Explore Topkapi Palace | Guided Tours with Expert Insights

• Visit the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans, a landmark that served as their home for over 400 years. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers a captivating journey into Turkish history and culture.
• With skip-the-line entry, follow your expert guide to learn about the fascinating history of the palace built as the Ottomans conquered Istanbul and all that you see around you.
• Marvel at the Ottoman Army's weapons, beautiful fabrics, jewels, and art, and discover a collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain in the palace kitchen.
• The Holy Relics Chamber includes items associated with legendary historical figures such as Prophet Muhammad, Moses, and David.
• You can also visit the Harem section, once the abode of the Sultan and his family, decorated with beautiful Kutahya and Iznik tiles.

Inclusions

• 1-hour guided tour
• English-speaking guide
• Skip-the-ticket-line entry to Topkapi Palace
• Access to Harem Section
• Audio App for IOS & Android in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish

• Tip: Monday mornings and the winter are the best times to experience the beauty of the palace in peace as it is the least crowded.
• Audio App for IOS and Android is available in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
• Children will be asked to present their valid passports at the entrance of the museums to validate their age.
• This attraction cannot be accessed directly by presenting the digital Pass at the museum. You need to enter with the tour guide.
• It is mandatory for guests to use a headset during the tour. For this reason, be sure to bring your ID card with you when you come to the Topkapi Palace Tour. ID cards will be taken during the use of the headset and will be returned at the end of the tour.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

• Book this combo package for a guided tour of the Blue Mosque and skip-the-line access to Topkapi Palace and witness both sites within a span of 2 days.
• Skip the lines to visit the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans, and discover ancient jewels, weaponry, and Chinese porcelain.
• Explore the Holy Relics chamber, which houses precious items of historical figures like Prophet Muhammad, Moses, and David.
• Take a stroll along the courtyard of the Blue Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and witness the white calligraphy of Quranic verses on the domes.
• Learn from your guide about the 20,000 handmade Iznik blue tiles covering the mosque walls, and find out more about the 6 intricately engraved minarets.
• Upgrade your ticket and enter Basilica Cistern, an underground water reservoir of Constantinople.

Inclusions

Topkapi Palace

• Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
• 1-hr guided tour of the Topkapi Palace
• Access to Topkapi Palace's Harem section
• English-speaking guide
• Audio guide app in 10 languages

Blue Mosque

• 1-hr guided tour of the Blue Mosque
• English-speaking guide
• Audio guide app in 10 languages

Guided tour of Basilica Cistern (optional)

Topkapi Palace

• Tip: Don't miss the intricate miniatures portraying religious texts, court scenes of Sultans, and the very first map of the world made in 1513.
• It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes as this experience involves a fair amount of walking.

Blue Mosque

• Tip: Check out the multiple chandeliers with ostrich eggs, ingeniously used to repel spiders and prevent cobwebs inside the mosque.
• This tour is not available on Tuesdays.
• There could be a waiting line during peak seasons at Blue Mosque which may take up to 60 mins.
• Scarves and body covers can be purchased at the entrance for 1€ and 3€ respectively.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

• Enjoy a guided tour of Istanbul’s best iconic attractions with this one combo ticket that you can use in 1 day or over 2 or 3 days.
• Learn about the illustrious history of each of these landmarks from your expert English-speaking guide.
• Gain valuable insights about the iconic Hagia Sophia from your guide before you enter.
• Explore Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern while listening to interesting stories through an audio guide app available in 8 languages.
• Sail away on a relaxing 90-minute cruise of the Bosphorus Waterway as you admire the architectural beauty of Istanbul from a different perspective.

