Topkapı Sarayı

The Topkapi Palace served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans between the 15th and 19th Centuries. This huge and multifaceted historical museum could easily take the whole day. Lucky for me and Gayle, our local tour guide curated to the main attractions, which to me were the Harem and the jewel filled treasury. The historical and fascinating legends here are many and colorful including (but not limited to): libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines, scheming eunuchs, and ruthless Sultans. There was a certain "Oh Wow" factor here as we wandered around the large grounds (including a nice water view) and took in the multiple layers the best we could. The place was busy on the day we were here, but the crowds seemed to flow pretty well.

A spectacular palace and setting right on the Bosphorus. Built by Sultan Mahmet II between 1459 and 1465. It consists of 4 courtyard and was basically a contained city with at one time housed 5,000 residents. Manicured gardens and grounds. A true treasure.

This was a true gem! I could not believe the richness and authenticity of all collections, plus the buildings themselves are amazing! The ticket is pricey (about $50 for non-nationals), but it's worth it. You will also be able to get to the Harem, which was fascinating! They do give you a free audio guide, but no headset, so people just have them on in various languages, which is quite annoying. I found it was simpler just to read the signs. The jewels and the clothing collections were my favorite. Plan for 2.5-3.5 hours minimum. I covered about 70% of the grounds in 3 hours.

Eski ve tarihi bı yapı mutlaka görülmesi gerekiyor Biz çok önce gittik iyi ki gitmisim r

The Topkapı Palace got its start in 1459 when Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered its construction. Till 1859 it was the primary residence of the Sultans and was the administrative capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Palace is a vast walled complex and we were lucky to have our own guide to help us skip the huge line and in addition had an encyclopedic knowledge of the area. The buildings is highly ornate and you can even see the living quarters and the Harem quarters. Also were the Imperial Council Chambers where the Sultan or his designate could monitor meetings of minsters and outside representatives without being seen. We were lucky that several part had recently reopened and there quite a few relics like John The Baptists hand or the Sword of the Prophet David. Not sure how you can really authenticate this stuff but it is a UNESCO World Heritage site so you can be your own judge. It also has a ton of weapons and uniforms including some worn by the various Sultans. The 86 Carat Spoonmaker diamond is also housed in its collection. THe palce and it grounds takes quite a bit of time to work through but it is worth it IMHO.

The Topaki Museum & Palace were very busy on a Monday afternoon. We had skip the line tickets and still had to wait on line before each courtyard & to enter each attraction. Many of the rooms & Turkish baths were empty. Topkapı Sarayı in Turkish means the "Cannongate Palace". It was built in 1465, and was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. Pres. Ataturk turned the palace into a museum, in 1924. It was built on the acropolis, the site of the first settlement in Istanbul. The palace has a view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The overlook was closed to the public. The palace is surrounded by 5km of walls. It has an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula.

Topkapi Palace Museum was splendid to visit, and we looked forward it to very much during our April 2024 Turkey trip. It was close walking distance from our hotel, and just gorgeous inside. Lots to see and stroll around in the gardens, plenty of rooms to view, and collection of artifacts are fascinating.

