Topkapi Palace

Topkapi is one of those tourist sites that you feel compelled to go to, whatever the cost, because when is the next time you are going to be in Istanbul? The entry fees are way over the top, even for Turkey (where high entrance fees abound!). It's 20 YTL just to get in, then another 10 YTL if you want to see the harem (supposedly the most impressive part). The audio tour is an additional 5 YTL, and guided tours run much more. So basically, you are going to be paying $20-30 just to see the place, making it one of the most expensive "museums" in the world to visit.

One frustrating thing about Turkey is that often you'll buy a ticket to enter a place, and then once you get in you'll find that you have to buy an "additional" ticket just to see the best part. Sometimes you even have to pay to use the restrooms, after you've already paid to get in!

The palace is impressive enough, and a lot of the objects, especially in the treasury, are incredible if you like looking at shiny, expensive things. I didn't buy the tickets to visit the harem, which is supposedly the best part, but I wasn't convinced based on reading the descriptions. Some of the "artifacts" in the museum (I think one of them was a nearly mint condition bowl that Moses supposedly used) seemed a little bit too fanciful, and too well preserved, to be true, which also impacted my experience.

Overall -- beautiful objects in the treasury, good views of Istanbul from the walls, but way too expensive for what you get. Unfortunately, since most people are going to be in Istanbul once, everyone seems to end up paying. Phil said it was half the price when he visted a few years ago, and I wouldn't be surprised if prices double again in the next few years as Turkey becomes even more popular as a tourist destination.

If you have to choose between this and the nearby Archeological museum, opt for the Archeological museum.

We're staying about three hours at the Topkapi palace, but you can stay there a whole day, so much to see and to wonder about!

Topkapı Palace constructed by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, (the Conqueror) in 1478 has been the official residence of the Otoman Sultans and center of State Administration around 380 years until the construction of Dolmabahçe Palace by Sultan Abdülmecid. The palace having around 700.000 m.² area during the foundation years has currently 80.000 m.² area.

Topkapı Palace was evacuated by the accommodation of the Palace inhabitants in Dolmabahçe, Yıldız and in other palaces. Upon abandoning by the Sultans, Topkapı Palace where many officials resided had also never lost its importance. The palace was repaired from time to time. A special attention was taken for the annual maintenance of Mukaddes Emanetler Dairesi (Sacred Safekeeping Rooms) visited by the sultan and his family during Ramadan.

The opening of Topkapı Palace for visits as museum happened firstly in the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861). The belongings within Topkapı Palace Treasury was shown to the contemporary English ambassador. Later on, it has become a tradition to show the antics within the Topkapı Palace Treasury to the foreigners and during the era of Sultan Abdulaziz (1861-1876), showrooms are made in French style, and these antics are started to be shown to foreigners in these showrooms within Treasury. During the period when Sultan II Abdulhamid was dethroned (1876-1909), it was thought to open the Treasury Room to public visits on Sundays and Tuesdays, yet it never realized.

By the order of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Topkapı Palace firstly affiliated to the Istanbul Asar-ı Atika Museums Directorate and opened to public visits on date of April 3, 1924, then it started to service as Treasury Chamberlain, after it was renamed as Treasury Directorate and finally it was renamed as Topkapı Palace Museum Directorate and it still continues its services.

Went to the palace in Istanbul which was home to the sultans of the ottoman empire for almost 400 years. I was very impressed to say the least. The architecture was like nothing Ive ever seen before. Most of the rooms were covered in marble but the actual designs on the marble were unbelievable. Everything about it was over the top. A good thing about it is the site isnt too big but not too small, you could see the whole site in a few hours. If you go to istanbul this is def a sight you most see.

Topkapı Palace was #3 on my list of Things To See in Istanbul (behind the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia).  The home of the sultan and his family for nearly 400 years, Topkapı was the administrative center of the Ottoman empire until 1853.  Today the palace is still very well-preserved, but keep in mind Topkapi is more a complex of buildings and courtyards as opposed to a single, European-style castle.  Overall I was very impressed with the quality of the exhibits and the beautifully-preserved buildings.  It really felt like a palace in which people lived and worked, rather than a lifeless museum.

There are many things to see in Topkapı.  Most of the buildings are open to visitors and contain exhibits including period furniture, clothing, jewels, religious relics, and items received by the sultans as gifts over the centuries such as Chinese jade and pottery.  A real highlight for me was the Imperial Costumes collection, which holds actual garments worn by the sultans.  It was amazing to see clothing over 500 years old in absolute pristine condition!

If you like, you can also tour the harem, which costs an additional fee.  The harem tour takes 4 hours, so if you have the time you may wish to give it a shot.  I decided to skip it.

Be sure to keep your ticket stub as you will need it to visit the Treasury.  This amazing exhibit contained items such as jeweled thrones, a gold cradle, gold plates and dishes, and a jaw-dropping 86 carat diamond.  The story told to us by our guide stated that the diamond was originally found by a beggar in a garbage heap in Istanbul.  He bartered it to a spoonmaker in exchange for three wooden spoons, hence its nickname the "Spoonmaker Diamond".  Eventually the diamond ended up in the hands of the sultan, but whether or not he paid anything for it is unknown!  In the Treasury you can also view the famous Topkapi dagger, which has very large emeralds set into the hilt and a clock built into the pommel.  I'm not sure why you'd need a timepiece built into a dagger, but perhaps it was the equivalent of a cell phone camera in its day.

Of all the things I saw at Topkapı, however, the thing that sticks with me most is the Pavilion of Holy Relics.  Here you can see relics of the Prophet Muhammed and his caliphs, including swords, early fragments of the Koran, hairs from the Prophet's beard, and even an impression of his footprint.  There is an imam present at all times to read the Koran in Arabic.  Lastly, there is a piece of the Black Stone of Mecca (Makkah).  For non-Muslims, this is the closest you will ever get to the Ka'bah!  Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Topkapı Palace has an excellent view of the Bosphorus from the fourth courtyard (near the fountain).  You can get some great pictures from here.

The palace gift shop is located next to the ticketing station.  You can also purchase postcards from the numerous street vendors outside the palace.  They accept Turkish lira, euros, and American dollars.

I had a great time at Topkapı Palace.  For the price of a ticket, it's a can't-miss.