Topkapı Palace Museum
150 reviews
March 26
Of course, everyone should visit!
A historical place.
The scale is amazing.
You can't get around everything in one day.
Everything is expensive and rich)))
An audio guide is not interesting) take guided tours with some interesting person to tell legends and stories)))
Dollars were not accepted at the checkout, so I had to look for an exchanger at 9 a.m.
The entrance fee is not cheap 2t lira.
But for this price, we didn't even see the Sultan's chambers ((( the most after the harem....very sorry. They were under restoration. Of course, no one notifies about this at the checkout.
There are a lot of people even out of season. Groups of foreign tourists crowd the narrow corridors of the palace, even in the morning.
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1
April 21
It is a very beautiful and interesting palace. A wide exhibition of various items belonging to the ruling dynasties of the Ottoman Empire, from kitchen utensils to jewelry and weapons. Well-preserved buildings, Sultan's harem. The garden is very beautiful and well maintained. You can safely spend the whole day in the palace and enjoy its beauties. And from the walls of the palace there is a stunning view of the Bosphorus.
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April 1
A magnificent palace! It takes 3 hours to book a visit. It is better to take a guided tour in order to get a complete picture of the exhibits and the premises. The palace is in excellent condition, it is clear that they take care of it and put a lot of work into the restoration.
Our family enjoyed visiting the palace complex.
Of the cons:
The audio guide hardly works anywhere, it speaks in a language that is not understandable, but it does not turn on at all or stops in the middle of the narration. It's a pity that the entrance fee is 5,000 rubles per person, and 15,000 rubles for a family with a child. For some, this is an unbearable amount for a museum.
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1
1
March 27
Topkapi Palace, a very large and cozy palace with a history of several centuries.Several Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived here.
We have long wanted to visit Istanbul with our wife.
We stayed in a hotel next to the Aisofia and Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque).
Our dream has come true, we really enjoyed our trip around Istanbul.
I think we'll come back again, so we left a few places where we didn't have time to visit.
To live your life and not be in Istanbul, I think it's a sin!!!
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1
May 3
Everyone who goes to Istanbul is eager to visit this place, the crowds of tourists, the incredibly high prices and the complete disappointment.
Of course, it's interesting for girls to see the places that were shown in the Magnificent Century series, but in fact there are only a few of them.
A more incomprehensible and disorganized museum has not yet been encountered. A huge and beautiful park (by the way, almost like the free Gulhane Park or the inexpensive one in Dolmabahce), walking through the park you enter various "museum rooms". Every time you have to guess where you are going and what the exhibition is about, the audio guide is simply amazing and useless in each room, saying: "this is the hall - meetings were held here"; "this is the hall- they gathered here for discussion." The funniest moments begin when the Russian voice acting accidentally becomes Polish or Czech. The phrases "these are guns" are starting to sound more interesting.
The biggest disappointment is the harem. Well, there's just nothing there and there's nothing to see. They also ask you to pay extra for it separately.
I recommend that you do not waste money and time on this dubious place.
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April 28
The exposition is beautiful, of course. I really liked the harem. But they couldn't stay in the museum for long. Still, it is necessary to visit it in good weather. We were there when it was cold and raining, and we froze because you were always going inside and out. Besides, there's nowhere to eat at all. At least some kind of cafe or restaurant would be made, but it's better not to have one! In one place, we found a tiny cafeteria with two tiny tables where we could buy tea/coffee and sandwiches or croissants.
Another disadvantage is that the restrooms are dirty and there are queues in them.
Still, people don't come to the palace for one hour, they can generally spend the whole day there, but at least some amenities are needed.
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1
April 2
For fans of the Magnificent Century series, the tour will be an immersion in the atmosphere of the film, for everyone else it will be just an attempt to find out how the elite of the Ottoman Empire lived so closed from everyone. But only an attempt, because the palace itself may seem lifeless to you if you haven't watched the movie. Everything that filled these walls with life - household items, magnificent clothes, untold riches - is now represented in separate pavilions on the territory of the palace. But perhaps this is better: any attempt to reproduce the life of the harem would be false, since there is no reliable evidence. And how can you reproduce the age-old layers of life in the closed world of so many generations?
