Explore Topkapi Palace and its Harem on a guided tour. Marvel at its opulence and mystery and learn about this period in Istanbul's history.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 3 - 4 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: German, English
Wheelchair accessible
Private group available

Highlights

Experience the glory of the Ottoman Era on a tour of Topkapi Palace
See the treasury, holy relics, and imperial kitchens
Explore the harem, the private quarters, and the home of the sultans
Enjoy views of the Golden Horn from the outer terraces
Benefit from priority access and a small-group tour for a more interactive and personalized experience

Full description

Discover the Topkapi Palace on a guided tour. Learn about Ottoman history in the Palace and the life of the Sultan's family in the harem.

Meet your dedicated guide at a hot spot for traditional Turkish delicacies, where there are restroom facilities and you can purchase water or snacks. Then let your guide take you to Topkapi Palace. Explore the splendor of Topkapi Palace, the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Discover the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards was a self-contained city, which most inhabitants rarely left. Explore the outer-terraced gardens and admire the view over the Golden Horn. Visit the harem, ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded domestic and political power. The harem housed hundreds of women and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a wide range of duties. Admire cupboard doors inlaid with mother of pearl and tortoiseshell and stunning Iznik tiles with verses from the Quran. The tour ends with a visit to the holy relics and the imperial kitchens.

Includes

Admission ticket for Topkapi Palace
Admission ticket for the harem
Licensed tour guide
Skip-the-line access
Guided tour of the Topkapi Palace and the Harem
Shared group or private walking tour (depending on option chosen)

Lunch and personal expenses
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Optional gratuities

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask
You must present either proof of full vaccination, proof of a Covid-19 infection in the past 3 months, or a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before the activity starts

Meeting point

House of Medusa Restaurant in Sultanahmet, Alemdar Mh., Yerebatan Cd. No:9, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey

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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 175 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Service
4.8/5
Organization
4.7/5

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Highly recommend this tour! I feel like you definitely need a tour guide to help you fully appreciate the Topkapi Palace and the Harem. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about life in the palace and he was happy to answer all of our questions. I’m so glad we signed up for this tour!

May 14, 2022

We took the Topkapi palace tour and it definitely was a good one! Our guide was on time, friendly, fluent in English, full of history knowledge and fresh person also, which is important, cause a lot of the vibe of the tour depends on the guide. The palace is gorgeous but also huge, I highly recommend you to take a guided tour, cause they explain a lot about the history of the Ottoman empire and Istanbul in general. Maybe the best thing about this one was the tour in the Harem, not only you can see how the building looks inside, but also you get to find out a lot about the daily life there and about the royal family.

April 30, 2022

Great experience with Cem! He’s a very passionate guide, we had the greatest time visiting the palace grounds. He’s extremely knowledgeable and took time to explain the history of the place as well as the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire. Definitely recommend booking this tour, you will not be disappointed.

April 21, 2022

Topkapi Palace and Harem: Guided Tour with Admission Ticket

Topkapi Palace and Harem: Guided Tour with Admission Ticket

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