Topkapi

5.0

3313 ratings

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Алиса Мирзамахмутова

Level 10 Local Expert

There were no queues at the entrance. A very large complex. Like a city within a city. We took a ticket to visit all the parts. The harem, the palace itself, and St. Irene's Church. It probably takes 5-6 hours to view it in detail. There are a lot of different museums inside. We didn't have a guide, we just walked by ourselves. Everything is well maintained, clean, very beautiful. But as usual, there are a lot of tourists in the iconic places of Istanbul.

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сирин

Level 5 Local Expert

Starting from January 1, 2025, the ticket price has increased to 2,000 lira per person (with a visit to the harem included in the price). The money is unrealistic, considering that the price for Turks is 350 lira. for this money, you get free movement throughout the territory, but keep in mind that you will not see anything special, 80% of the rooms are closed and inaccessible. There are 5-6 beautiful halls, the rest are ruins where it was once beautiful. Many halls have been turned into museums, where dishes, clothes and weapons are simply beautifully hidden behind glass. It's not very convenient for self–study, of course, it's better to take a guide - you won't find detailed descriptions in any languages anywhere. The audio guide is modest, it will tell you only a little about certain exhibits.

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мари клепа

Level 6 Local Expert

The most beautiful palace There are a lot of people, but in general, all the sights can be approached I recommend the harem and the treasury for review Entrance 5000 rub It is more logical to buy a card for all museums for $ 100 It took a couple of hours, there was no more time. You can get an audio guide for free near the ticket offices.

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Николай Гусев

Level 8 Local Expert

Topkapi Palace is the main attraction of Istanbul, the former main residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, starting with the fall of Constantinople in 1945 until the middle of the 19th century, when the residence of the sultans was moved to Dolmabahce Palace. The history of Topkapi is inextricably linked with the names of such Ottoman rulers as Mehmed Fatih, Selim Yavuz, Suleiman Qanuni, Selim II, Murad III, Murad IV, Ahmed I, Mahmud II and others. The Sultan's harem is associated with the names Hurrem Sultan, Nurbanu Sultan, Safie Sultan, Kesem Sultan. The main gate of the palace is well recognizable from the TV series "Magnificent Century". The former palace complex of the Ottoman sultans is located in the form of separate pavilions, concentrated in a picturesque location on the shores of the Marmara Sea. The windows of the sultans' chambers, in the last courtyard, face the sea. The Topkapi Museum houses rich collections from the Ottoman era: sultan's thrones, personal clothing of sultans, weapons, jewelry, tableware, watches, and more. Separately, it is worth noting the extensive collection of calligraphy with tugras (special signatures) of all the sultans and a separate pavilion with a collection of Islamic shrines. It is especially worth highlighting the library in which the famous map of the Turkish Admiral Piri Reis is kept. The cost of an adult entrance ticket to the museum is quite high - 1400 Turkish lira, about 40 euros. Children under 7 years old are free of charge. If you visit on your own, you need to schedule a whole day for the visit. It is convenient to get to the museum by city tram, stop "Sultan Akhmet".

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Ольга Евстигнеева

Level 5 Local Expert

I liked visiting the museum, you can walk through the halls, the garden for a very long time, and there are a huge number of museum exhibits. I gave it 4 stars, right.I consider the main disadvantage of the ticket price to be almost 5,000 rubles for the summer of 2025. It would be possible to put a cheaper price tag for the museum.

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Лада Иванова

Level 12 Local Expert

The museum complex. It consists of a large palace complex, a harem and a museum. A single ticket (1,500 lire in 2024) tickets are not sold separately at the entrance, only there are kiosks near the museum and the harem (500 lire). If you want to see the expositions of the palace complex, then only with a general ticket. In 4.5 hours without a tour, we were able to see only part of it. Very beautiful views, a huge number of exhibits. You can download the audio guide if you have the Internet))).

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Карина Юрченко

Level 17 Local Expert

The museum complex in Topkapi Castle is simply incredible. If you are a fan of the series about Khurem Sultan, then you should definitely come here))) Better wait and take an audio guide, otherwise your walk will turn into aimless wandering. The museum is really huge. Lots of rooms, large territory. Everything is very clean and tidy, despite the crowds of tourists.