Pavilions with treasures of sultans, clothes, dishes will give you the material to create your own universe called "the life of sultans and their surroundings."
The most historically striking part of the palace is the harem. And the most striking is the latest pavilion, built in the French style, practically the predecessor of the new magnificent Dolmabahce Palace.
I do not recommend taking tickets through booking. If the queue is small, use the ticket office and get a regular audio guide. We avoided the queue, but instead of an audio guide on a string around our neck, we got a link to the app. It turned out to be inconvenient, because in the confusion of corridors it is difficult to determine where you are and select the desired file. We found our own headphones, one for both of us. Apart from the fact that it connected us like Siamese twins, the phone quickly ran out of power and we were left with no information at all.
But even without explanations, if you have imagination, the palace can impress.
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3
March 28
The palace was disappointed. The territory is huge, you can walk and visit everything for half a day, but: crowds, there are no CROWDS of tourists.
The rooms of the palace are quite empty, most often just bare walls, you walk through empty rooms and look at how the sultan or his wives lived. Expositions are set up in some rooms. For example, dishes of the sultan, orders of the Sultan, caftans of the Sultan, etc.
In general, the palace, in my opinion, does not justify its price at all. I got much more impressions and pleasure from the Dolmbahce palace.
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1
March 16
It is a very beautiful palace, there is a lot to see: jewelry, clothes, weapons, watches, Muslim relics, things of the Prophet Muhammad. It's better to start with the harem. The final price is very expensive - more than 5,000 per ticket. The audio guide is free of charge, secured by a passport, but it didn't work everywhere in the summer
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May 1
The place is historical. There are many interesting exhibits.
The complex is large. It took us almost the whole day to check up.
There is a separate ticket office for buying tickets for cash. You can save time - the queue at this checkout is usually smaller.
An audio guide is included in the ticket price. Passports or driver's licenses are taken as collateral.
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April 22
A beautiful sultan's palace. Here you can learn about the history of the Ottoman Empire. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of that time. Take a walk in the park or visit interesting exhibitions
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April 1
A beautiful place for a good walk for 3-4 hours. There is something to see and where to walk. The entrance fee is a little too high, but compared to other prices for admission to tourist sites in Istanbul, it is quite adequate. I definitely recommend you to visit.
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May 2
A beautiful and interesting palace of Ottoman culture. It is mandatory for people who are interested in history to visit. It's better to set aside a couple of days for a visit. A particularly pleasant visit in the spring.
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1
April 11
Spare no money, go! And take a guide. Not for a crowd, but for a maximum of 3-5-7 people.
It's a very big palace, and you may get tired at some point. And if you have a desire to leave in the middle (like some of my companions), then before leaving, be sure to look into the treasury - it's a head-off!
There is an audio guide in a bunch of languages, but it's a bit dry. We walked along it, it helps out, because our guide was in front of too many people and disappeared right at the very beginning))) I've listened to a few suitable Guides with small companies - it's mostly a song with interesting facts, stories, and secrets. The audio guide won't tell you that.
A harem is fun, but you shouldn't spend a lot of time on it, because then you won't have the energy to explore more interesting rooms and views.
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April 11
It's very beautiful and interesting. Fans of the TV series "Magnificent Century" will love it. The life of other people, a different culture is always informative. But our palaces in St. Petersburg are better.
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April 30
You can't be in Istanbul and not visit the palace! Of course, I had to stand in a huge queue for a ticket, but for good reason! Before entering, of course, the guides offer their services for 60 ,50 euros, when we refused, we were offered for 30 euros in 2 hours, we refused again and for good reason! Why? Because we spent 6 hours in the palace at our own pace, I can imagine how we would rush around the palace in 2 hours!
So everything is in order :
1. The queue is big but moving fast, we stood for 30 minutes. The entrance ticket costs 2000 liras (as of April 25, it is 4600 liras)
2. then we went to get an audio guide (it's free, we left our passport as a deposit), set it up in Russian and go ahead
3. It's not too much to walk around the territory, we enjoyed the beauty and scale of this city in the city
4. When leaving, of course, you want to eat and drink coffee, but you should not take coffee from the stall at the exit, which is not very tasty, but expensive coffee!
