Updated Date : 06.03.2023
In and around the Topkapi Palace
If you want to know more about the Ottoman royal family and life in the Ottoman Era, the first place to go is the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. Built on the highest hill of the old city at the top of the Roman Palace, Topkapi Palace is the biggest museum in Istanbul. After conquering the city of Istanbul, Sultan Mehmed the 2nd (The Conquerer), gave the order for this palace to rule his empire and as the royal family's residence. There are lots to see and wander around in the palace and its surroundings. Explore Topkapi Palace free with Istanbul E-pass. Here is some advice for the palace and its surroundings.
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Main Gate of Topkapi Palace
Once you enter the Palace from the main gate located just behind the Hagia Sophia, you are in the first garden of the Topkapi Palace. There are 4 main gardens in the Palace, and the first garden is still outside of the museum section. There is a beautiful picture point just on the right-hand side after the first gate in the first garden. The only thing to be careful about this photo point is, it is located side by side with the army base. In Turkey, it is prohibited to take pictures of the army bases, but as this one is located in the tourism area, as long as you follow the instructions, you can get lovely photos of the Bosphorus and the city of Istanbul. After a short picture break, you can continue straight to the second gate of the Palace.
2nd Gate of Topkapi Palace
The second gate of the Palace is where the Topkapi Palace Museum of Istanbul starts. When you pass this gate, you will start seeing the collections of the royal family and the people that lived in this Palace in the course of history. There are three important areas not to miss inside the second garden. The first one is the royal kitchens which are located on the right-hand side after the entry. This is the place to understand the diet of the people living in the palace in the old days and traditions related to food. This section also has the largest Chinese porcelain collection in the world outside of China. The second place is the Imperial Council Hall, the parliament of the empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. The final place in the second garden is Harem, which is where female members of the Sultan's family lived. After seeing all of these sections, you can proceed to the third garden.
3rd Gate of Topkapi Palace
After passing the third gate, you are in the third garden of the palace, a private area for the Sultan and the people living and working in the palace. There are two highlights not to miss in this section. One is the Religious Relics section which you can see the belongings of the prophets, old parts of holy Kabe in Mecca, and religious decorations. The second important section is the Imperial Treasury which you can understand the power and the glory of the Sultans ruling one-third of the world. After seeing these quarters, you can pass to the final 4 the garden of the palace.
4th Gate of Topkapi Palace
The fourth garden of the Palace was a private area for the Sultan and his family. Today, you can see one of the most spectacular views of the city of Istanbul from this garden, and you may understand why the Sultans were using this area privately. You can see the Bosphorus view on the right-hand side and the Golden Horn view on the left with beautiful pavilions. Another recommendation while you are in the fourth garden is to try the Konyali Restaurant. Being the only restaurant inside the museum, Konyali is one of the four main Ottoman-style restaurants in Istanbul. You can taste what the people in the palace were eating in 16th the century, or you can have a nice coffee break with a fantastic view of Istanbul.
Once you are done in the palace, you have to return as you entered the Palace. The entrance and exit are given with the same gates. Once you return to the first garden of the Palace, there are two recommendations. Archeology Museums of Istanbul and the Hagia Irene Museum. The Hagia Irene Museum of Istanbul was a Roman church that functioned with lots of different purposes in the history of the Ottomans and converted to be a museum with the Republic of Turkey. Archeology Museums of Istanbul is a place you can spend 2 full days, but if you want to have a look quickly, you may need 2 hours. The sheer size of the museum is hardly enough to keep every historical piece inside, and for this reason, you will see a lot of historical pieces outside of the museum.
If you are done with the history after these visits, you can continue to see Gulhane Park, which is the biggest public park left in the historical area. Once being the private gardens of the Harem, now it is a public park with lots of little eateries and cafeterias. Who knows, after hearing and seeing a lot about the Turks and Ottomans in the Palace, you can treat yourself to some Turkish coffee and Turkish delight. Bone Appetite!
Topkapi Palace is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00, except on Tuesdays. It needs to enter at least an hour before. With an Istanbul E-pass, you can skip the ticket line at Topkapi Palace and save time!
The Final Word
Topkapi Palace is one of the most visited museums in the world. It holds the rich history of the Ottoman Empire. You will experience something new from every gate of the palace. Do not miss the chance to visit this beautiful attraction free of cost with an Istanbul E-pass.