Topkapı Palace

Istanbul, Turkey

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Opening hours: Mo, We-Su 09:00-18:00
Admission: Ticketed
Wheelchair access: Partly accessible
Phone: +902125285991

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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Topkapı Palace, a sprawling complex in Istanbul's Fatih district, served as the administrative center and principal residence of Ottoman sultans from the 1460s until the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1853. Built by order of Mehmed the Conqueror beginning in 1459, just six years after the conquest of Constantinople, the palace was originally called the "New Palace" to distinguish it from an earlier residence, receiving the name Topkapı (Cannon Gate) only in the nineteenth century. The complex, which expanded significantly over centuries with major reconstructions following the 1509 earthquake and 1665 fire, comprises four main courtyards and numerous subsidiary buildings housing the imperial harem, council chambers, treasury, and other administrative spaces. After the Ottoman Empire's dissolution in 1923, Topkapı was converted into a museum by government decree in 1924, now displaying Ottoman artifacts including the celebrated Spoonmaker's Diamond, the Topkapi Dagger, imperial garments, weapons, and illuminated manuscripts alongside religious relics. Today administered by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the palace forms part of UNESCO's Historic Areas of Istanbul.