The official residence of the Ottoman sultans for about four centuries is now accessible to the public and home to sacred relics.

Topkapi Palace is among the best preserved Ottoman palaces, located on the spot where settlement in Istanbul began. A visit to its quarters provides insight into the Ottoman history of the Turkish city. The 15th-century Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum under Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, in 1924.

While the palace is a dream for history buffs, some visitors come here just for the views the palace looks out over the Golden Horn, a natural harbor in Istanbul, the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara.

The site covers 173 acres (70 hectares) and is surrounded by over 3 miles (5 kilometers) of walls. Admire the towering gates, tree-lined courtyards and classical Turkish buildings, which once housed Ottoman sultans and their followers. It grew and changed over the reigns of successive sultans, each of whom would leave his own mark on the palace.

Visit the harem, the private space in the palace where a sultan’s family lived along with the concubines and eunuchs in their service. The harem was traditionally inaccessible to outsiders, which invoked myths and legends about what happened there. These days, only part of it is open to the public, but you can still see the 40-roomed section allocated to the sultan’s mother and the large baths and domed hall where the sultan spent his free time.

Even after hundreds of years, the palace is still a place of grandeur. The courtyards hold numerous striking examples of Turkish art and architecture. In the kitchens there are 12,000 pieces of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

In the outer courtyard, admire the Hagia Irene, a striking Orthodox church that is now often used as a concert hall. It’s also a museum, but you’ll need special permission to visit.

The Topkapi Palace in the Old City of Istanbul has no tour guide service, but you’ll find plenty of private tour guides waiting in front of the ticket booths. The palace is open daily, except Tuesdays.

Plan a trip to see Topkapi Palace

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Armada Istanbul Old City Hotel

Sultanahmet

￥176,580

per person

Jun 6 - Jun 11

found 19 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (NRT) to Istanbul (IST)

9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)

Loved the hotel, room, staff, location, view from room and roof, and breakfast offerings and setting. Only issue is that I got food poisoning and based on timing I think it was something at breakfast.

Reviewed on Apr 27, 2026

Demiray Hotel & Spa

Istanbul City Center

Save 100% on your flight

￥185,672

per person

Jun 13 - Jun 19

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to Istanbul (IST)

9/10 Wonderful! (141 reviews)

Lovely hotel in the heart of the old town (so the roads around are narrow and hilly - but so is most of Istanbul) The area is safe, bustling with local shops and literally a 10 minute walk from all the famous sights in the old town. That includes the ferries and cruise suppliers. The rooftoo restaurant has exactly the views you see in the hotels website...its beautiful having breakfast and evening meal up there. We used the spa and you can use all the amenities including pool, sauna, steam room and haman. Only the massage/turkish bath teatments are extra. We had a turkish massage/bath and it was devine. So much more reasonable than in the dedicated hamans. The room was spotless, the staff were brilliant and we also pre booked transfer through the hotel. Whilst there may be cheaper alternatives, the driver in was brilliant and wanted to show off his beautiful city and kept stopping for usbto take ohotos etc. It was like a mini private tour. Top tip...if you book the airport transfer...you need to pay in cash to the hotel. All in all this was a perfect hotel in a perfect location for us and would heartily recommend.

Reviewed on Apr 24, 2026