Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapi Palace Museum is located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, on Cape Sarayburnu, overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn, and Marmara Bay. It was the main residence of Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the mid-19th century. The main entrance is next to Hagia Sophia, making it convenient to visit both sites together. Nearby is the Basilica Cistern, another popular attraction.

Description

The palace covers about 700,000 square meters, making it the largest palace in Istanbul. Its fortress walls stretch over 1.4 km, enclosing four courtyards:

• First courtyard: Utility areas; Sultan did not live here.
• Second courtyard (Gate of Salutation): The Imperial Council (Divan), the palace kitchens and the entrance to the Harem.
• Third courtyard (Gate of Felicity): The Sultan’s private chambers, the Imperial Treasury and the Sacred Relics.
• Fourth courtyard: Mosque and various pavilions.

History

The hill was once the acropolis of ancient Byzantium. After the Ottoman conquest, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered a new palace here in 1459, and its main buildings were completed by 1478; the Harem grew mainly in the 16th century. For almost 400 years it was the residence of the Ottoman sultans, including Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem (Roxelana). The palace was continuously expanded until 1856, when Sultan Abdulmecid I moved the court to the more modern Dolmabahce Palace. It became a museum in 1924.

Museum Information

Today, Topkapi Palace is a state museum. Adult ticket (2026): 2750 Turkish lira (~55 euro) for foreigners, including the Harem and the Hagia Irene church.

Children:

• Under 8: free

The museum is open every day except Tuesday, usually from 9:00 to 18:00 in summer and to 17:00 in winter, with the last entry about an hour before closing. On the first day of religious holidays it opens at 13:00.

Visitors can enjoy cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops within the complex.