Topkapi was the center of the Ottoman world, once upon a time. The home of the sultan and the location of the harem. I don't think it is overstating things to say this was one of the most opulent buildings in the world. Construction of the palace began in the mid 15th century by order of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. There are four courtyards within the palace which were built for varying purposes, and the walls are a couple dozen feet high or so and you can't see into the next courtyard over; as you venture deeper into the structure it becomes more and more intimate, with entrance becoming more restricted. The outer courtyard was the only public space. If one was unarmed, you were permitted entrance. In this first courtyard was the Hagia Irene and parades and celebrations might be held here. Being much larger, it might have guests, merchants, and so on (the compound's housed up to 4,000, so, with visitors... you can imagine how massive it was). The inner two courtyards were places for the royal family and those close to them. The Gate of Salutation led to the second courtyard. The sultan was the only person allowed to enter the second courtyard on horseback, so all other visitors had to dismount. Invited visitors and members of court were allowed here, as this was the business center of the palace. The grand vizier would preside over council meetings here in one of the halls in this courtyard; the wall of this chamber had a void in the wall--it is near the ceiling, so the other councilors didn't know if the sultan was listening in or not. As the administrative center of the palace, the treasury was in this courtyard; the palace kitchens were located here as well. The Gate of Felicity, a much more elaborate gate, guards the third courtyard. Unless family, one could only pass into the third courtyard at the invitation of the sultan (regardless of their station) with the exception of those who worked in that area of the palace. The harem is here, where the family lived; they and the eunuchs that guarded the harem. And in the fourth courtyard, even more restricted, you'll find the circumcision room, palace gardens, and a terrace that overlooks the Bospherous. If I recall correctly, it's here that you can also see Galata Tower from Topkapi. Something I found enchanting is that peacocks (amongst other animals) would wander the palace. Peacocks! Visitors to the palace are permitted to visit all four of the courtyards, though not every space is open to visitors. There is one--perhaps the queen's [the Sultan's mother] apartments--you could only peek into. We spent about half a day here (4 hours at least) and I'm not certain we saw everything, though we sure tried! Much like in greater Istanbul, there are fountains throughout the palace. This place is massive, so plan plenty of time, go slow, and make sure to bring your walking shoes.

Wow! What a beautiful sight to see! The Ottoman Empire and all it's history. You can see artifacts such as relics of the Islamic prophet Mohamed, Moses and his staff that he used for miracles and to part the Red Sea for the Jews to escape Egypt and also John the Baptist with his glove for baptizing and remnants of bone from his skull. In the place of these artifacts they give women a scarce to cover their hair. And you can hear a imam reciting verses of the Quran. Also you will see all artifacts of the Sultan suleiman empire and their way of life. You can see his hammam (bath area) the different watches, vases, clocks, jewelry and just different luxurious artifacts and furniture back in the Ottoman Empire. There is just so much to see as it being one of the oldest palaces in the world which contains gardens, courtyards,pavilions, terraces and even a church. You can also see the sultans bedroom, the harem and much more. This is definitely a place that is worth seeing!

I really enjoyed spending a few hours in this museum with our guide and seeing many wonderful things. We were staying at the nearby recently renovated and reopened FS hotel so it's almost adjoined and was a quick and easy walk. Lines tend to get VERY long to get into this palace if you come after 9am so we made sure to come prior to that so we could enjoy some of the spaces without the huge crowds. This museum was once the palace and home of the Sultans of Istanbul and eventually housed the wives in the Harem which is now open to the public for tours. It has a large cafe and two beautiful gift shops you can browse. We browsed the smaller gift shop near the back and they had some really high quality glasswares and some jewelry. We also had coffee and pastries in the cafe which was nice with good service and a WC if you have to use the restroom. The grounds of this palace are huge and can easily take half a day for you to wander around if you want to be thorough and see everything like we did. Some of it is under renovation as are most things in Istanbul right now, but there is still enough to see to fascinate you. I saw the relics of Muhammad - how cool is that!?

Divided into courts, kitchen and harem a visit to Topkapı Palace displays immaculate grounds and some of Istanbul's most treasured artifacts. Found in Fatih Topkapı served as the Ottoman administrative center for nearly 400 years and was also the Sultans' main residence following the conquest of Constantinople. Best accessed by buying online tickets to circumvent the line the palace displays artifacts from Muhammad and Moses plus several buildings full of ornate furniture. Plan to spend 2-3 hours depending on lines for busier areas.

Amazing palace to visit while in Istanbul. We were on the fence about coming because it takes a few hours and I'm so happy we decided to go! Each part is beautiful and the detail in each room is exquisite. We didn't have time to visit the harem but the regular ticket will take up about 3 hours if you are wandering around at your leisure. They have an audio guide and it's well organized. They don't allow pictures and will yell at you but it's worth sneaking the pix! If you are in Istanbul this is a top site to see. 200 TK ticket as of July 2021 without the harem.