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Мари

Level 6 Local Expert

Six hours was not enough for me to inspect everything. I left Topkapi only because my group of friends was waiting for me in a cafe. An extraordinary place, no more than a thousand and a half lire spent on a ticket. With this ticket, you can explore Topkapi with a harem and Aya Irina. Be sure to take an audio guide - without it, I definitely would not have known that I saw the staff of Moses, the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad and many other interesting things. The story is in every stone

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майя в.

Level 10 Local Expert

One of the most visited places in Istanbul. The price of the entrance ticket for September 2024 is 1,500 Turkish lira. But the palace is worth a look. My examination took more than 5 hours - there is something to see. It is better to buy a ticket online, arrive at 9 a.m., then you will not have to stand in queues, and you can also download an audio guide, it will be easier to navigate the labyrinths of the palace. It is a very atmospheric and interesting place.

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Кирилл

Level 11 Local Expert

This is the central attraction of the city, but the price of 2000 lire seems to be too high. The ticket includes a visit: - Topkapi Palace itself, which has several exhibitions (Muslim shrines, jewelry, weapons, clothes); - harem (quite interesting considering the habitat and especially for fans of TV series); - St. Peter's Cathedral Irina (unfortunately, there are only bare walls inside and there is almost no restoration). Russian Russian audio guide is frankly bad - there are a lot of recordings not in Russian, but in Polish or Czech. It's easier to choose English. In terms of time, it actually takes 6 hours, taking into account the queues for tickets and at the entrance (in winter they were about 1 hour). It is worth a visit as the main attraction. If possible, it makes sense to take a guide - it costs at least twice as much, but it will be much more interesting. Plus, there will be more time for exhibits, so you don't have to waste time waiting in line for tickets. By the way, if you are looking for a city guide, ask if he has a license for the palace. It turned out that not everyone has it. The territory of the palace is large, so it's better to start walking around from the right side and move like that to the very last courtyard.

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Руслан Ившин

Level 11 Local Expert

An interesting place, I recommend visiting the palace and the harem with a guide. We were there 2 times, the first time together with my wife without a guide - nothing was clear, and the second time with the children and the guide, my eyes opened up to a lot and a lot became clear. The price of a ticket to the palace for an adult in September 2025 is 2400 lire, for a child 360 lire. The guide is 5800 lire.

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Яша

Level 23 Local Expert

Definitely worth a visit if you are interested in the era of the Sultans! The cost of an all-inclusive package ticket is 50 euros, paid in lira, expensive, yes, but not a pity, honestly! Go in the morning, while there are still not a lot of people and there will be more time to look at everything and take pictures from the bottom of your heart. There are a hundred thousand photos on your phone, a lot of impressions! There is an audio guide, it is included in the price, but we took a guide for an additional fee.I highly recommend paying a fee if possible. We had a great day! I recommend it!

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Женя Малухина

Level 7 Local Expert

A huge territory. You can safely walk all day. Big beautiful parks. I was impressed by the armory, the treasury and the park overlooking the Bosphorus. And of course, where is there without a Harem.

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Сергей И.

Level 6 Local Expert

Positive: 1) a very beautiful place. There is a landscaped park, architecture, and a view of the Bosphorus. 2) Interesting and meaningful content of museums. Including absolutely unique relics. 3) An audio guide in many languages, including Russian, is included in the ticket price. Minuses: 1) Queue to enter. (Maybe not so big on normal days, but I was on holidays) 2) The entrance fee is very high. 3) Very high prices at the coffee stall on the premises. 4) Some of the audio guide's positions were unavailable in Russian. Despite the disadvantages, I definitely recommend this museum. You need to set aside almost a whole day for a visit. There are a lot of interesting things.

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Александра Глухова

Level 9 Local Expert

It is not worth its price from the word at all. For foreign citizens, the entrance fee (plus the harem) is 1,700 lire, which is about 5,000 rubles. There are various exhibitions in the palace itself (dishes, clothes, calligraphy, weapons), not a very large collection. The most interesting thing is the harem, which can be completed in 30 minutes. Free audio guide - about nothing (several offers per room, not in every room). At the same time, there are crowds of people, it's noisy. It is better not to walk in the rain, because the expositions are in different blocks, between which it is not convenient to run in the rain.

