Istanbul: Private Tour Topkapi Palace and Harem
Discover the history and myths of Ottoman Istanbul on a private tour led by an expert guide
Get priority admission tickets and avoid long lines.
See the Holy Relics, Imperial Kitchens, Royal Court, and the terraced gardens with tulips.
Witness the Harem with your own eyes, the private quarters, and home of the Sultans.
Admire incredible views of the Bosphorus as you look out over the city
Get tips from your guide at the end of the tour about what to see next
Options
Private Tour in English
Meets In Sultanahmet
What's included in Istanbul: Private Tour Topkapi Palace and Harem
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Sultanahmet DistrictPass-by Only
Meet your expert guide and join your private tour to explore Topkapi Palace and see its Harem, too. Visit the top site in Istanbul with priority admission tickets and never wait in a line again!
TopkapI Palace
Start your tour after you pass Sultanahmet Square. Enjoy your guide's commentary about Topkapi and the Ottoman Sultans who lived in it. Visit the Palace complex of low buildings and pavilions, kiosks and courtyards. It’s a self-contained city that most of the inhabitants rarely left. There are many sections open for visits and you will get an in-depth walking tour through all the displays. Savor this romantic scene with the views of the Bosporus in Istanbul. Enjoy walking the outer terraced gardens, where flowerbeds blaze with tulips of many colors and climb the high terrace to admire the view over the Golden Horn,too.
TopkapI Palace
Harem in Topkapi Palace: the famous house of the Monarchy. Walk in the Harem and filter myth from reality as you listen to stories from your guide. Witness the very seat of the Ottoman Sultan’s power in Topkapi Palace lying within the deepest reaches of the Harem. Learn about the Queen Mother who wielded both domestic and political power. The Harem housed hundreds of women-mostly war captives- and family members as well as hundreds of eunuchs, who performed a whole range of administrative and personal duties. Walkthrough the sections where the eunuchs lived and educated. Take photos of the courtyard of the concubines and the Queen Mother’s Rooms. See cupboard doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell. Our walk through the Harem is the only way you can see the very early exceptional Iznik tiles with verses from the Kuran and beautiful floral designs. End the tour seeing the Holy Relics and the Imperial Kitchens. You may choose to have free time afterward.
Inclusions
- 3 hours private tour at a relaxed pace
- Private tour for a more personalized experience
- Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem
- Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace
- Expert local guide for insider's knowledge
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Topkapi Palace is a vast complex with multiple sections open for visit. During our tour, we'll visit the most magnificent masterpieces. However, if you wish to explore all sections at your leisure, we recommend booking a morning tour and allocating the afternoon to explore the Palace grounds.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- We meet at Ersoy Bufe. This is a small food kiosk just by the side of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet Square. It is across the German Fountain. Your guide will be in front of the Ersoy Bufe with a sign that says, “Walks in Europe.”
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Meet your guide to start the tour.
