Landmarks

Skip-the-Line Tickets to Topkapi Palace & Harem with Audio Guide

Guide with visitors inside topkapi palace

Avoid long waiting lines and enter the 15th-century palace of Topkapı at ease with this skip-the-line ticket. Spend time exploring Istanbul’s most celebrated attraction, and explore the lavish collections of Ottoman Turkey’s famed sultans.

Highlights

Skip the lines and fall in love with the incredible 15th-century Topkapi Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, marveling at the expensive tastes of the Ottoman sultans.
See priceless jewels, rich living quarters, and beautiful architecture. Learn more with an audio guide available in 5 languages.
Explore the peaceful gardens, pavilions, hidden sanctuaries, kitchens, and more.
Elevate your experience by upgrading your ticket to enjoy a guided tour of Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace with an English-speaking guide.
Fun fact: The Byzantine Church of Hagia Eirene was located in the first courtyard of the palace but was converted into an armory.

Inclusions

Skip-the-line entry into Topkapı Palace
Access to Harem Museum
Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
The services of a representative who will lead you to the entrance
2-hour guided tour of Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern with entry tickets (optional)
English-speaking guide (optional)

cancellation policy

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

Reviews

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4.1

3.2K ratings

5/5

2.1K

4/5

306

3/5

275

2/5

240

1/5

312

Bruno

3/5

Dec, 2024

The visit is great and the guide friendly, but we were in a very big group and had to wait everybody to go through the police control and the entrance. As such we finally had to wait longer than if we have had gone by ourselves. Probably the skip-the-line in summer is useful but not in winter...

Lucy

5/5

Dec, 2024

The site is beyond awe-inspiring and important; the skip-the-line guided intro was exttremely helpful to enter and receive a thorough orientation so one could explore the Topkapi on one's own...and the guide was TERRIFIC. Highly recommend! :)

Eric

5/5

Nov, 2024

I believe you can buy the ticket and audio guide on your own (I recommend it). The palace is stunning; if you plan to explore it in detail, it may take about 6 hours, and it truly is worth it.

Andrea

3/5

Nov, 2024

In the end, I waited half an hour (from 9 a.m., Palace entrance opening time, to 9:30 a.m., group entrance time) and queued more for our group than for other visitors. It would be preferable to have the entrance start at 9 otherwise the queue jumping makes sense after 10...

View original review in Italian

Manuella

4/5

Nov, 2024

We were able to access the site without too much delay and discovered this magnificent palace with its museum and gardens! We couldn't visit the Harem because we couldn't reach our guide, but the rest is enough to dazzle you for the afternoon!

View original review in French

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Your experience

As the Turkish sultanate's home for centuries, Topkapı Palace offers a crash course in the history of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire. Visiting this landmark is considered to be an absolute must and one of the best things to do in Istanbul. The best part? With this handy ticket, you get to skip the lines (and the heat) outside the palace and learn about the monumental structure in the language of your choice with the audio guide, which is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

The Topkapı Palace was once the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. You can see its lavishness reflected in its opulent architecture - something you would only associate with the sultans of history's most powerful empires. Today, it is Turkey's most important cultural icon and an awe-inspiring monument.

The Combo: Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern Guided Tour

Embark on a guided tour of the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace, starting with the iconic Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground water reservoir located in the heart of Istanbul. Then, explore Topkapi Palace, the world's largest and oldest palace, once the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Discover its treasury and exotic buildings while enjoying panoramic views of the Golden Horn.

Operating hours

Topkapi Palace

Monday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM
Thursday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM
Friday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM
Saturday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM
Sunday	09:00 AM - 04:45 PM	last entry 03:45 PM

Basilica Cistern

Monday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Tuesday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Wednesday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Thursday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Friday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Saturday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM
Sunday	09:00 AM - 10:00 PM	last entry 06:30 PM

Know before you go

What to bring

Please bring your headphones to listen to the audio guide.

Additional information

Note that you will be able to enter the Topkapi Palace only with a representative. Meet your guide at the meeting point, who will then take you inside the palace.
Be sure to arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before your scheduled entry time.
The audio guide app is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. You'll find instructions on how to use the audio guide app in your ticket voucher.
Please note that there is limited internet at the museum/pier so download the audio guide app before your visit. The app does not require internet once it has been downloaded (ensure your GPS is activated).
Enter the palace and stay as long as you want until its closing time of 5pm.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the redemption point.
Please note you cannot go directly to the Topkapi Palace. A representative will take you to the palace after you meet them and redeem your voucher.