TOPKAPI PALACE (TOPKAPI SARAYI MÃœZESI)

Try to arrive as early as possible to avoid queuing during the peak season (May to September), and try to avoid Sundays. Access is through the second gate(Orta Kapı), the one with two towers. The jewelry, imperial treasure and sultan's robes rooms are closed for renovation. A 3-hour visit is ideal, but you can also spend the whole day! You can visit the palace with an audioguide, which offers explanations in several languages and can easily be listened to by two people. This imperial residence of the sultan was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. As far as the visit is concerned, the museum is made up of successive gardens and numerous rooms that have been fitted out for thematic exhibitions. Of course, you'll feel right at home in the park (especially in the^4th courtyard, which overlooks the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara), but some of the rooms quickly become cramped when crowded. Inside the palace, you'll discover the armory, the clockworks, the audience hall, the sultans' paintings, the relics, the courtyards, the pavilions (Circumcision kiosk, Yerevan kiosk, Baghdad kiosk, Terrace kiosk), the gardens and a small mosque. As the palace is regularly maintained, some rooms close (completely or temporarily) while others reopen according to the program. They may also be subject to variable opening hours. A huge sign to the left of the ticket office (in Turkish and English) indicates which areas are open and which are closed. As far as the harem is concerned, we think it would be a shame to come all the way to Topkapı without visiting it. The ticket office is on the left after the entrance. Please note that the Müzekart pass does not include the harem! This area can be very crowded, with the maximum number of people allowed ranging from 10 to 70. Cameras are allowed, but professional equipment (tripods) are not. The harem is very large, but for various reasons, only a very small part of it can be visited. Inside the palace is the Konyalı café-restaurant, in the fourth courtyard, where you can enjoy a coffee while taking in the magnificent view of the Bosphorus. Perfect for a refreshing break. The museum also offers evening tours (5,000 TL admission) on Saturdays until 11pm. Visits are made in groups, accompanied by a guide, and last 1 hour.