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Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History

186 Reviews 4.83 out of 5 stars Based on 186 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 96% of reviewers
96% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Istanbul, Turkey
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from $55.85 per person

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On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.
3 hours (approx.)
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Overview

Experience the captivating history and legends of Ottoman Istanbul on a small-group guided tour. Enjoy priority admission with skip-the-line tickets and an expert local guide. Explore the famed Harem—the sultans’ private quarters—plus the Holy Relics, Imperial Kitchens, Royal Court, and stunning tulip-filled terraced gardens. Take in panoramic Bosphorus views over the city. Your guide will offer personalized tips on what to visit next, and you’ll benefit from convenient pickup at Galata Port or a central meeting point in Sultanahmet.

What's Included

  • Starting from Galata Port (If this option is selected)
  • Small group tour
  • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point
    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Sultanahmet District (Pass By)

    Meet your expert guide and join your small group for a walking tour of Topkapi Palace and see its Harem, too.Visit the top site in Istanbul with priority admission tickets.
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    TopkapI Palace

    Start your tour after you pass Sultanahmet Square.Enjoy your guide's commentary about Topkapi and the Ottoman Sultans who lived in it.Visit the Palace complex of low buildings and pavilions, kiosks and courtyards. It’s a self-contained city that most of the inhabitants rarely left.There are many sections open for visits and you will get an in-depth walking tour through all the displays.Savor this romantic scene with the views of the Bosporus in Istanbul.Enjoy walking the outer terraced gardens, where flowerbeds blaze with tulips of many colors and climb the high terrace to admire the view over the Golden Horn,too.
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    2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

    TopkapI Palace

    Visit the Harem in Topkapi Palace: the famous house of the Monarchy. Filter myth from reality as you listen to stories from your guide. Witness the very seat of the Ottoman Sultan’s power in Topkapi Palace lying within the deepest reaches of the Harem.Learn how it was ruled by the Queen Mother who wielded both domestic and political power.The Harem housed hundreds of women-mostly war captives- and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a whole range of administrative and personal duties.Walk through the sections where the eunuchs lived and were educated. Take photos of the courtyard of the concubines and the Queen Mother’s Rooms.See cupboard doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell.Our walk through the Harem is the only way you can see the very early exceptional Iznik tiles with verses from the Kuran and beautiful floral designs.End the tour seeing the Holy Relics and the Imperial Kitchens. You may choose to have free time afterward.
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    1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

    Show 1 more stop

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
    • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    (6)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-51192P79

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    Reviews

    4.83
    186 reviews

    Average 4.83 out of 5 stars based on 186 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    166
    4 stars
    13
    3 stars
    4
    2 stars
    1
    1 star
    2

    Loading Options
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    On average, this is booked 28 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (6)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03).
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Starting from Galata Port (If this option is selected).
    • Small group tour.
    • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem.
    • Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace.
    • Expert local guides.
    • Headsets to hear the guide better.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    The minimum age to participate is 3. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History is as follows:

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour: Highlights & History will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Starting from Galata Port (If this option is selected)
    • Small group tour
    • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem
    • Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace
    • Expert local guides
    • Headsets to hear the guide better

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Istanbul notoriously has bad traffic. Give more time to get to the meeting point than you may have planned
    • Topkapi Palace is a vast complex with multiple sections open for visit. During our tour, we'll visit the most magnificent masterpieces. However, if you wish to explore all sections at your leisure, we recommend booking a morning tour and allocating the afternoon to explore the Palace grounds.
    • Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
    • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
    • Please note that the 'Starting from Galata Port' option is available only for cruise guests.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

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    • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on City Boat Tours and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
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    Free Cancellation

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    100% refund
    No refund

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+03).

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