5. Our walk took 6 hours, which we enjoyed and immersed ourselves in the great Ottoman Empire
6. Entrance from the harem is charged additionally.
7. The photos are gorgeous.
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April 27
Nicely
But there are a lot of people. The audio guide works with varying success, it is better to go with a guide
It seems that there is a long queue at the ticket office, but there are kiosks nearby where you can buy an electronic ticket without queues. Entrance 2000 lire, audio guide for free, on deposit (passport, license, id)
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April 18
Interestingly, there is an audio guide. There is a lot of walking, you need to come right to the opening, but still in some locations you will have to stand in a long queue. In general, the place is definitely worth a visit, but I don't think it's worth setting a goal to get around EVERYTHING. The price is high for foreign tourists
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April 11
It's a great palace, I really liked it, especially the view of the sea from the garden in the fourth courtyard, there is a toilet at the beginning on the right, and in the spelling room on the second floor you can warm up well if it gets very cold.
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April 25
Topkapi Palace is a beautiful place, there was already a small queue 15 minutes before the opening. It's expensive, there are a lot of tourists, but it's worth going. There is a harem and a museum on site. Set aside three hours for the visit.
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1
April 5
Comforting serenity!
It is precisely such associations that are associated with the Topkapi complex. Beautiful gardens and balconies overlooking the Bosphorus hide the diverse history of this place - about love, friendship, conspiracies, experiences, disappointments, human destinies, all lost in the pages of history. And here and now there are only the images of a bygone era.
I recommend you to visit, absolutely!
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1
January 24
A spacious "golden age" palace, magnificent mosaics in tiles and glass, dishes, jewelry, weapons, gifts to the Sultan; an outdoor swimming pool, a large park. Yes, and the long-tailed parrots sang on January 15th!
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February 1
In January 2025, a comprehensive ticket (the territory of the palace, the harem and the Church of St. Irina) it costs 2000 lire. Despite the high cost, be sure to visit Topkapi. Set aside at least 4 hours for the examination, provide a snack, and dress comfortably. You'll have to walk a lot and stand in line. Coffee with a croissant can be purchased inside, it will cost 300-400 lira, but it is not forbidden to take sandwiches and tea in a thermos. An audio guide is provided at the entrance to the territory on the security of a passport or driver's license. It duplicates the information written on the stands in English in Russian. If you know the language, you can do without it.
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5
April 2
I was impressed, of course, more impressed by the views of the golden horn. Basically everything in the tile is done. Identical sofas . Gazebos, library, ambassadors' reception house, nice ones. There were a lot of gift-encrusted weapons, and I liked the calligraphy hall. Did I see very few exhibits?
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April 15
A beautiful palace and park, the atmosphere of the Magnificent Century series, a beautiful display of precious things, clothes, household items, so that fewer people would come to the opening.
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April 3
A very interesting complex. Lots of beautiful rooms, wonderful views. I highly recommend visiting. Be sure to take an audio guide at the entrance and ask to be given headphones with it (they don't always give it). Set aside a whole day for the visit.
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December 8, 2024
A historical place, a large palace territory, there is something to see, everything is organized, it is clear everywhere what is where. It is definitely worth visiting this place.
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1
March 9
A magnificent monument of history and architecture. Very beautiful territory. A huge number of exhibits. You can walk all day. Some sites are closed for restoration.
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April 26
It is a very interesting place, but you need to be very hardy to visit all the rooms that are open to tourists because it is very large. It took us half a day to do it. You should definitely visit this place, because it is directly connected with the Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate!!!
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May 3
I really liked the palace. The guide was wonderful and told all the secrets of this place. It's just a delightful palace. And even more so for fans of the "Magnificent Century")
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April 19
Ticket 2000 lire, includes Gorham, the palace, the garden, the Church of St.Irina, audio guide. The audio guide is just disgusting. There is simply no information. The territory is well maintained, beautiful, the palace is beautiful, we didn't take a guide on purpose to enjoy ourselves. We walked for 6 hours, of which we definitely spent an hour in queues. There are just crowds of people! Start with Goreme right away. The audio guide leads to the kitchens, it's not bad there, but it's not as cool in the gym. The center has a museum of art and all kinds of relics. The queue is huge and I didn't like it.
