As a Professional tour guide, I have some favorite attractions to be with my guests at most. The Topkapi Palace is definitely one of them. Every year millions of travelers show up in Istanbul city and I can honestly say they do not miss the Topkapi Palace Museum. In the end the Topkapi Palace is the most visited museum of the entire Turkey with 2 Million 352 Thousand 296 guests in 2022.
The Topkapi Palace was a former palace of the Ottoman Empire until they moved to modern palaces on the coastal yards of Bosphorus such as Dolmabahce Palace. It was more than just a house to Ottoman Sultans. It was the place where they designed their policies, the boarding school to raise their human resource etc. On April 3rd, 1924 the building turned into a museum and still functionally working museum with impressive collections.
So it is my responsibility to answer your questions about Topkapi Palace as @atourguideinconstantinople Here’s the answers of the most common questions.
What Is The Famous Topkapi Palace
In the following days of the conquest, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, built the 1st Palace of the empire to the location of today’s Istanbul University. The district has lots of visiting attractions to the visitors of the Istanbul city (Süleymaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar etc.).
The Palace was located at the center of the city at the time. In 1460, Mehmed II, gave the construction order of his new palace to the location of Topkapi Palace and could finally be completed in 1478.
That’s why, amongst the historians, the 1st Palace know as “Saray-ı Atik-i Amire” meaning “Old Commanding Palace”. Furthermore, the Topkapi Palace called “Saray-ı Cedid-i Amire” means “New Commanding Palace”.
There are several thoughts about the name of the Topkapi Palace, nevertheless widely accepted as “Top” means “Canon” and “Kapı” meaning “Gate/Portal”. Canons were used for many purposes, for example on the coronation day of the new Sultans etc. And certainly you can not miss the massive gates of the palace. People gave the name of the palace because of both impressions from canons and gates.
What Is Inside The Topkapi Palace
The Palace is mainly divided by 4 courtyards and the Harem section placed on the left hand side between 2nd – 3rd courtyards.
It has numerous collections about amory, treasury. kitchen, library, Islamic Relics and so on. In addition to priceless collections of the Ottomans, you can actually have a chance to see private chambers of the Ottoman Sultans, from Imperial Council Chamber to kitchens.
The only thing you are going to regret is not having enough time to visit the complete palace since it’s huge and 1 day is not sufficient.
Last but not least, It has a beautiful terrace at the final courtyard where you can take a look at the whole Istanbul city from a bird eye view.
What Not To Miss At Topkapi Palace
The main reason why I am guiding is the showing sites that I think deserves some attention. Especially in some museums like Topkapi Palace it is hard to compare and tell (From here you can see my article about everything you should know about Topkapi Palace).
Yet here’s my list of what you should not miss at Topkapi Palace:
- Grand Hall. It is located at the Harem side of the building after the Bathhouse of Ottoman Sultans. Decoration having different shades and textures. You might technically accept it as a throne room.
- Kitchen. When you realize the fact that, once upon a time ago, Topkapi Palace was home to 5000 people, you can’t stop from asking yourself “How did they produce that amount of food and Where?” There you go. From silvers to porcelain, you will lose your perception of time perception.
- Armory. Unlike the common assumption, the collection is not just about knives and guns. 86 carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond is the 86 carat of proof. Do not miss it.
- Holy Islamic Relics. It’s your bonus. Do not judge the book from its cover, because this chapter of the museum even has “The Scepter of Moses” (And Yes! You’ve read right).
What Is A Fun Fact About Topkapi Palace
It is actually about the eyes who can realize these types of subjects. During my tours, I have been observing lots of my colleagues, marching people, chopping heads or putting forward their perspective.
Everyone has their own methods to approach matters and none of them is wrong. Here’s an example from Daily life of the Topkapi Palace.
As I have mentioned in the beginning of the article, the palace was also a school where they educated young boys and girls. So it was also a boarding school.
We are quite used to encountering some incidents even today in our modern boarding schools where kids pretend as if they’ve got sick.
Moreover most of them had attempted to skip classes for a couple days.
In Topkapi Palace, that type of case also happened in history and kids had some time off in the 1st courtyard of the palace.
Is Topkapi Palace Worth A Visit
I guess 2 Million 352 Thousand 296 guests must have seen something to visit in 2022. Otherwise it would not have the attention that much.
When I travel, I do my own research about the countries, what are the most essentials, where to go, what to eat. There is no way to complete Istanbul city without skipping Topkapi Palace.
It’s like visiting Paris, France without The Palace of Versailles.
In the incredible Topkapi Palace, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. All the attractions near to the museum include Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Blue Mosque.
Why You Need Tour Guide To Visit Topkapi Palace
To make the most of your visit and save time, it’s recommended to take a guided tour. By doing so, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the architecture and historical significance of the cistern. Your guide can point out interesting details.
As a tour guide, sharing fascinating anecdotes and insider tips, taking my guests on a journey beyond the surface-level attractions and most importantly while having fun, I keep them accompanied along the way. With my guidance, you can discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations that you may have otherwise missed.
I have always cared for the needs of my guests. Therefore it’s my duty to defend your interests. Being actively on the field for many years brought me above the certain level of knowledge. I have already faced and dealt with the issues you can possibly come across with. I also did absorb the history of the building to create and prove my difference. The travellers who trusted me, received my full support and hospitality. In addition to setting their goals in the city where I was born, I did also shed light to show the ways of managing their time in the most efficient ways. Use my experience in order to feel confident as if it’s your own city!
All you have to do is texting these words;
“I need a tour guide”
Oğulcan ÖZDİL, Founder & Professional Tour Guide