Such a key place in the history of Istanbul. Gives a great chance to learn and observe a huge variety of cultural items. One of the best views of Asia & Europe from one point.

This is definitely one of the most important sights to see in Istanbul to understand the grandeur, wealth and history of the Ottoman Empire. The vastness of the grounds means multiple exhibits that will occupy a good portion of your day. My partner and I arrived early so the grounds were not crowded as of yet. As we entered through a side entrance, we chanced upon the ticket booth (where there was no line) to the Hagia Irene, where we bought the combination ticket to Hagia Irene, Topkapi Palace and the Harem (though you could buy whichever ticket package you wanted). Hagia Irene is spare and the central portion is closed off though you can view the apse. We started off in the kitchen and pantry side of the palace which you shouldn't miss, especially if you are found of Turkish coffee and food, which form a huge cornerstone in Turkish culture. The palace grounds were magnificent, particularly the pavilions and the library. Do not miss visiting the Harem for a more intimate look in palace life. A guide would certainly be helpful in understanding everything in context, but the descriptions of the exhibits were clear and concise. A must-see in Istanbul. Note: Get there early before the school groups and tour groups arrive. We got to Topkapi Palace by 9:30AM. By the time we left around 1PM, there were long lines at the ticket booths and counters (though there are credit card ticket kiosks) and large bottlenecks of tourists at the gates leading into each of the courtyards. Or get your ticket from the Hagia Irene ticket booth.

A wonderful highlight of our visit to Turkey. There is incredible diversity, from swords to cooking to calligraphy to books to tile work to thrones to relics to the natural beauty. And, I'm forgetting 17 things. The buildings and interior design were our favs, along with the kitchens. Oh and be sure to walk to the end where you have a great view of the marmar sea, horn, and the bosphorus. If you can, get a guide as there is 600 years of history compressed into the Palace museum.

Not as crowded as Hagia Sophia but I think there’s more to see here. There are several main buildings which house important exhibits and a small museum of impressive weaponry not to be missed. The grounds are beautifully manicured and you can get a great view of the Bosphorus as well. Nothing that comes close to the sheer opulence in some European palaces but the architecture and design is different. Probably an hour and a half at least should be allocated.

I very rarely leave feedback but I had to give Topkapi top marks. Haven’t been here for many years and the forgot how lovely the food was and tasted. If you like posh kebabs then this is probably the best in Manchester City Centre. The friendly service made you feel so welcome as a solo diner. Special shout out for Eddie. Perfect service.

We had not planned to visit the palace but ‘stumbled upon it’ on our first day in Istanbul. That was on a Sunday which was maybe a mistake as there were large queues - maybe better on a weekday. Was a little disappointed that ‘locals’ seemed to be given a priority queue and it wasn’t being managed as many just jumped the queues for a ticket. It is an impressive place but didn’t see the harem as the queues were even larger and they wanted a further entrance fee for that. An hour or so is all you need.

Topkapi Palace lives up to the hype. It will appeal both to those with an interest in the historical period, and more casual tourists. The harem costs extra to visit, but is well worth it - this is probably the most interesting section of the whole palace. Best to visit early in the morning to avoid long lines. You can easily spend the whole day here, so plan your visit accordingly.

Visited in January 2023. It is a nice historical palace with great architectural structure. Major attractions to me was sacred Islamic relics preserved in this palace. View of the Bosphorus from the Palace is very relaxing/peaceful. Entry ticket (except Harem) was 500 Lira for adult and 70 Lira for my 7 years old kid.

You probably need most of the day here to do it justice. We only spent half a day so were rushing through it (and to be honest, not really prepared to invest a whole day in seeing it). Visiting the ancient relics room and the Harem costs extra but I think it is worth it. There is an audio guide which is ok for some parts and a bit light on for other parts. I probably wouldn't priorities a visit hear unless you have 4-5 days in Instanbul. There are other sights I'd see first. Stil the architecture and history are very interesting and we are glad we saw it.

What a place to be! You will be able to see belongings of prophet Muhammad pbuh and his companions. Its garden is also beautiful. I was there in March 2022 and it was snowing at that's times of the year. BTW, Its a very huge place that you will spent at least 2 hours there.