Tips for Visiting the Collections inside the Topkapi Palace Gardens!

• First of all, do not expect to see a big palace building with hallways and salons as Topkapi Palace had been a combination of gardens that remainds a fusion of Roman villas and Asian imperial courts. 
• The newly opend (Summer 2023) Treasury of Sultans is the most popular section inside the Topkapi Palace Museum. Between 10:30 and 15:00, lines could emerge in front of the entrance (which is free already when you entered the gardens). The waiting times could change between 5 to 20 minutes.
• Inside the Holy Relics of Islam Collections inside the third courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, the live Quran readings continue incessantly. So, talking loud is not recommended. If there is a need for coverings for shoulders, legs or hair etc, there are fabrics provided at the entrance for every visitor. 

By the May 10th of 2023, the Topkapi Palace Museum Directory announced the new section's re-openning at the 3rd courtyard, with the royal jewelries and clothes of the sultans! This is a long anticipated come-back of the 15th century pavillons from the Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's times.

As the restoration works are over in September 2023, all the covers and scaffholdings are cleared at the Mother Sultan Chamber (Valide Sultan) at the Harem of the Topkapi Palace Museum. So the room is now is fully visible for its guests. 

1st of July 2024, the Cuncubines Courtyard in the Harem Section are now opened. The Bathhouse (Hamam) of the harem ladies are openly showcasing some pieces of daily life during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The renovations for the parts of Palace Kitchens are through and the major sections are to be open in August 2024 around the porcelain collections. 

Visiting Topkapi Palace is even more recommended now! Moreover, it is better to spare a little bit more time than usual to see these collections. 

Until the modern times, the Topkapi Palace had been the house of the Ottoman Dynasty in Istanbul for 4 centuries. It is consisted of several courtyards in an extensive area that is is surrounded by 15th century walls. The exceptionally located terraces of the palace present you most magnificent panoramic views over the famous Bosphorus and Golden Horn too.

Today, the area serves as a great museum complex, which amazes its visitors by its glorious decorations and unmatched collections. 

If you add the Harem Section tickets too, you will discover the most private quarters of the Queens and Sultans filled with glorious halls, lavish bath houses, storied courtyards, unique decorative elements and many more… 

The second gate of Topkapi Palace Complex (where the museum part starts) has been taken into restoration in May 2024. The restorations will expectedly end at the end of the year 2024.

Basically, with this ticket, you may visit all the central courtyards from the 1st to the 4th that ends up at great terrasses with astonishing views. In more detail, the most important quarters are included:

• the Administrative parts like the Divan, Armory and Treasury (with the legendary diamond inside) Rooms
• the Kitchens and its fabulous collections that exhibits both the daily life (particularly coffee!)and luxury as well as one of the best porcelain and glass collections of the world
• the Enderun Courtyard that was private for sultans the Palace School, the Paintings Section, the Holy Relics of Islam
• the fourth courtyard with pavilions and terraces once belonging to the sultans, namely the Baghdad and Revan Kiosks and Iftariye Balcony, the Dressing Room which are the most distinguished and aesthetically advanced examples of Ottoman classical architecture.
• The Harem Section, the royal household's residential part.

• 10 minutes before the starting time you chose, our museum hosts will be waiting for you at the location shown with a link in your ticket! There you will be taken to the entrance without waiting.
• Without waiting at the meeting point, our Official Museum Staff will lead you to the priority entrance.
• Inside Topkapi Palace, the gardens, halls, rooms, collections and exhibitions revealing the history of the sultans' lives and imperial administration
• If you opt for the Flexible Option, you can come and join befoe any session starting between 09:30 and 16:00. If necessary because of your program, weather etc., only with a mail, you can change the day, too, for your Topkapi Palace Museum visit. 

The famous Harem of the Topkapi Palace is inside the second courtyard of the Palace. You will see options in our menu to add the tickets or tours of the Harem Section inside the Topkapi Palace. At July of 2023, the Mother Sultan (Valide Sultan) Chamber at the Harem Section has been opened for visits after a restoriation process of 18 months. 

The Relics from the foundational century of the Islamic World is inside the 3rd Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace. So, a regular ticket for the Topkapi Palace Museum is enough to see this collection. 

Please keep in mind that there is no fast track service for the Holy Relics Section because there is no ticket requeirment. It is just a free pass for the people already inside the museum. Most of the time, especially weekends or any day between 10:45 to 15:00, there are lines in front of its entrance waiting for a while (usually between 10 to 25 minutes). 

If you wish! You could add several guiding service options on your fast track ticket for the Topkapi Palace! They will come to your menu during the booking process.

Regularly, every 30 minutes, there is a orientation intro by an officially licensed guide inside the Topkapi Palace. After this introduction, which takes the visitors through the gates of the end of Topkapi Palace, you would know where to go and find the best collections and stories that suits your interests. 

For the Harem Section of the Topkapi Palace, you can opt for tickets and guiding services from the menu while booking your tickets for the museum. 

As another choice, you can opt for an 40-minute guiding service in addition to your tickets for the Topkapi Palace with the best price in Istanbul Old Town by far. If you do so, also an officially licensed guide will introduce centuries-long history of the Ottoman sultans, who lived here. You will learn about the organizational and political structure of the palace as well. Your guide will point out cultural, decorative or architectural details to uncover the unique history of this complex. 

There is a private tour option as well, that books your tour with an expert guide covering all the stories and details around the gardens of Topkapi Palace! This private tour is a favorite of true history loving travelers! 

• As of September 2024, as announced by the Topkapi Palace Museum directory, the fee for each Topkapi Palace Museum & Harem tivket is 1700 TL. Keep in mind that this is the rate you will see after waiting in the lines at the ticket booth of the palace.
• Starting from 1st of March 2024 until the end of the Spring and Summer 2024, the closing time is declared as 18:30 by the Topkapi Palace Museum Directory. The last admission is going to be at 17:30.
• The Winter Time will start at November 1st in 2024 and the final closing time will be 17:30. So, the last admissions are expected to be done at 16:30 after the first week of November 2024.