Topkapi Palace Guide
The first buildings of the Topkapi Palace, the primary and official residence of Ottoman sultans, were constructed after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, between 1460 and 1478, by order of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (Fatih Sultan Mehmet). The palace was built on the site of the acropolis of the ancient city of Byzantion located on the Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu), at the end of the historic peninsula of İstanbul between the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
The palace is separated from the city by land walls called Sur-i Sultani built by Sultan Mehmed II and by Byzantine sea walls. After its construction, the palace was expanded by additions made during all eras until the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid I (1839-1861) and served as the official residence of sultans and the seat of the government until mid-19th century, when the Ottoman court moved to palaces along the Bosphorus.
After the proclamation of republic, the palace was transformed into a museum on April 3, 1924, by the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In the past, the total area of the palace, including gardens and pavilions, was 700,000 square meters. Today, the museum covers 45,000 square meters. It is one of the world’s richest museums with its permanent and temporary exhibition halls and a collection of 80,000 articles.
Visiting Hours
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| April-October Summer Opening Time |
April-October Summer Closing Time |
November-March Winter Opening Time |
November-March Winter Closing Time |
Closing Day |
| 09:00 | 19:00 | 09:00 | 17:00 | Tuesday |
Ticket booths are closing 30 minutes or an hour before the museum closing time.
Admission Fee
With Museum Pass Istanbul, you can visit this museum free of charge and without having to queue.
Topkapi Palace Movie
Contact and Address
| Address | : | Sultanahmet, Eminönü |
| Web Site | : | www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr |
| : | [email protected] | |
| Phone | : | (212) 512 04 80 |
| Fax | : | (212) 528 59 91 |