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Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

4.5
#1 of 552 in Museums in Turkey
Must see · History Museum · Museum
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Home to sultans for centuries, Topkapi Palace is a World Heritage Site with a rich history and superb Ottoman architecture. Built by Sultan Mehmed II in the 15th century, the enormous palace's courtyards and buildings were, at one time, home to almost 4,000 people. Though much of the site is off limits to tourists, one of the highlights you can access is its highly ornate harem, with an intriguing history and notable interiors. Though royalty later moved to European-style residences along the Bosphorus, this palace is important for being truly Ottoman in spirit and design. Using our custom trip planner, Istanbul attractions like Topkapi Palace can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.
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Topkapi Palace reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
27,820 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • Over priced and average: long queues, $38 USD ticket is too expensive and was shocking after you reach at ticket purchase area and just to see bunch of buildings with limited artefacts inventory and.....  more
    Over priced and average: long queues, $38 USD ticket is too expensive and was shocking after you reach at ticket purchase area and just to see bunch of buildings with limited artefacts inventory and.....  more »
  • The palace is huge, but you'll enjoy it. Get ready for a lot of walking. My family loved visiting here. Wear comfortable shoes. A must-visit during Istanbul tours! 
    The palace is huge, but you'll enjoy it. Get ready for a lot of walking. My family loved visiting here. Wear comfortable shoes. A must-visit during Istanbul tours!  more »
Google
  • Amazing place, atmosphere, good condition of the palace, park, museums. Huge respect to authorities, who saved historical value of Istanbul in general and in this palace. This place is impressive, many relics and valuables have been preserved. However it is a pity that we cannot see rooms, furniture, the personal belongings of the sultanas were not preserved, and in general they lived very close, as lots of people come to see life of Osman family
  • I recommend buying tickets in advance because my family made the mistake of waiting at a ticket pass seller just for them to tell us that the tickets to enter the museum were inside, aside from that the museum was really pretty and the gardens looked amazing during this season (summer). There were some places where the lines were so long I couldn't enter but that's because I went on a weekend. Overall it was very pleasant experience.

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