Topkapi Palace & Harem Tour with Historian Guide

Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour with Historian Guide

1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Offered in: English

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Overview

Learn all about Istanbul’s Ottoman heritage, and visit one of the city’s top landmarks, on this small-group tour of the Topkapi Palace with a historian guide. Built in the 15th century, the sprawling palace is recognized by UNESCO, and hosts an expansive museum. Navigate the complex with ease, including the beautiful harem area, on this walking tour. Meet your guide directly at the palace; fast-track entry is included for ease.

Discover the highlights of the sprawling and beautiful Topkapi Palace
See one of the sights featured in Istanbul's UNESCO World Heritage listing
Learn the stories behind the regal landmark from your historian guide
Harem entrance and fast-track tickets are included in the tour cost

What's Included

Topkapi Palace & Harem Tickets - Historian Guide - Fast Track Entry

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Topkapı Cafe
Cankurtaran, Soğuk Çeşme Sk. No:4, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Meet your Istanbul Welcome Card Tour Guide at the "Topkapi Cafe / Meeting Pub" OUTSIDE Topkapi Palace, across the Carpet Museum

Start time

12:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Ticket Redemption Point

Topkapı Cafe, Cankurtaran, Soğuk Çeşme Sk. No:4, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
We skip the ticket line but we can not skip the security check.
Security line waiting time at Topkapi Palace up to 15 minutes.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.5

45 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 45 reviews

Good tour. Very informative. Good guide. Weak organization

sberlyant, May 2024

Such a good knowledgeable energetic guide. The only problem was in the organization process in the beginning of the tour. There were too many people checked in, guide was needed to split people on two group (with visit to harem and no visit to harem ). Shortage of audio equipment. Tour started twenty min late. He had to cut it because he should guide the next tour at 2 pm. But still highly recomended.

Tour guide was not...

Richard_O, Nov 2023

Tour guide was not pleasant at all. He was more interested in getting his way and was not kind to anyone in the group

Not to miss

Giuseppina_P, Nov 2023

Nice visit nice guide. Would recomend the visit. Harem reale impressive with all the ceramica decorations.

Tour guide didn’t wait for us, despite our text message

Carlos_W, Oct 2023

We actually missed this tour because we arrived half an hour late due to an unexpected shutdown of part of Istanbul’s tram system because of a bike race. The historian tour guide did not wait for us, even though we sent a text explaining the problem. We were added to another, similar tour that left later, but it was not the same one we’d paid for. I asked about a partial refund to reflect the difference in cost, but no one at the tour meeting place could answer that question. We did enjoy the tour we did participate in, but it was not as extensive as the one we’d paid for (it covered only part of Topkapi palace, but not the harem as advertised).

Great experience!

Ashvin_H, Sep 2023

Great guide who clearly explained everything and an easy to find meet up location (just wait at the cafe and look out for your guide with the company flag).

Meh..

Neha_H, Sep 2023

Started late, barely saw much of the museum and exhibits. Tour guide was knowledgeable. Palace isn’t very beautiful would recommend seeing dolmabache instead

Great experience in Topkapi with Istanbul Welcome Card Guide

Gloria_T, Sep 2023

Topkapi Palace is spectacular. So much to see, maybe 3 hrs at least to see most of it. Our Guide - Istanbul Welcome Card (John) were magnificent, couldn’t have been a better experience. They were at the meeting place & made sure everyone saw them, they called out & approached all of us to make sure they didn’t miss anyone, even using first names, very professional, unlike some you didn’t have to find them. Wonderful palace, such a lot of history & always include the Harem, it’s a must to put life there in perspective. Highly recommend Istanbul Welcome Card & Viator’s use of a professional company.

A great overview of the Sultan's Palace

Anonymous, Sep 2023

The palace is immense. Unless you are willing to spend a full day there this tour gives you a good overview of the highlights. Pay the extra for the harem add-on, it is worth it. Note that the tour moves fast and there is very little lingering. However, you can always go back to study areas more in detail. Our guide was good in pointing out and explaining areas the tour skipped and encouraging us to go back and see after the tour was over. We went back to the treasury and saw the gold throne, well worth it.

You want to take this tour!

RajShinghal, Sep 2023

Phenomenal guide - provided great historical context with humor and energy. Highly recommended tour. The palace is massive so allow an extra hour to explore on your own

Harem is a must

Tracey_C, Aug 2023

The best part of the tour is the Harem. Make sure you add a guide to appreciate the full experience. Hal was very knowledgeable and brought the stories to life. The rest of the Palace had very long lines for the treasury to see the jewellery, and the costumes so we didn't go in. Without a guide all you see is courtyards and you would never know the significance of what to are seeing. Who would have known the Sultan had a turtle trainer?

Excellent!

Gozde_O, Jul 2023

Highly recommend this tour. Our guide was Buse. She was amazing! I have been to Topkapi palace before but learned so much on this tour then ever before. It was also very entertaining for my little guy and she was very patient with him and his million questions.

Wonderful, recommended

Harshal_D, Jun 2023

It was a wonderful experience. Trip needs to be booked with harem as it is worth the money, time and efforts.

Excellent Tour of Topkapi. Not to be Missed!

Sara_L, May 2023

Had a great time at Topkapi Palace and the Harem. Our guide, Haluk was not only very knowledgeable but also passionate about his work. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and recommend this to people thinking of covering Topkapi on their own. Just a side note, the tourism authority should limit the number of people allowed to enter the grounds at any one time. The place was simply too crowded and which prevented us from lining up to view the throne & weapons rooms.

Not great

Scott_J, Apr 2023

Very little information shared on tour at all - really just a quick walk round with a few general pieces of info.

Response from Host, May 2023

The tour was 90 minutes... I am surprised about this review.

Be careful! Guide speaks only English!

Chang_L, Feb 2023

The historian guide just speaks English. If you choose any other language, you will get an app with audio guide.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Dear Chang, In the tour description is very clear written the tour is in English. Next time please read the product description. Regards, Deniz

Our guide Hakan was...

Alan_M, Dec 2022

Our guide Hakan was excellent and obviously passionate about his job and Topaki palace. I'd highly recommend this tour as he gives you the highlights and then you can spend more time on your own exploring the palace and the gardens.

Our guide came on time He...

ArgeliaIris_V, Nov 2022

Our guide came on time He was very professional very kind he’explained everything we learned a lot,it was good tour and I will recommend to everybody to have it

The guide was great!! The...

Deborah_B, Nov 2022

The guide was great!! The Palace is amazing! This is a must - see! And you should include Harem. -----------------------------------------------------------

Disgusted Dont book with Istanbul Pass

Yakov_D, Nov 2022

Required to pick up ticket at red double decker bus parked in square 30 metres from entrance but the bus was not there .25 minutes of frantically running around an enormous square with dozens of groups we found the guide The driver did not wake up in time . If anyone responsible reads this post I would expect a refund .The driver parked the bus 45 minutes after the supposed meeting time

Response from Host, Nov 2022

This is not us! You write about Istanbul Pass and Double Decker Bus.... this not us! We did the Topkapi Tour with you.

Easy way to get into the palace, not as good as other tours

Ashley_T, Oct 2022

Skip the line tour to get into Topkapi palace. Tour was somewhat limited. Only a very short portion of the palace was included and I would not consider at the more important areas. It did include the harem tour. Guide was very nice but not exceptional. The group was way too big compared to another tour I took in a different part of turkey which was just my family. It was hard to hear the good times.