Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Przewodnik dla zwiedzających i co robić w okolicy

Topkapı Palace in Istanbul was the main residence and seat of government of the Ottoman sultans for about four centuries. It stands on the headland where the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara meet, and today it is a museum of imperial courtyards, pavilions, the Harem and the Treasury.

The story behind it

Sultan Mehmed II began the palace after he conquered Constantinople in 1453. It was first known as the New Palace, to set it apart from the older one elsewhere in the city. The name Topkapı, meaning Cannon Gate, came later from a gate by the shore. From here the sultans ran an empire that stretched across three continents.

The palace was never one building. It grew over generations into a series of courtyards, kitchens, council rooms, private apartments and kiosks, each sultan adding to it. In the mid-19th century the court moved to the new Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus. After the founding of the Turkish Republic, Topkapı opened as a museum in 1924. It is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to look for

• The Imperial Gate near Hagia Sophia, the main entrance to the first courtyard, which shows how the palace was meant to impress before you even step inside.
• The Imperial Council Hall in the Second Court, where the sultan's ministers met to discuss affairs of state.
• The tall chimneys of the Imperial Kitchens, which hint at how many people were fed here every day.
• The Harem, a maze of richly tiled rooms and passages that was the private living quarters of the sultan's family.
• The terraces and kiosks on the Bosphorus side, with wide views over the water toward the Asian shore.

Tips for your visit

• Allow at least half a day. The grounds are large, and the Harem and Treasury each deserve unhurried time.
• Arrive early in the day to meet the queues and the crowds before they build, and check current opening hours and any closing day before you go.
• The Harem has at times needed a separate entry from the main palace, so check current ticket arrangements on the day.
• Hagia Sophia, Gülhane Park and the Istanbul Archaeology Museums are all within a short walk, so the palace fits easily into a wider day in Sultanahmet.

Explore it on a quest

Topkapı sits among some of the oldest streets in Istanbul, and a self-guided walk is a good way to take them in at your own pace. Discover the area on one of Questo's self-guided quests: the app leads you from place to place on foot, tells you about each stop as you arrive, and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. Browse the quests in Istanbul to choose your route.