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April 6
It's a great place, especially for fans of the Magnificent Century series. If you are lucky with a guide (I recommend using the services of a professional), you will have an unforgettable experience.
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January 19
Topkapi is the pearl of Istanbul, where every tourist needs to get to. Yes, it's not at all budgetary, but the museums inside the chambers are worth it. Of course, those who have been to the museums of Moscow or St. Petersburg may not appreciate it, but the masterpieces of the sultan's household will definitely attract you. There are weapons, awards, and items of clothing, both casual and festive. In general, there is something to see.
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April 4
Very atmospheric, but not a cheap place to visit! 2000 lire per person, a decent amount for 4 people! Be sure to take your passports so that you can get an audio guide for free! They will give you no passports! But in principle, we walked without them and were satisfied! Don't forget to visit Irene's Cathedral or something like that and the harem! It's all included in the price!
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April 7
I liked the palace. I recommend a guided tour for a better understanding of what was there, where and how it was arranged.
The entrance fee in March 2025 was 2000 lire, children under 12 years of age 300 lire.
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1
November 25, 2024
The topic is a test. Choose a straight day. The price is biting, but worth it. The pledge of the audio guide is either a passport or $ 100. Arrive at 9:00, then the crowds of tourists. And start with the harem. There are narrow corridors in it, otherwise you will jostle with the following crowd. And don't forget your headphones for the audio guide. It took us 4 hours at an active pace to get around everything. My legs don't walk anymore. And don't ignore the church of St. Irene. It has never been a mosque. And older than Aya Sofia herself.
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3
April 29
A place where you want to return!
Don't get around it all at once!
The crowd of tourists and the queue to visit some rooms and relics is huge.
We took a tour from the hotel, the guide was amazing, he told not only the story but also the legends.
There was very little free time for an independent walk, keep this in mind if you take a tour.
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1
April 13
A large area full of scenic views and historical information. They say the ticket is expensive, but in fact you visit several museums, an observation deck, mosques, and churches.
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1
1
March 20
Very beautiful gardens, magnificent glass staircase and a large hall of the palace. And, of course, the harem: endless stone labyrinths. Don't be afraid of the cost (2,000 tour liras for March 2025). It's a walk for many hours, like several museums in Moscow.
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March 16
There is a beautiful park and the palace itself, but there is nothing to do there without a guide. The whole view of the garden is ruined by banners. The 4th gate is the most beautiful, offering the most beautiful views from the balconies to the Bosphorus.
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March 17
The huge area of the palace is well maintained and clean. Of the cons, I did not like the audio guide, there is little information. You can't see everything in the harem either, many rooms are closed.
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March 15
Excellent territory and museum. The ticket price is 2500 lire (there is a free audio guide, you need a document that is left as a deposit).
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December 10, 2024
A very beautiful garden in the palace. There are many different expositions, everything is very beautiful!
One of the disadvantages is a very high price, even without entering the harem.
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1
April 28
I was on a guided tour, I'll say it was too short of time, the guide was in too much of a hurry. And the palace itself is certainly amazing. It feels incredible when you walk through such a historical place where the sultans once lived. There are a lot of people even in April, queues
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March 24
It's a little expensive for a Russian tourist to enter. But it's worth it. There are a lot of impressions. Not the Hermitage, of course. But atmospheric! Impressive. And what views from the terraces of the palace! Not transferable.
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1
March 19
A wonderful historical place, unique interiors and individual exhibits, very beautiful and interesting.
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April 15
I recommend that 26 Sultans ruled the Ottoman Empire from this palace.And the mysterious harem, the secrets of the harem!Roksolana, Suleiman's beloved wife, lived here. www.konstantinopoltur.com
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January 25
I liked it. I recommend taking a guided tour. The guide conducts groups without queuing, as the queues are kilometers long. And they tell you a lot, you have an idea what you're watching.
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April 18
A hot spot. There are a lot of people, tickets are very expensive, at least 50 euros per person plus an excursion of 37 euros without a guide, well, just to pass without queuing. The view of the Bosphorus is gorgeous, it's interesting to see, but it's not worth the money for sure.
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May 5
There are huge queues in every room, the audio guide is very mediocre.More for those who like to see the tiles on the walls and listen to how it was once decorated.
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