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Morel (_art_pasta)

Level 11 Local Expert

What I want to say is, of course, it's very beautiful, but tickets to the territory are VERY expensive for foreigners. Of course, I was there when the dollar was under 100, but 2000 lire per person ... an audio guide in different languages is attached to the ticket, but in some it worked, in others it didn't. If you are a fan of the magnificent century, then at the entrance you immediately need to go to the right to see the harem 😉 Topkapi territory is very beautiful, the museum is informative, I advise you to see everything)

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Юлия Ч.

Level 9 Local Expert

Definitely worth a visit to this complex, although the prices, of course, bite. You can find an excursion ticket, it will be cheaper, but it will still cost a decent amount, at least 54 euros. Inside, the largest and most interesting part is the harem, but there are also beautiful pavilions, including furnished ones. Excellent patterned tiles and mosaics, partially preserved furniture and household items, interesting and unusual plumbing. Additional collections also deserve attention. There are warning signs in places where Islamic religious precepts must be observed, and headscarves are also given free of charge. It's almost impossible to get around everything thoughtfully during the day, only if you run, but the photos will turn out cool.

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Елена М.

Level 9 Local Expert

Very beautiful, big. It causes mixed feelings after visiting the palace. Jewelry and personal belongings of Sultans and concubines are collected here. An entrance ticket in September 2024 costs 1,700 lira or $50. The audio guide is primitive, there is practically no information, it is distracting, you need to leave your passport as a deposit to receive it.

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Дмитрий Я.

Level 12 Local Expert

Entry for June 2024 cost 1,500 TL, which is a lot. But if you still accept it and go, then you will not regret it. Firstly, the volume is impressive, you can walk at least all day. Secondly, the truth is surprising, a real immersion in the eastern Ottoman culture through clothes, interiors and jewelry. And finally, great views of Istanbul and the strait. I recommend

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Фатима Сурхаева

Level 10 Local Expert

Topkapi Palace is a huge complex with a rich history, beautiful interiors and stunning views of the Bosphorus, which most tourists consider a must—visit in Istanbul. Not only , but for Muslims first of all , because the relics of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions are also kept here , which is especially impressive . There is also a treasure trove, weapons exhibitions, jewelry, and a harem, although the latter sometimes lacks atmosphere, and queues are long everywhere. Many people advise taking a guided tour, because without it it is easy to get lost and miss interesting details, and the audio guide, according to reviews, is not very informative. The territory is large, you can walk for several hours, but be prepared for crowds and not the lowest ticket prices. Definitely worth a visit! Cons: very expensive tickets The coffee shop on the territory has very high prices like nowhere else , it's better to take snacks with you. Because we have to be prepared for the fact that the whole day will pass there . We entered at 8:30 and left at 5:30 p.m.

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Ирина Чагина

Level 22 Local Expert

We got a lot of emotions when visiting Topkapi Palace. We took a guided tour and immersed ourselves in the atmosphere of the palace. We were impressed by the equipment of the palace and the thoughtfulness of each of the four courtyards. The decoration and equipment of the palace is amazing, running water with hot and cold water, a hammam with baths. The palace is filled with history, tragedies and intrigues.

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Ангелина Б.

Level 7 Local Expert

A place that everyone should visit! The ticket price of 2000 lire, of course, is very biting, but it's worth it) By the way, it's only 350 lire for locals. I think it's unfair and unkind to tourists.🥲 It is better to come here in the morning or before lunch, as it takes a lot of walking and a lot of time. About 4-5 hours to get around everything. But if you arrive after lunch, I strongly recommend that you settle in the harem first, and then everything else, because the harem closes before the entire complex (which is very disappointing). Be sure to bring water and a snack!) The audio guide is included in the price (you can take it by leaving your passport as a deposit), it is available in many languages, but to be honest it is mediocre. There seems to be very little information and there is something that is not about anything at all.… The palace is, of course, very beautiful! You can watch forever ... the view of the Bosphorus from the palace is simply incredible

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Андрей З.