Topkapi is one of my favorite historical places to visit in Istanbul, Turkey . I visited the museum in 2021 during my visit to Turkey. Very large and there are plenty to see there. I was lucky that I visited in winter so the place was not very busy and I got to enjoy it. However, I heard the museum is very packed in the summer by tourists.

It is a gorgeous palace that once housed sultans. There is also the harem where their wives and concubines lived. You are surrounded by greenery and flowers, gorgeous architecture and fine details. It's simply a stunning place to visit. The palace's ceilings are beautiful. If you have a chance to relax, I would recommend sitting around the garden and breathe. I loved this part of the walking tour. I felt at ease walking around and admiring how splendid this place is. (109)

What an amazing place to visit while in Istanbul. The history here is anything like Europe or America. It was such an amazing trip and this was one of the coolest things we did. Highly recommend doing this!

It was such an amazing time visiting this museum! It is absolutely beautiful and there is so much to see. It is definitely a top must visit spot for us. Definitely recommend checking this out!

40 TL to enter the palace and an extra 20 TL for the harem. If it's hot and your feet hurt the palace takes enough time to browse. Unfortunately the treasure section is under construction but there are many other areas to view. They have a kitchen section, swords/armor, paintings and wonderful views of the golden horn. The rooms have Beautiful tile work and cultural history!

This place has got to be my favorite tourist place in Istanbul, which is already riddled with so many historical buildings and sights. I'd never heard of this museum or anything prior to coming to Istanbul, so I decided to walk in here on a whim, and I am so glad I did. There's a lot to be said about this place, and it ranges from historical to artistic to culinary to religious. There's something here for every single person to enjoy, and more. Even if you're not much a history person, just taking a stroll in the area is enough to put you in awe.

For those who care about leisure areas in Istanbul, this article has helped me and this palace was among these places and was very wonderful and I was happy I will leave you a link explain to you in detail for each of them https://elitehomespro.com/tourism-in-turkey-2021-e

Fatma'ya ait gömlek, hırka, seccade ve sandık bulunmaktadır. Koleksiyondaki Avrupa camları, ağırlıklı olarak leğen-ibrik takımları, tatlı hokkaları, kapaklı kâseler, küçük ve büyük tabaklar, sürahi ve bardaklar, şerbet kadehleri, şerbet ibrikleri, kahve fincanları ve zarfları, avize fanusları ve şamdanlardan oluşur.https://colombianemerald.shop/

It was such an amazing trip and this was one of the coolest things we did. This place has the staff of Moses the sword of David. In addition it also has artifacts from Abraham(you know the father of Ishmael and Issac*), John the Baptist, and Joseph of the Technicolor Dreamcoat. It blows you away from the moment you enter the main entrance. The Golden writings on the wall prove that the Ottomans meant business and oh my what a business. Be aware that there are two different prices: one for the entrance and one for the Harem visit. It didn't get a 5 from me, because I would've loved to have the option to get a guide and have them explain the place's history.

Perhaps there is no palace that is more classic Ottoman in the world than Topkapi Sarayi. Since the Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century, Topkapi Sarayi served not only as the main residence of the sultanate but also the main administrative center of the Empire until the 19th century, so this palace complex is packed with history for you to witness! Befitting for a sultan, Topkapi Sarayi is a grand complex full of buildings of various functions. Although classic Ottoman remains the main architectural style of the complex, the complex in fact is a conglomeration of different architectural styles that evolved with the tastes of succeeding sultans. For instance, after you pass by the Audience Hall that is of Ottoman Baroque style, you will see the European-style Grand Kiosk that faced the sea. While the negative is that Topkapi lacks a signature space like a Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, the positive is that you can witness the evolution of the Ottoman architecture inside a single complex. Some buildings also allow interior access. While some are converted museums that housed precious items such as the Prophet's belongings or daily palace items like imported porcelains, few retain their original decor and even furniture like the wonderful Terrace Kiosk where the sultans relax in the garden view. However, if you truly want to glance into the life of early Ottoman sultanate, then you cannot miss the Harem! Although the Harem indeed verifies the stereotype as a secretive pseudo-prison of the sultan's women, the Harem is also the private residence of the sultan's whole family. Therefore, the Harem is where you will see the most lavish and the most extravagant chambers of Topkapi Palace! I believe that if you do not intend to visit the Harem, then you should not bother with Topkapi as a whole because the Harem is the essence of what made this palace a palace. In short, Topkapi Sarayi is an unique sight that is worth seeing if you have time in Istanbul! Allocate at least few hours to see what hides behind the tall palace gate. After all, the palace went through 400 years of constant renovation, so Topkapi Sarayi has many marvels to see. It would be a shame to rush through them. --- MUSEKART If you plan to visit Topkapi Sarayi, then consider buying a Musekart! For 85 TL, Musekart is a 5-day pass that includes admission to several museums including Ayasoyfa (40 TL) and Topkapi Palace plus its Harem (40+25 TL). Not only do you save time from queuing for every ticket office, you also save money even if you intend to visit only the two mentioned sites and not visit any more museum. You can buy this pass at any museum that is included in pass, although the underrated, nearby Mosaic Museum is typically the best place to buy since its ticket office almost never have a queue.

