The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is among the most-visited museums that showcase the diverse and rich history of the city in Turkey. Over three million visitors come from all over the world to revel in the architectural spectacle and historically significant palace that has been turned into a museum. Spanning more than 700,000 square meters, the palace museum is replete with marble, stone, wood, and brick. You can find distinct decorative skills whereby the marble, tile, and wood have been carved intricately with perfection and effort. The palace museum is an excellent source of information about the Ottoman Empire.
History Of The Topkapi Palace Museum In Istanbul
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The Topkapi Palace was built from 1460 to 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II who conquered Constantinople (Istanbul). The Palace was altered way too many times as different leaders replaced the previous ones. This is the reason behind the range of architectural styles visible in the palace and its structures. The palace served two purposes; it was where the Ottoman sultans resided and it was their court. This continued till the mid-19th century. When it became clear that state-related protocols and ceremonies could not be held there, the sultans decided to shift to Dolmabahce Palace in Bosporus.
Some state ceremonies continued to take place in the Topkapi Palace. The major reason for this was many important artefacts remained in the palace. The Prophet Muhammad’s Holy Relics, royal treasure, and some archives remained in the Topkapi Palace even when the Ottoman Empire was abolished in 1922. In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the first president of the Republic of Turkey and in the next year he ordered the palace be converted into a museum. The Topkapi Palace officially became a museum on 3rd April 1924.
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Quick Fascinating Facts About Topkapi Palace Museum
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Here are some intriguing facts about the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul.
- It is also known as the Seraglio and Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi.
- It has over 4 centuries’ worth of history.
- The architecture is inspired by Seljuk and Byzantine as well as traditional Ottoman.
- It was called New Palace until the 1800s when it was named Topkapi. Topkapi means cannon gate in Turkish.
- Penwork was used for decorating and designing various doors and windows of the palace.
- The layout of the palace consists of four courtyards and a harem.
- Only the first courtyard, Hagia Eirene, and harem can be visited today.
- Hagia Eirene, also known as Saint Irene, is the only example of a Byzantine-period church today.
- Renovations took place after the palace was turned into a museum.
- The palace housed up to 4,000 people.
Artefacts at Topkapi Palace Museum
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The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul has a huge collection of exhibits such as below.
- Prophet Muhammad’s sword, bow, and mantle
- Oldest Quran
- Topkapi Dagger
- Mehmet the Conqueror’s throne
- Jewellery
- The Spoonmaker’s Diamond
- Porcelain
- Weapons
- Armor
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Topkapi Palace Museum Location
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The palace is on Bab-l Humayin Street in Sultanahmet which falls under the Fatih District of Istanbul. You can use your car and pay for the parking fee to park it near the palace museum. The following are the other modes of transport using which you can reach the museum.
- If you are hiring a taxi from the Istanbul Airport to the Palace Museum, it will take you about an hour.
- You can use the tram line T1 to reach the museum and deboard at Sultanahmet or Gulhane Istasyonu station.
- You can get on the M2 metro line and the closest station to the museum is Vezneciler.
- The Marmaray train line can be used to reach the palace by getting off at the Marmaray Sirkeci Istasyonu train station.
- You can use the public bus to get off at Akbiyik bus stop. The buses EM1, 28T, 47E, BN1, 30D, and 99A can be used.
Museum Opening Hours
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The Topkapi Palace Museum is open from 9 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesdays. The ticket window opens from 9 am and closes at 5:30 pm from Wednesday to Monday. The museum can be open or closed on certain religious and public holidays so it is best to check the official website of the palace museum before visiting. For example, the palace museum is closed to visitors on New Year’s Day, the First Day of the Ramadan Bairam, and the First Day of the Feast of Sacrifice.
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Topkapi Palace Museum Tickets
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The ticket prices for domestic and foreign visitors to the palace museum can be purchased at the ticket counter or pre-booked on the official website.
The price of the combined tickets for Topkapi Palace, Hagia Irene, and Harem is as follows.
Domestic visitor: INR 650
Foreign visitor: INR 3,885
The ticket price for visiting the harem only is below.
Domestic visitor: INR 260
Foreign visitor: INR 1295
The ticket price for visiting the Hagia Irene is as follows.
Domestic visitor: INR 235
Foreign visitor: INR 1295
When To Visit
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The peak season is June to August due to the summer vacation and you will witness the most crowd during that time. The flight ticket prices and accommodation prices will be high at this time too. From November to February, you can expect better prices for flights and hotels as there will be the least number of tourists. September, October, and March to May are the ideal time to explore the museum as you will find fewer tourists compared to the peak season.
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Tips For Visiting Topkapi Palace Museum In Istanbul
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- You can buy tickets online as the queues can get pretty long during the peak season.
- You can opt for a guided tour to better understand the significance of the palace museum.
- Photography is prohibited in the museum section of the palace and casual photography is allowed in some areas.
- You can opt for audio guides in various languages including English to better understand the palace’s interior functions.
- You can find legitimate guides whom you can hire. Make sure they have a certified badge on them.
- You need to dress modestly when entering the palace museum. Shoulders and knees must be mandatorily covered while women must cover their heads.
- The palace museum is not entirely wheelchair accessible due to stairs and pebbles.
- Pets are prohibited in the museum’s premises, including guide dogs and service animals.
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Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is one of the best historical places to visit for history enthusiasts so do not forget to add it to your trip to Turkey ! Even if you have just one day, make sure you tour this museum because it is worth it!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Topkapi Palace Museum In Istanbul
How long does it take to tour the museum?
It can easily take anywhere between two to four hours to tour all the structures. You must be prepared to walk around for a long time and revel in the artefacts displayed at the museum.
Why is Topkapi Palace famous?
It is known for its grandeur, architecture, and past that showcases how wealthy people lived in the past.
Who owns the Topkapi Palace in Turkey?
The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul is owned by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey.
Can you take photos inside the Palace?
Photography is prohibited inside the palace museum.
How old is the Topkapi Palace’s Quran?
It is believed that the Topkapi Quran is from the 8th century of the Gregorian Calendar and the 2nd century of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
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