Ahya

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace

 History
After the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror at 1453, construction of the Topkapı Palace was started at the year 1460 and completed at 1478 . Palace was built upon a 700.000 squaremeters area on an Eastern Roman Acropolis located at the Istanbul Peninsula between Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Topkapı Palace, was the administrative, educational and art center of the Empire for nearly four hundred years since Mehmed the Conqueror until Sultan Abdulmecid who is the thirty-first Sultan. Although Palace was abandoned by the Ottoman Dynasty by moving to the Dolmabahçe Palace at middle 19th century, Topkapı Palace was protected its importance everytime.

After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Topkapı Palace, was transformed into a museum at the date April 3th 1924 and it was also the first museum of the Republic of Turkey. Topkapı Palace Museum is covering approximately 400.000 squaremeters at the present day. Topkapı Palace divided from the city from the land-side by the Imperial Walls which is made by Mehmed the Conqueror. It divided from the city also from the sea-side by the Byzantine Walls. Topkapı Palace is one of the biggest palace-museums with its architectural structures, collections and approximately 300.000 archive papers.

There are surroundings like gardens and squares around the Palace. Palace which its Main Gate located at the Hagia-Sophia side, has four courtyards which has passages between them. At the first courtyard, Hagia-Irene Church which was used as Armory and the outer service buildings like Mint, Oven and Hospital were located there.

Second Courtyard was the Divan Square (Square of Justice) that hosting the administrative buildings fort the Empire. This courtyard was also a ceremonial courtyard. Divan-ı Hümayun (Kubbealtı / Imperial Council) and Treasury of the Divan-ı Hümayun were located on that courtyard. Behind the divan structure, there is the Tower of Justice which represents justice of the Sultan. Dormitory of the Halberdiers with Tresses and the Entrance of Harem were also located at this courtyard. There are also Privy Stable structures at the same side around an inner courtyard. At the Marmara side of the Courtyard of Justice, there are the Palace Kitchens and additional service buildings. Babüssaade (Gate of Felicity) where coronation, funeral and festival ceremonies held is located at the Northern side of the Courtyard of Justice.

The third Courtyard (Enderun – Inner Palace) was the section that the Palace aghas were educated and assigned to high ranks of the State. It formed by the dormitories and the structures belongs to the Sultan. Hall of Audience where Sultan accepts viziers and ambassadors, Enderun Library which was constructed by the Sultan Ahmed III, Treasury of Enderun also known as Conqueror’s Pavilion, Privy Room (Chamber of Sultan) and the Aghas’ Mosque which was constructed for the Enderun aghas at the reign of Fatih are the important structures of this courtyard. Courtyard is surrounded by the Big and Small Room Wards, Expeditionary Force Ward, Pantries’ Ward, Treasure Ward and the Privy Room Ward which added to the Privy Room at the 19th century.

From the Privy Room, and the Enderun Courtyard, there are passages to the Imperial Sofa courtyard which hosts to the kiosks and gardens. At the Marble Terrace part of this courtyard, there are Revan and Baghdat Kiosks, Circumsision Room and the Iftaree Canopy. Under this terrace, there is a hanging flower garden which surrounded by wooden Sofa Kiosk and the Tower of the Chief-Physician. At the Marmara side of this garden, there are Sofa Mosque, Mecidiye Kiosk and Wardrobe Room. It also known that there are lots of kiosks and service structures at the Privy Gardens which surrounds the Palace in axis of Maramara, Seraglio-Point and the Golden Horn.