If you have time for only one thing in Constantinople... I mean, Istanbul... then you have to make Topkapi your stop. First off, it's huge. There is a lot to see here from the various pavilions to the kitchens to the amazing ancient relics room, you can absolutely spend several hours exploring the castle and reviewing the history that has come and gone through this wonderful place. So many very old buildings, so much historical architecture and so many things to see! All of the signage that I saw was in at least Turkish and in English, which made it easy for an American like myself to enjoy, explore and learn a bit about the history of this place and this region. And yes, you'll be able to see the famous Topkapi Dagger made famous in the 1964 film starring Peter Ustinov and Maximilian Schell. From various ledges and spaces, there are some amazing vistas where you can see the Bosphorous and across to Asia. It's flippin' awesome.

165 acres? Amazing? I wish I could have seen the kitchen, I wish I could have seen this place at its peak. In its hayday I'm sure some wars, some political coups were hatched here. It sirs at the corner of the world. Well before Shakespeare, we're talking mad history. It's the Second largest palace in the world. Some of the oldest historical artifacts I've ever seen in my life. Make American seem so juvenile in comparison. The first air conditioner in the world. The Taylors diamond. Seriously, take the time to check this place out.

900 year old palace? Yes please. You can actually only give a 5 star review for this place. It's magnificent! The new(refurbished) palace kitchens and the weapon exhibit were my favorite parts. Why did we ever stop putting huge gemstones on armor and weapons?

First, know that I visited here at a horrible time. I visited in August (one of the busiest months), it was steamy hot and I visited on a Monday (Hagia Sophia is closed, so many of the tourists visit here, instead). Further, parts of Topkapi are under reconstruction (Harem) and the lines were ridiculously long to go into the Imperial Treasury & Hall of Holy Relics (so we skipped those areas). However, its still incredible. It was the home of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years. Good to know: Cost: 25TL. I was annoyed that it was an additional 15TL to go into the Harem. Why not just charge one price for it all? Closed Tuesday Restaurant in the Mecidiye Pavillion with beautiful views (also a cafe in the First Courtyard, prior to entering the museum). Must See: The Harem. The incredible tile work & craftsmanship throughout the 20 private apartments of the Sultan, sultan's mother, wive's & concubine. I have never seen so many varied tiles in my life. I would love to go back during non-busy season to really explore.

Big attraction and beautiful views! Out of all the attractions, this one was actually worth the cost, not like several other attractions that are over priced and have different prices for tourists or Turks. The Harem Museum was over 60% closed and still 25TL. Thank you to the admin employee for letting us know! I don't think Admission were telling tourists as this is very common with the main tourist attractions. Make sure to read the map! There are lots of hidden/easy to miss exhibits. Several exhibits were closed though (see photo below). Go early!!!!!! Line gets crazy. They are closed on Tuesdays. Price for locals and tourist - 40TL, Harem Museum which is in the same place, but more money - 25TL. Also you can not take photos or videos in most of the exhibit halls. Even with no flash...

