Topkapi Palace & Harem Skip-the-Line Tickets, Audio Guide + Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Combo
About this tour
This combo pairs a visit to Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman sultans for around 400 years, with an evening on the Bosphorus. Your skip-the-line ticket covers the palace and the Harem, the private family quarters, and a multilingual audio guide walks you through the courtyards, the Imperial Treasury, and the Holy Relics Chamber. Depending on the option you pick, the day also adds a guided tour, a three-hour cruise, a four-course Turkish dinner, and live folk dance, whirling dervish, and DJ performances.
Audio Guide Languages
Turkish
English
German
Spanish
French
Italian
Highlights
- Step inside the Harem, the private living quarters of the sultan and his family
- See the jewels, weapons, and imperial objects in the Topkapi Treasury
- Walk the palace courtyards and gardens overlooking the Bosphorus
- View sacred Islamic relics in the Holy Relics Chamber
- Take in the hand-painted Iznik tiles and Ottoman architecture across the complex
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to Topkapi Palace
- Admission to the Harem
- Audio guide in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
- 2-hour guided tour of Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern with entry tickets (per option selected)
- English-speaking guide (per option selected)
- 3-hour Bosphorus cruise (per option selected)
- 4-course Turkish dinner (per option selected)
- Live entertainment: Turkish folk dance, whirling dervish and sword shows, and a DJ (per option selected)
- Unlimited soft drinks (per option selected)
Good to Know Before You Visit Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace is open every day except Tuesdays. From April 1 to October 1 the hours run 09:00 to 18:00, and from October 1 to April 1 they run 09:00 to 17:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the palace is closed on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
There's no strict dress code, but if you're pairing your visit with nearby sites like Hagia Sophia or the Blue Mosque, it's best to skip overly revealing clothing. The complex is large and involves a fair amount of walking, so comfortable clothes and shoes will serve you well.
Available Days / Times
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Important Information
- Allow two to three hours to see the palace, Harem, and Treasury properly
- Everyone passes through security screening, which can take up to 30 minutes in high season even with a pre-booked ticket
- Wear comfortable shoes; expect uneven stone paths, courtyards, and stairs
- Booking online in advance lets you skip the ticket-purchase lines, especially in peak months
- Check your inclusions: the Harem needs a separate ticket and shows the sultans' private life
- A combo ticket saves time and money, since Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are within walking distance
- A guided tour or audio guide helps you follow the palace's history, architecture, and collections
- No eating or drinking in the exhibition rooms
- Photography is allowed in the courtyards and many areas, but no flash, and none in the Imperial Treasury or Sacred Relics rooms
- Do not touch or climb on the exhibits
- No smoking inside the palace buildings
- Follow the directions of museum staff and security