Topkapı Palace
Online Ticket
Online-ticket service can be reached now by this link: https://www.muze.gov.tr/buy_e_ticket.(link is external)
Museum Pass
In order to obtain and get more information about museum pass card visit this website: https://muze.gov.tr/buy_museum_pass(link is external)
Museum Ticket : 40 TL
Ticket Price for one person for the main entrance is 40 TL except Harem Section
Harem and Halberdiers with Tresses Dormitory Ticket : 25 TL
If you want to visit Harem and Halberdiers with Tresses Dormitory Ticket you have to buy a seperate ticket from the ticket booths where stands outside of the museum or in front of the Harem entrance.
Ticket Price for one person for the Harem and Halberdiers with Tresses Dormitory Ticket entrance is 25 TL.
Hagia Irene Ticket: 20 TL
Museum Pass is available at Hagia Irene
No group discount at Hagia Irene
Ticket for the Hagia Irene is not available for entering to the Topkapı Palace Museum
Free Admission / ID is a Must
• Turkish children and teenagers 18 years old or younger and teachers accompanying students group at these ages
• Foreign children 12 years or younger except Harem. For the Harem under 6 and younger.
• Citizens of the Turkish Republic 65 years old or older
• Veteran's spouses, children and their father and mother with the veteran's accompany. And Martyr's Relative ID holders
• Turkish and Foreign Handicapped people with one attendant. (with a visible handicap or a document submission)
• Soldiers and non-commissioned officers.
• Owners of ICOMOS, UNESCO and ICOM cards.
• Owners of domestic and foreign Press Card.
• Owners or responsible directors of travel agencies
• Personnel and pensioners of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and spouses, children mother and father by their accompanion
• Foreign children 12 years or younger.
Can enter to the Topkapı Palace Museum without price
• Children between 0-6 ages,can enter to the Harem, Hagia Irene and Halberdier's with Tresses Section of the Topkapı Palace without price with their accompanion who bought ticket
Free visits of the groups that mentioned before can be with a paper of permission obtained from the Central Directorate of Revolving Funds
• By hosting of the Public Institutions of the Republic of Turkey with their own budget, official delegations above the rank of Deputy Minister, official military delegations above the rank of Force Commander, their spouses, accompanions, security officials, and delegations of prior review with security purposes, and officials of the Republic of Turkey that accompanying them.
• Except in scope of supporting International Congress Organizations and only city tour or/and transfer hostings, the guests and delegations who hosted by Head of Department of Foreign Relations and EU,General Directorate of Promotion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Culture and Promotion Attache and Adviser Offices (Regulatory approval concerning the host will be attached to the paper of demand)
• Media groups and their accompanions which are being hosted by General Directorate of Promotion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Culture and Promotion Attache and Adviser Offices (Regulatory approval concerning the host will be attached to the paper of demand)
•Foreign tour operators and ino groups which have been informed by Union of Travel Association Agencies of Turkey
• Attendees to the activities which provide benefit to promotion of the Museum which organized by Governorates, Province Culture and Tourism Directorate or/and Museum Directorate
Accepted payment methods
The museum ticket windows accept payment in cash or by credit card
Museum is open everyday except Tuesdays.

Visit Hours

Winter Season: Between October 30th - April 15th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 4:00 PM

Summer Season: Between April 15th - October 30th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM - 6:45 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 6:00 PM

Museum visit information for the public holidays and religios festivals is at the table below
Date Museum Open Museum Open Between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM Museum Closed
January 1st 2016 Friday (New Year)
April 23th 2016 Saturday (National Sovereignty and the Children Day)
May 1st 2016 Sunday (Labour Day)
May 19th 2016 Thursday (Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day)
July 4th 2016 Monday ( Eve of Ramadan Festival)
July 5th 2016 Tuesday ( 1st Day of Ramadan Festival)
July 6th 2016 Wednesday ( 2nd Day of Ramadan Festival)
July 7th 2016 Thursday ( 3rd Day of Ramadan Festival)
August 30th 2016 Tuesday (Victory Day)
September 11th 2016 Sunday ( Eve of Festival of Sacrifice)
September 12th 2016 Monday ( 1st Day of Festival of Sacrifice)
September 13th 2016 Tuesday ( 2nd Day ofFestival of Sacrifice)
September 14th 2016 Wednesday (3rd Day of Festival of Sacrifice)
September 15th 2016 Thursday (4th Day of Festival of Sacrifice)
October 29th 2016 Saturday ( Republic Day)

From Atatürk Airport:

You can go until Aksaray via metro line inside the airport. After reaching Aksaray, tram line can be used to reach to the Sultanahmet station. From Sultanahmet station, you can reach to the Topkapı Palace Museum by walking from the path in front of from Hagia Sophia Museum and Hürrem Sultan Bath

Arrival by Marmaray:

Sirkeci Station of the Marmaray is the nearest station to the Topkapı Palace Museum. From Sirkeci Station, you can reach in front of the Governorate of Istanbul. You can follow the path to the Gülhane entrance and can reach to the Topkapı Palace Museum by following the marks.