Topkapi Palace was pretty cool, just very historic that it was built in the 1400's. Lots of artifacts from clothing, to jewels and religious relics. Some of the stuff i just glazed over then one room there was a back log and line forming to get in, after getting in i just glazed over the items and said to myself, "whats the big deal?" so i decided to stop and read the placards. Holy crap! Staff of Moses, bowl of St. John, foot print of Mohamed, ect. The Jewel room was impressive too, walking along, 30 ct Diamond, wow, 50 ct diamond, Holy Crap 83 ct Diamond! Thats makes Kobe Bryant's, sorry for cheating ring look like nothin'! Over all it was okay, i guess i didn't pay for the Harem room, which some seem to say is amazing. You can't really take pictures of anything inside the rooms, only outside you can take pics of the main palace but not any of the artifacts. Tip: There are electronic vending machines for tickets not just the ticket office. The line at the ticket office was kinda long. I bypassed all the people waiting in line put my money in, pressed the button, and got my ticket way quicker.

Wow, just wow. Topkapi is very much worth the visit; being in Istanbul, you can't miss this snapshot at Ottoman architecture. It blows you away from the moment you enter the main entrance. The Golden writings on the wall prove that the Ottomans meant business and oh my what a business. Be aware that there are two different prices: one for the entrance and one for the Harem visit. It didn't get a 5 from me, because I would've loved to have the option to get a guide and have them explain the place's history. Luckily, I was accompanied by a Turkish person who knew of the history and who gave me a lot of insights. The Harem is really interesting, although it's purpose was despicable: the insights into their way of life, organization and day to day life is enriching! I highly recommend the visit of both places. It would be a pity to not get some history while in Istanbul, because trust me: Istanbul's history is rich!

Very cool to walk through this palace. Here is where the sultans and their families lived for hundreds of years and it is decorated amazingly! There is one ticket to get into the palace itself, and then if you want to tour the Harem, which was the personal residence of the sultan, there is an additional fee. Pictures can't do some of the rooms justice with how beautiful it was! A must-see in Istanbul!

This is a huge place that you could easily spend a whole day in. We paid 25 TL for the Topkapi Palace Museum and another 15 TL to see the Harem Apartments. Massive grounds and rooms filled with ancient stuff to peruse. We got really tired and had to sit down to take a break. Massive crowds, too. Wanted to take a lunch break but decided to hold our hunger due to the high prices for what looked like mediocre food. There was a fly buzzing behind the glass with the breads, so that looked a bit scary. A fun parade went through the grounds in the middle of the afternoon. The audio guide had some settings on a sensor that would automatically play as you entered certain rooms, so that was cool. Everything was quite ornate and beautiful. They took a fun photo of us with guys in costume and massive swords in the beginning, but after a long day, we completely forgot to go to the gift shop to go see our photo before we left the palace. :(

This place has the staff of Moses(yes the one with THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ) the sword of David(yes the one with Goliath). In addition it also has artifacts from Abraham(you know the father of Ishmael and Issac*), John the Baptist, and Joseph of the Technicolor Dreamcoat. I mean Any Questions? In addition they have relics of Muhammad including his foot prints. Taken at face value all of this is a BFD!! Your only excuse is if you're an atheist or an agnostic. Even if you are - did I mention the architecture. This gives you the opportunity to sample a Grandiose Islamic Palace in a Western city. What more can you ask? All for apx $15** an additional $9** if you include the Harem - are you Kidding?!? Pace yourself you can easily spend a day here. They have food and refreshments inside and out. Highly recommended!!! *if you need more info watch West Wing Season 3 episode 1 ** at my current exchange rates

The treasure room line is way out the door, try and get that one out first if you can The harem wasn't worth it, half of it was under construction...check beforehand (That was the part i looked forward to)

So much to see and enjoy here. Some notable elements are: the colored window panels and mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shelled decorations in both Revan and Baghdad Pavilions, the tile work in the Circumcision Room, The entire treasury museum, and of course, the Bosphorous view.