Level 8 Local Expert

A must-visit place in Istanbul. The palace is amazing, especially the territory of the harem. You can easily spend three, four, five hours. In the end, you get tired and you already walk through the kitchens and workshops automatically.

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Elle

Level 14 Local Expert

The most famous monument for tourists to visit, but also the most expensive. The price is 1,500 lire per person (it's about $50). A very beautiful historical place, you can see the harem, the chambers of the sultans and their valides. Take beautiful photos against the background of the Bosphorus. But I still think that the price tag is too high.

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Татьяна Монахова

Level 30 Local Expert

One of the key attractions. The entrance now costs 1,700 lira per person (that is, about 5,000 rubles), they give an audio guide (but it is not wow). Of course, you need to visit. A magnificent palace and park, where 25 Ottoman sultans (that is, the absolute majority) lived and ruled for 400 years. For a leisurely walk + two queues (for tickets and for an audio guide) it is worth laying about 3-4 hours.

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Софья -

Level 10 Local Expert

The unique building of the Ottoman era is an interesting museum. Nearby is the beautiful Gulhane Park. An audio guide is included in the ticket price and provides an excellent guided tour.

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Ольга Фурсова

Level 6 Local Expert

I visited the palace in April 2025 and was extremely impressed. Beautiful, incredibly well-maintained territory, beautiful pines, century-old trees that still remember the sultans. The palace is unlike any other, its beauty and originality are amazing. The harem...It's like going to a movie, there are many rooms, many different courtyards and rooms, hamams, we didn't have time to go around the whole place in one tour. There is an exhibition hall with Islamic religious relics, a hall with clothes from the time of the sultan, a hall with weapons, which had a huge queue "very cute green parrots " live in the park. I recommend you to visit, there are a lot of impressions.

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Лилия Идрисова

Level 10 Local Expert

A cool museum! Adults 1500, children 150 liras. There are a lot of different expositions, we were there for 3 hours. There is also a good audio guide with a pleasant voice. The guards also know everything, they will answer all questions.

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Елена Селезнева

Level 9 Local Expert

It's worth going in the morning, you'll walk for 6-8 hours, it's better to start with the harem (it closes earlier). Before visiting, it is worth going to the church of St.Irina. You should take some water and sandwiches with you. For the audio guide, you need to download the app. which works through a stump deck even with a good Internet connection. It is better to go with a personal guide.

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Роман

Level 9 Local Expert

Anyone who watched the series will be interested to see everything live. For those who have not watched me, it is interesting to get acquainted with such territories and buildings, the view of the Bosphorus is beautiful. On 09/15/25, the entrance is 2400 lire, the entrance to the harem is 900 lire separately, I only found out about this when I approached the harem. A wonderful place, I advise you to visit, inside there are mini museums of weapons, clothes, writing, jewelry, dishes

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Расул

Level 11 Local Expert

A beautiful ancient palace that is a must-visit. Walking through the rooms, you can easily imagine how life went in the palace. It also offers a beautiful view of the city.

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Елизавета Л.

Level 7 Local Expert

Topkapi is the most atmospheric place in Istanbul. I'm a fan of the magnificent century and the atmosphere of the palace is incredible! From the walls of the harem to the balconies, from the park to the hammam. I liked everything