Inclusions

• 60-min Topkapi Palace tour with skip-the-line entry
• 30-min Basilica Cistern tour with skip-the-line entry
• 60-min Hagia Sophia tour with entry
• 90-min Bosphorus Cruise ticket
• English-speaking guide for all attractions
• Audio app in 10 languages

Day 1

• Hagia Sophia Mosque
• Bosphorus Cruise Tickets

Day 2

• Topkapi Palace
• Basilica Cistern

• Tip: Topkapi Palace's ground floor has the best Instagram potential. You get to photograph the stunning interiors and beautiful ceilings.
• The audio guide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.
• Facilities: Pram/Stroller Accessibility.
• For Hagia Sophia, Women are required to cover their knees, shoulders, and chest. Their hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men are required to cover their knees and shoulders. If you don't have a scarf or covering, it can be purchased at the entrance, at your own expense.
• With this admission ticket (except for Hagia Sophia), you will skip the ticket line, but not the security line. During high season, the security check could take up to 30 minutes.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for pets.
• Your guide will show you the way to each attraction, then you can set your own pace for exploring.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• These tickets are valid for 3 days from the date of purchase.

• Unlock Istanbul's history on a 6-hour guided walk through its Old City, ideal for curious travelers and first-time visitors.
• Your guide brings Istanbul's past to life, from Roman ruins to Ottoman opulence, like how the Topkapi Palace's kitchen employed over 1,000 people in its heyday.
• Explore a fusion of empires in Hagia Sophia's architecture, a mosque that was a church once built upon the ruins of an ancient pagan temple.
• Learn how the Romans influenced the Basilica Cistern, where recycled columns and inverted Medusa heads ward off evil spirits.
• Iznik tiles are a cherished element of Ottoman architecture, and you'll learn how they adorn Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.

Inclusions

• 6-hour guided walking tour of Istanbul’s Old City
• English-speaking guide
• Entry to Blue Mosque
• Headsets for groups of 15 people or more

Exclusions

• Entry to Hagia Sophia (EUR 28)
• Entry to Topkapi Palace (EUR 45)
• Entry to Basilica Cistern (EUR 30)
• Lunch

• Tip: For lunch, seek out local favorites like piyaz, a tangy bean salad from Antalya, or icli kofte, savory bulgur wheat dumplings with a spiced meat filling.
• Choose safety and comfort: This experience is not the best fit for mobility issues.
• This tour focuses on the exteriors of landmarks and the stories behind them. Entrance fees to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern are not included.
• Strict dress code at Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia: Women should not wear knee-length shorts, skirts, or clothing with exposed shoulders or chests. Hair should be partially covered with a scarf. Men should not wear knee-length shorts or clothing with exposed shoulders.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

• If you're short on time in Istanbul, the combo packs a 1-hour walking tour of the Old City, entry to the Hagia Sophia, and a cruise down the Bosphorus.
• Learn about how the Roman Empire once held chariot races in what is now the Sultanahmet Square as you walk its streets.
• You'll also see the Topkapi Palace, once the home of Ottoman sultans for centuries, and now a museum housing their greatest treasures.
• At the Hagia Sophia, your audio guide will tell you about its history as a church and a museum as you spot the Seraphim murals and Islamic calligraphy on its dome.
• Dive deeper into Istanbul's history with a multilingual audio guide on a Bosphorus cruise, spotting Ottoman structures like the Rumeli Fortress.

Inclusions

• 1-hour walking tour of Istanbul Old City
• English-speaking guide
• Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
• Access to the Harem section
• Audio guide for Topkapi Palace in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German
• 90-minute Bosphorus Cruise
• Audio guide for cruise in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, and Chinese
• Map of Bosphorus for cruise

Exclusions

• Guided tour of Topkapi Palace
• Entry to Hagia Sophia

Walking tour

Sultanahmet Square | Hippodrome | Blue Mosque | Topkapi Palace | Hagia Sophia | Grand Bazaar

Bosphorus cruise

Galata Tower | Dolmabahce Palace | Ciragan Palace| Ortakoy Mosque | Bosphorus Bridge | Beylerbeyi Palace | Uskudar | Maiden Tower | Topkapi Palace | Hagia Sophia | Seaside Villas

• Tip:
• This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
• Choose safety and comfort: This experience is not the best fit for mobility issues.
• This tour focuses on the exteriors of landmarks and the stories behind them. Entrance fees to Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are not included.
• You can choose to take the Bosphorus cruise on the same day or the next day. In addition to midday and afternoon departures, enjoy a special evening cruise at 6 PM, available from April to October.

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.