Topkapi Palace is the residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the administrative and educational center of the state. Built between 1460-1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Istanbul, and with some additions made over time, the palace was inhabited by the Ottoman sultans and the palace until the mid-19th century. After the Ottoman monarchy was abolished in 1922, Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum on April 3, 1924, by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
After the conquest, Fatih Sultan Mehmed had a palace built in Beyazıt, where Istanbul University is today, which would later be known as the “Old Palace.” After this first palace, Fatih first built the Tiled Kiosk, and then Topkapı Palace, where he would move in once its construction was completed.
The Ottoman state philosophy and palace-subject relations played a major role in determining the plan of Topkapı Palace, which developed and grew over centuries. It is also known that during the period when Topkapı was first built, inspiration was drawn from the plan and magnificence of Edirne Palace, which was built by Sultan Murad II, the father of Mehmed the Conqueror, on the banks of the Tunca River and of which only ruins have survived to the present day.
Topkapi Palace is a modest palace; the empire’s great expenses were mostly made for magnificent mosques, barracks, bridges, caravanserais and accommodation facilities. Even the famous 16th century architect Mimar Sinan built only one section of this palace. But the palace’s unique buildings, exquisite tiles and its structure intertwined with nature, as well as its location in Sarayburnu, give it a natural beauty and grandeur.
The extraordinarily rich collections of Topkapi Palace and its history woven with extremely interesting stories make this palace one of the most worth seeing palaces in the world. The Imperial Treasury, European Porcelain and Glass, Copper and Tombac Kitchenware, Chinese and Japanese Porcelain, Silver, the Chamber of the Sacred Mantle and Sacred Relics, Istanbul Glass and Porcelain, Sultan’s Dresses, Sultan’s portraits and painting collection, Weapons are among the valuable collections exhibited in the museum.
What are the Opening Hours of Topkapi Palace? Topkapi Palace is open every day except Tuesdays between 09:00 - 18:00.
Topkapi Palace is the residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the administrative and educational center of the state. Built between 1460-1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Istanbul, and with some additions made over time, the palace was inhabited by the Ottoman sultans and the palace until the mid-19th century.
The price of the Museum Card, which is valid for one year from the first day of purchase, is 60 TL for Turkish citizens.
Of course, you can add Topkapi Palace, Spice Bazaar, Suleymaniye Mosque, Hagia Irene Church to this list. However, just visiting Topkapi Palace will take at least 2 hours.
On the first day of religious holidays, museums are closed to visitors until noon. On Mondays, the exhibition halls are closed to visitors for general cleaning (Topkapi Palace Museum on Tuesday).
Since the Harem section is a separate museum, there is an entrance fee of 100 TL and the museum card is not accepted.
2.1 Bab-ı Hümayun (Gate of Sultanate)
2.2 First Courtyard (Procession Square)
2.3 Babüsselam (Gate of Greeting / Middle Gate)
2.4 Second Courtyard (Divan Square) Babüssaâde. 2.4.1 Palace Kitchens and Porcelain Collection. 2.4.2 Kubbealtı 2.4.3 Hazine-ı Âmire (Treasury of the Imperial Council)
For this purpose, Topkapı Palace, the construction of which began in 1460, was used as the administrative, educational and artistic center of the empire and also the home of the sultans for approximately four hundred years from Fatih Sultan Mehmet to the thirty-first Sultan Sultan Abdulmecid.
Birun is the administrative section of the Ottoman palace organization, known as the "outer palace" and where important palace employees were located. Among the officials in the Birun section were janissaries, doctors, tailors, and guards.
Continuing the legacy of the 'Mounted Haseki Unit' during the Bostancı Ocağı period, our Mounted Gendarmerie Teams carry out preventive patrol activities in the First and Fourth Courtyards of Topkapı Palace and in Gülhane Park in order to preserve the historical texture of the Ottoman Empire period.
The four-domed stone structure leaning against the Harem section in the upper left corner was the Has Oda. This was more commonly known as the Mantle of the Sacred Mantle after the holy relics were brought during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. The fourth courtyard, which is the last courtyard, contains the sultan's mansions and hanging gardens.
During touristic trips, it is forbidden to take photos, film or digital images inside palaces, mansions and summer palaces. In their outdoor areas (gardens), shooting can be done free of charge without the use of tripods and without requiring permission.
We can list the people who have the right to free entry to Topkapi Palace as follows; Citizens of the Republic of Turkey who are under the age of 18. Citizens of the Republic of Turkey who are over the age of 65. Veterans and their accompanying family.
