 written opinions

Today one of Istanbul's tourist attractions, the Topkapi Palace was once the residence of sultans.

My suggestion:
You get to enjoy wonderful views of the Bosphorus in places as you pass from one courtyard to the next in Topkapi Palace! Tip: Have your camera ready.
My review
I discovered the Topkapi Palace one sunny winter afternoon on a weekend trip to Turkey. Though it's not my very best memory of Istanbul, I did really enjoy walking around this richly historic site.
The interior of the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
Clemence Zisswiller Seasoned Traveller
34 written opinions

Situated in the heart of Sultanahmet, behind Saint Sophie, the Topkapi Palace was for many years the Sultans' residence.

My suggestion:
If possible avoid the peak season, when it gets really overcrowded. On a hot day, it's stifling inside the galleries.
My review

It probably needs no introduction, considering its legendary beauty. Topkapi Palace, the palace of a thousand and one nights . Built in the 15th Century for Sultan Mehmet II, it was, until the construction of Dolmabahçe, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Topkapi's location is strategic, as it overlooks the Bosphorus, the Maramara Sea and the Golden Horn.

In 1924, with the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the palace was turned into a musuem. It exhibits some of the most opulent and incredible objects. One thing I didn't expect to see was the Rod of Moses or David's Sword in the Chamber of the Sacred Relics! Plenty of other religious relics and Ottoman treasures are also on display.

Even though the entry fee might make you think twice, you really shouldn't miss out this incredible visit during your holiday in Turkey! The beauty of the gardens and the amazing mosaics at Topkapi bear little resemblance to the other Ottaman vestiges you will see.

Detail of a mural in the Topkapi Palace