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Ales A. Альберт

Level 11 Local Expert

Topkapi Palace. On the second day after arrival, WE, as true tourists and connoisseurs of important places, rushed there at 10 a.m., BUT after standing in line, it's like at the airport (40 minutes exactly) and there are 6-8 ticket offices there and it's not the season, they explained to us in broken English, there are no euros, there are no lira. (we thought) 1700 *3, well, of course we didn't have so many changed and left with nothing( Having decided that it was not our day, we went according to the plan previously worked out) And so: Drum roll 🥁 - 4 days later, in ..... our wedding anniversary happened) The price is the same, but we were already prepared. The queue is no smaller, we have spread out, some of us are in line at Hagia Sophia (for tickets), I am in line at the palace (for tickets) (life hack ✌️ save time) however, it is difficult to find budget tourists later🤣 (when one tourist has WhatsApp only connected, and the other has movement cards))))) Not a review, an essay with elements of presentation on a straight topic)🤭 By the way, a Russian-speaking guide cost 100 euros, but we watched the movie "the magnificent century" and we all know what and where))) They wrote about 50 € (1,700 lire), BUT It turned out that this ticket has an entrance to Gorham and Irina. (keep in mind) in grief, we almost bought tickets separately (there's a ticket office) and pure chance led us to scan the ticket that we entered and oops, the ticket worked… Well, cool.. We walked through these rooms in single file, jostling like in the subway during rush hour... and in the company of a teenager, a Russian and apparently an immortal 🤣 (our son) is twice as fun, foreigners were jealous of his adventurism. To go where it is impossible, purely for a photo and somehow brighten up your stay there, for the sake of mom and apparently the foreign audience, who sometimes applauded this, unknown to us, Duncan Mclaught, (there is such a film about the immortal, the transcript is for those who are very young, the rest will understand) The park itself is huge, We set aside only three hours for it, since it was 1 day and we had to go home ( We had to cover everything as much as possible, but this time is not enough for this place. It is necessary right to the opening and before the closing. There are many museums and very interesting ones. The types are bombastic, subject to the weather. We definitely had some water with us, we didn't see any cafes on the territory, only in front of the ticket counters at the entrance. Oh, you could also buy an audio guide, I can't remember the money anymore, they didn't take it, because the experience wasn't very good on other trips. And of course, to appreciate this place not only as a beautiful and "historical" place, you need to get acquainted with its history. Don't be lazy, after reading the story, this place will open up for you differently.:, We lived here, and this is how we took a bath, and here we ate, and here we made important decisions, and here we walked, And here we executed, and here we cooked.... There are many beautiful and free places in Istanbul, but if you have the financial opportunity, then visit this place. Our motto is: We will definitely come back here again, but the world is too big for one life.

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Дмитрий

Level 10 Local Expert

It's a beautiful historical place, it's a pity it's not very well maintained in places, but now repairs are underway and I hope it will be even better. I think that fans of historical Turkish TV series will really like it)) Tours inside are paid, there are long queues on the premises and near the ticket offices.

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Cüneyt Davas

Level 10 Local Expert

Especially for 250 TL per person, the Harem apartment should definitely be seen, you can visit the Topkapi palace for free on the museum card you will give 100 TL, and the archaeological museum should not be missed when it is ready right next to it

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Настасья

Level 12 Local Expert

I was with a friend in early April 2025. There aren't that many people, you can walk everywhere and see everything calmly. It's better to go in the morning, since the territory is large and you can't cross it) Many locations were closed for reconstruction, apparently they did not move away after the earthquake. It was closed by grief, they were not allowed to see the rooms of zhong and concubines, only common areas such as the hammam and the golden path, etc. There is no access to the part where the eunuchs lived, which is also sad. Not all rooms of the Sultan's chambers were open. But even without that, I spent more than 6 hours walking and watching. An audio guide is good, of course, but I recommend finding a Russian-speaking guide, so it will be more interesting. By the way, the entrance is the same for everyone - 2000 liras, which was more profitable than in any other currency. You can pay by card, but cash is better)

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Григорий Анпилов

Level 15 Local Expert

An interesting place, for those who are visiting Istanbul for the first time, I recommend taking a guided tour with a Russian speaker costs $ 100 for the whole day, but it pays off in full

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0kne1aks0m

Level 16 Local Expert

I visited the Topkapi Museum, and my impressions were very positive. The place is very atmospheric, you can feel the spirit of history. Palaces, courtyards, luxurious interiors and collections of artifacts are simply amazing. The treasures of the sultans and the armory were especially interesting. A great way to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of the Ottoman Empire. It's definitely worth spending a few hours.

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Татьяна

Level 16 Local Expert

In my opinion, it is always interesting to touch history, to try to look into the depths of centuries. And if you are lucky with a guide, then you have hit the Jackpot) a fascinating story against the background of beautiful architecture will not leave anyone indifferent.