Arrival by Tram Line:

Gülhane station and Sultanahmet station are the nearest stations to the Topkapı Palace Museum.

From Sultanahmet station, you can reach to the Topkapı Palace Museum by walking from the path in front of from Hagia Sophia Museum and Hürrem Sultan Bath

From Gülhane station, you can follow the path to the Gülhane entrance and can reach to the Topkapı Palace Museum by following the mark

Taking Photo inside the exhibiton halls is prohibited
Please, do not take photo inside the exhibition halls in which contains/displays objects.
Entering sections with baby cars is prohibited
Baby cars are not allowed to enter to the museum sections. Please don’t forget this rule before buy a ticket.
We ask you to wear appropriate clothes or use the cloths provided by our staff while visiting the Sacred Relics Department
We ask that you refrain from entering the Sacred Relics Department with shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, or strapless clothing..
Tripod usage is liable to permission
No guide service is given at the Topkapı Palace Museum
No guide service is given at the Topkapı Palace Museum . Visitors want to visit the Museum with guide can rent Audio Guide from the booths inside. Also they can take service from the guides registrated to the Chamber of Guides at the entrance gate of the palace
Museum is open everyday except Tuesdays.

Visit Hours

Winter Season: Between October 30th - April 15th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 4:00 PM

Summer Season: Between April 15th - October 30th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM - 6:45 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 6:00 PM

Museum visit information for the public holidays and religios festivals is at the table below
• Audio Guide can be hired at the Museum
• Nursing room is at the third courtyard next to the Harem exit
• Professional photos inside the museum and exhibiton halls needs permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. All photo and film shooting requests must be sent with a petition to the Istanbul Directorate of the Culture and Tourism. Contact info can be found here
Admission is free for all disabled visitors and one companion.
Some sections and places of the palace are not accessible to wheelchair users because of stairs.
At the during of your visit, in case of you need wheelchair you can apply to information desk at the entrance of the museum.
These sections are listed below:
Inaccessible Sections:
Imperial Council Hall or Domed Chamber
Portraits of The Ottoman Sultans
Circumcision Room, Koca Mustafa Paşa Kiosk, Revan Kiosk and Baghdad Kiosk
Library of Sultan Ahmet III. or Library of Enderun
Hall of Auidience
Accessible Sections:
Arms and Armour
Clocks
Courtyards of the Palace
Imperial Wardrobe Colection
Rooms of Treasury / Fatih Pavillion
Sacred Relics
Harem
Toilet / Restroom
There is a toilet in the palace for the disabled visitors. This toilet can be found near the second gate (Gate of Salutation) on the right corner at the second courtyard of the palace.
• There is no any discount for the foreign school groups.
• Admission is free under age of 12 children for main entrance.
• We don’t have reservation service in advance for the foreign school groups
• At the Harem Section, Mosque and Courtyard of Black Eunuchs, Corridor of Concubines, Imperial Sofa, Privy Room of Murad III., Chamber of Crown Princes, Harem Mosque and Courtyard of the Favourites are opened to visit.
• Other Parts of the Harem Section are on restoration and closed to visit
•

Section Name Open Closed Due to Restoration Closed
Privy Stables
Imperial Council Hall
Harem
Dormitory of Hallberdiers With Tresses
Clocks
Palace Kitchens
Hall of Audience
Sultan Clothes
Treasury 1st Room
Treasury 2nd Room
Treasury 3rd Room
Treasury 4th Room
Library of Ahmed III
Sacred Relics Department
Sultan Portraits
Baghdat Pavilion
Revan Pavilion
Circumsission Room
Sofa Pavilion
Sofa Mosque
Head Psyhician's Tower

Konular

Ottoman History

Anasayfa
Konular
Tüm Konular

Konular

Ertuğrul
What if Pargali Ibrahim and Sehzade Mustafa were not executed(Ottoman Empire)
Şehzade Mustafa
List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire
Diriliş: Ertuğrul
Suleiman the Magnificent
Kösem Sultan Bio
Why did Ataturk change the language and the alphabet of modern day Turkey?
Why was Turkey neutral in World War II?
Murad IV

Anahtar Kelimeler

Top