Awesome place! So much to see & so relaxing! The rooms are incredible with the ornate tile. And don't miss out on the Harem section - incredible! And well worth the extra fee! One of a kind place! Loved it!

There is a lot to see here so give yourself enough time to appreciate the full glory of this place. The history is immense and there is plenty of opportunities to take it easy , sit down and appreciate the beauty of the grounds.

The palace (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/topkap%C4%B1-saray%C4%B1-istanbul?select=YJn5n9fyis49TkxR26bYPg#YJn5n9fyis49TkxR26bYPg) is another essential stop for tourists. It's quite large with many different areas and exhibits including holy relics attributed to the Prophet Mohammed and his companions. Don't get caught taking pictures in the clock room (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/topkap%C4%B1-saray%C4%B1-istanbul?select=-gmEbqTD48NoNooEEVYenQ#-gmEbqTD48NoNooEEVYenQ) or have your best "I'm an ignorant tourist" excuse prepared. I thought the guard was going to confiscate my DSLR, but he just glared at me for an uncomfortable few seconds. Anyway, you could easily spend an entire day here exploring, but we had just set aside a few hours. We didn't have time to do the harem tour . . . next time.

Came for the public section only.... This is one of the must-visit places when in Istanbul....at least if it's your first time. It is a pretty big area with lots of green and gardens. Since we didn't have time all day we just roamed around the public area. But that was alread a nice thing to do. The gates leading you inside are massive and impressive. And the Gate of Salutation is even bigger....right out of a fairy tale. To visit the actual palace you'll have to pay....and a bit more if you're interested in seeing the Harem. The garden / courtyard is lovely done....be sure to arrive in the morning. A lot less people....they all arrive around 11-12. And then it's packed. In the souvenir shop you can dress up for a souvenir picture if you like these kinda things. There's also a bathroom.....be sure to go before you leave.

One of the biggest palaces of the world, built by the sultan in the 15th century. It overlooks Bosphorus and Marmara sea, has many important exhibition halls like Treasury, sultans costumes, holly relics, kitchens, audience hall, clocks, weapons, Chinese porcelain, sultans portraits, Divan council, Harem, and so on. It's closed on Tuesdays. The entrance, as of 2014 & 2015 costs 30 TL per person. If you want to visit the Harem you pay an extra 15 TL per person. All payments are in cash in Liras or with credit cards. During the high sason there are huge lines at the ticket office therefore I'd suggest to buy your tickets online in advance from Biletix website. You can also buy the "Museum Pass" which is good in many museums.

I adored this beautiful museum complex! It's a shame that about 1/3 of it was under renovations while I was there. But when you travel somewhere during its "off season", expect things to be under some state of construction. I did make the mistake of going here on a Monday...when all the other tourist sites are closed minus this one. Even though I was here in February, it seemed every tourist in Istanbul flocked here as well. Lines for the WC were enormous, which is complete torture if you're 6 months pregnant like I was. The most famous exhibits were also extremely crowded with very pushy tourists. It was entertaining to see how many were getting in serious trouble because they were blatantly taking pictures. (No photos in most exhibits!) I loved walking through the Baghdad Pavilion with its walls of Iznik tiles and admiring the incredible workmanship in the Circumcision Room. Seriously gorgeous. Take a break and enjoy the view of the Golden Horn from here as well. The restaurant is way overpriced so avoid it completely. Because I bought a Museum Pass, I also visited the Harem Apartments. The crowds seemed to disappear the moment I entered so my husband and I almost had the place to ourselves. Again, much of it was under scaffolding but I did get to see more beautiful tile work and learn about the harem's history. Worth the extra money in my opinion. This place is not to be missed (Ummm, Moses' staff! Come on!) but go on any other day but Monday (too crowded) or the weekend (I saw the lines while walking to the Archeology Museum, no thank you).

I wasn't in to this place. There was way too many tourists and the exhibits didn't appeal to me. There are several buildings that house jewels, art work, tapestries, dishes, ceremonial armor which was the most interesting to me, and a relic which was a waste of time. On a more positive note, the grounds are quaint and there's great photo ops near the restaurant on the river side.