The Harem is the most mysterious and most fascinating section of Topkapi Palace for us with its architectural details. Walking around the Harem Section, which has approximately 400 interconnected rooms, always makes our heads spin. The construction of Topkapi Palace began in 1465, 12 years after the conquest of Istanbul (1453) by the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
The great architect of the Ottoman Empire, Mimar Sinan, built only one section of the Topkapi Palace. Names such as Mimar Sinan, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Acem Ali, Davud Ağa and Sarkis Balyan contributed to the construction of the palace.
First Courtyard: The First Courtyard of Topkapi Palace, also known as the Janissary Courtyard or the Ceremonial Area, was the largest courtyard and functioned as an outer area. It contained the former Imperial Mint, the Byzantine church of Hagia Irene, which was used as a warehouse and imperial armory, and several fountains.
The courtyard is surrounded by arcades on all four sides. The most important axis of the courtyard, which has various axes, is the Babüssaade axis, which represents the sultan. On the right of the courtyard are the Palace kitchens, on the left are the Divanhane (Divan-ı Hümâyûn or Kubbealtı), the Outer Treasury, the Carriage Gate of the Harem, the Justice Tower, and the Zülüflü Baltacılar Ward.
Cultural and Historical Importance: Topkapi Palace is the heart of the Ottoman Empire and has been both an administrative center and a cultural treasure. The palace was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans but also the center of the government and the state.
What are the Opening Hours of Topkapi Palace? Topkapi Palace is open every day except Tuesdays between 09:00 - 18:00.
The sacred relics are preserved and exhibited in the Sacred Relics Department of the Privy Chamber in Topkapı Palace.
The first courtyard, which the public can enter for application, is the first entrance gate of the palace. Apart from this area, which was used as an armoury, there were service buildings such as the mint, hospital, bakery and the Hagia Irene Church in the past.
Topkapi Palace Harem Room / Hurrem Sultan Room
One of the most popular sections of Topkapi Palace today, the Harem Room was where the sultan's family and concubines lived.13 Apr 2018
The third courtyard of the palace is also called the Enderun Courtyard. This section contains large and small rooms, the Sultan's Arz Room, the Falconers' Ward (Falconers), the Campaigners' Hearth, the Pantry Ward, the Enderun Treasury and the Has Room (Sacred Relics Department), as well as buildings belonging to the Palace School.
Revan Mansion and the Pool in Front. ...
Entrance to the Circumcision Room. ...
Iftariye Mansion ...
Fig Garden. ...
Iftariye Mansion on the far left, Baghdad Mansion behind it and Revan Mansion on the right ...
Sofa Mansion ...
Hekimbaşı Room ...
View from the Front of Mecidiye Mansion.
A giant labyrinth located under Topkapi Palace, cisterns inside the labyrinth, columns with cross motifs in the cisterns, hundreds of meters of waterways, corridors, galleries... Our journey in the underground corridors begins with the Sereriyat Hospital. There is a giant cistern under this hospital built by Abdulhamid II.
Topkapi Palace, separated from the city by the Sur-i Sultani built by Fatih on the land side and the Eastern Roman walls on the sea side, is one of the largest palace-museums in the world with its architectural structures, collections and approximately 300,000 archive documents.
Topkapi Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet to the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid, was built in 1468 (1468-1856) on a 70-acre land. It is a group of structures and units built in different periods and for various purposes.
The Imperial Treasury, European Porcelain and Glass, Copper and Tombac Kitchenware, Chinese and Japanese Porcelain, Silverware, the Chamber of the Mantle of Saadet and the Sacred Relics, Istanbul Glass and Porcelain, Sultan's Dresses, Sultan's portraits and painting collection, and Weapons are among the valuable collections exhibited in the museum.
We went by downloading the museum card app to our phone and there was no unexpected line. I would recommend those who are going to go to go during the week and download the museum card app so that they don't have to wait in line. Also, it would be good if you go early in the morning because the museum is made up of separate sections and is very large. So it would be good to go early, if you go in the afternoon you will be stuck in the crowd and you won't be able to finish visiting the museum. Also, it would be good if you bring food and drinks with you, because the museum is very large you will get hungry and thirsty. There are cafes inside but they are expensive.
I don't think there is any need to describe this place. It is a place where not only ours but also citizens from all over the world come and visit. Each section inside should be a separate museum. The holy relics, weapons, kitchen, Sultan's rooms, harem... etc. and the view is really great with its historical texture. I strongly recommend it. Before entering Topkapi Palace, Hagia Irene Church and Hagia Sophia on the outside. These are all a whole. If you have a museum card, you have free entry. Only the harem section has an extra 100 TL fee.
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