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Alpamys

Level 3 Local Expert

Not everyone needs this palace. It's not worth the money for everyone. There are many old rooms, several interesting exhibits (a dagger and a diamond). Nice territory, a couple of viewing platforms. The price is too high. If your budget or time is limited, choose Dolmabahce.

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Ольга Л

Level 13 Local Expert

A fairy tale in reality, buildings, courtyards, fountains, crows bathing in these fountains, museums, a harem, sabres, bows, dresses, jewelry, fireplaces...... This is a must-see.

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Elena M.

Level 7 Local Expert

A place with a history, interesting. Many M.B. are familiar from Turkish sermals. In Sultanahmet district near St. Sophia. But the organization is very lame. The Internet on the territory is poorly caught (perhaps because of the crowds of people), there is free wi-fi, but these are tears. It is better to take the audio guide provided by the museum, it is connected to another network and mostly catches, only without headphones this phone is an audio guide, it is inconvenient, and there is very little information. Russian Russian was replaced by some kind of strangely intelligible speech in a language close to, but not Russian, in the part of the exposition. Prices for foreigners are 6 (six, Carl) times higher than for locals, and the locals check the ID for each ticket, they will not be able to slip through. It is better to read about the palace in advance and look cleanly here and not at the tourist peak.

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Natalia K.

Level 7 Local Expert

It's a very colorful place. When visiting Istanbul, Topkapi must be visited. It is better to go with a guide, the impressions remain much more colorful after him. We took an audio guide first, but a monotonous voice is very boring to listen to. We saw a small group with a guide on the territory and joined them, our guide turned out to be a wonderful storyteller, there were many interesting moments in the story of the narrative about the life of the Sultans, the harem, the education system and everyday life, we really liked everything!

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Светлана Осипова

Level 27 Local Expert

Such splendor. Everything is in marble, the view of the Bosphorus is mesmerizing. Oriental luxury is everywhere The mosaics are beautiful, the gardens are luxurious. I definitely recommend you to visit

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Анна П.

Level 8 Local Expert

The entrance costs 2000 lire, which is quite expensive, but it's worth a visit. I recommend downloading the audio guide to your phone using the QR code at the entrance (you need your headphones), rather than standing in line behind it. The territory of the palace is large, it took us 4 hours to see everything.

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Дина П.

Level 8 Local Expert

It's interesting, of course it's worth a visit. I was confused by the lack of completeness of the picture. Now we go into the Sultan's bedroom . . . and there's a sofa on the edge and that's it, no carpets, furs, pillows, etc. And only from the guide "and here everything was covered with furs, and here with gold and pillows ..", what is the difficulty of recreating at least partially the picture remained a mystery.

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Вячеслав Божко

Level 9 Local Expert

It's a wonderful place, buy tickets online, the queue can be long. Conceptually, it is 4 courtyards with a bunch of buildings and between them gardens, fountains, trees. It is very pleasant to walk from building to building, beautiful views of the city. Put in at least 3 hours, or even more. Despite the high price, it's worth it, because you will spend a lot of time there (unlike, for example, St. Sophia, where you will spend a maximum of 40 minutes, and the cost is the same). The only drawback is weak and absent lighting in many halls, of course the exhibits are illuminated, but in some visits it is just dark- if it is sunny and the day is not critical, but in the afternoon I even had to light myself with a flashlight in some places

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ОТЗЫВЧИВЫЙ

Level 25 Local Expert

The palace certainly surprises! Every inch of its territory is steeped in history, and you can feel it! It's great that a lot of interior items, household items, and clothes have been preserved! I looked at everything with pleasure! The only negative is the price! Very expensive....!)

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Анна Б

Level 16 Local Expert

It will take half a day to pass the palace) study the history in advance. You can take an audio guide, for a fee, you leave your passport as a deposit. It is better to come in advance, then there are fewer people. There are long queues, but they pass quickly

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Путешественница

Level 14 Local Expert

A very majestic palace of the sultans with an attached harem. It is important to take into account that a separate day should be allocated for visiting, since the territory is very large with many buildings and interesting expositions. We were in the area for about 6 hours. There is no restaurant or cafe on site. Tickets can be purchased on the territory of the palace at the ticket office, which is located to the left of the main entrance.

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Topkapi

1068 reviews