4-5 stars for the harem, 3 stars for the rest. It's a lot of walking through rooms without a huge ton of payoff, especially on a hot day. But the harem is fascinating and informative, and really relatable. You really understand what it must have been like to move through and interact with the space, with the people, and with those particular historical conditions. Definitely a must-see. The Spoonmaker's Diamond also deserves a review of its own, which also made the entire visit completely worth it. The rest of the time, I was joking around with my students and trying to forget my very very sore feet. This is another one of those places included with the 75 TL museum pass, which increases its worthwhileness, in my opinion.

A great experience! This place is worth the visit! There are several amazing sections to the palace...my favorite was probably The Harem - such amazing art/architecture/colors throughout this large section of the palace. Plan for a good few hours at least for visiting this spot.

The place to see is the Harem with it's beautiful tiles. They were undergoing a remodel of the harem when I visited, but we were still able to see some of the rooms. No crowds. We were able to see the Treasury without difficulty.

My friends and I had high expectations for Topkapi, and in the end our lasting impression was the long lines of people. This is a HUGE complex, and you could easily spend a day here exploring. In addition, be ready to be patient and WAIT. Instead of imagining myself being transported back in time, and wandering what it must have been like to live back then, I felt like I was at the historical version of Disneyland, and I could swear I saw Mickey and Minnie walking around in period costumes. The entrance fee is 25 TL, and then once you get through security, you enter the main complex, then you find the line for the second entrance fee of 15 TL to see the Harem Apartments, which was worth the wait, as it was the best part of the overall museum structure. I know everyone says the wait is worth it to see the jewels, but I found it much more comfortable to read and view pics on-line. It was just too cold and wet to wait for over an hour. The biggest problem is that the museum should make the text describing the different exhibits in the museum larger, so people wouldn't have to squint just to read the text. Also, the guards should ensure a consistent flow of people moving from one exhibit to the next. At one point we were waiting for over 20 minutes for one large group to move to the next exhibit. Yes, the museum could do a better job of organising itself, and the lines were horrid, but overall it was still a beautiful space and worth the visit.

Topkapı Palace was built shortly after the Ottomans took over Istanbul in 1453. It was used by the sultans from then until 1839. The sultans then moved to more European palaces they'd had built, and the palace became a museum. It's very impressive. It has vast green courtyards, a warren of tiled rooms where the sultan lived and kept his harem (which has its own separate guided tour, and definitely worth it), pavillions, an armoury, and holy relics (beard whiskers, teeth, cloak, etc) of the prophet Mohammed. The treasure rooms hold emeralds and rubies and daggers and candlesticks, plus some Christian relics (the arm and skull of John the Baptist, in their golden reliquaries) and the world's fifth largest diamond (86 carat). It's as grand as palaces I've seen in England and France and Spain and India, but different from them all. You can easily spend an entire day here, the grounds are very large.

Beautiful Place though I would advise you to take sungasses because the brightness of the white marble in some areas is blinding. Contains an armoury of ancient weaponary which is fascinating with swords the size of small trees and old school guns. Also contains beautiful architecture and some stunning views of the river running through Istanbul. If i recall correctly it cost about 10YTL to get in but was well worth it.

I have been on the tour here twice - and both times it was great. It was built at the height of the Ottoman post-conquest of Byzantium in the 1400/1500s. So it is old and not as ornate as the more rich later palace, the Dolmebache on the other side of the European half of Istanbul. This place is both an architectural sight to be witnessed, but also a museum to be explored. My favorite part of the tour was visiting the Harem, a small city within the palace walls where much of the politics of the day was being worked through and decided upon by the Sultan's wives. The Topkapi is also right across the street (or grand boullivard) from one of my favorite places in all of Turkey, the ancient Roman cistern, and underground pool with marble pillars and a sideways Medusa head the size of a car.

Beautiful Palace gardens and the Palace itself where the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived, worked and entertained. Don't forget to visit the Harem where all the wife and concubines lived and were available at any time for the Sultans, only supervised by the Eunuchs.