Istanbul: Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace is the palace in Istanbul that was the primary and official residence of the Ottoman Sultan from 1465 to 1586. It is great: an incredible flash back in the splendour of the old Turkey.

Next to Topkapı Palace there is the Harem that deserves to be visited but needs an additional ticket. The tickects costs:

• 20 TL for Topkapı Palace
• 15 TL for the Harem

You can purchase the tickets of the Harem at the entrance of the Palace or, if you prefer, later on at the entrance of the harem itself.

In the official website you can find updated opening times and entrance fees. I suggest you to check there the opening times and the closing time of the ticket desk since they are quite complicated due to the season and the religious festivities. The Palace is always closed on Tuesday.

I suggest to rent an audio guide: very useful to undertsand the building and its role in the politic life of the Ottoman Empire.

The last picture below is just an example of the view from the Palace.