Ottoman Istanbul Tour: History and Myths Unveiled

Explore the Topkapi Palace and Harem on a small-group guided tour with priority admission. Discover the history and myths of Ottoman Istanbul, see the Holy Relics and Imperial Kitchens, and admire stunning views of the Bosphorus.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sultanahmet District - Meet your expert guide and join your small group for a walking tour of Topkapi Palace and see its Harem, too.
    Visit the top site in Istanbul with priority admission tickets.
  • Topkapi Palace - Start your tour after you pass Sultanahmet Square.
    Enjoy your guide’s commentary about Topkapi and the Ottoman Sultans who…
What's Included
  • Small group tour
  • Expert local guides
  • Headsets to hear the guide better
  • Skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace
  • Skip-the-line tickets for the Harem
  • Starting from Galata Port (If this option is selected)
Additional Information

Explore the rich history and legends of Ottoman Istanbul on an intimate guided tour.
Enjoy priority access tickets to skip the queues, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.
Experience the Harem firsthand, the secluded residence of the Sultans.
Discover the Holy Relics, Imperial Kitchens, Royal Court, and the terraced gardens adorned with tulips.
Take in…

Location
Ersoy Bufe
At Meydanı Caddesi
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(168 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Caroline_l
May 4, 2025
Walks in Europe are highly recommended (especially Melissa) - Melissa was a very organised and knowledgeable guide and looked after the group very well. She gave us an excellent tour.
Review provided by Viator
Leanne_m
May 3, 2025
Fabulous tour! - Alp was an excellent guide. The earthquake had just occurred and as a result I was the only person in the tour. I learned a lot from him about Topkapi palace and really enjoyed the tour and stayed on after to visit the Mint and kitchen which he had recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Tommy_w
Apr 23, 2025
Safe and wonderful tour during earthquake! - Our guide Mert is knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The whole tour was informative and fun, making 3 hrs feel like a short time! During our tour the earthquake took place. Mert remained calm and instructed us to safety immediately. Once the situation stabilised, he adapted the plan to the situation based on what was most feasible and prioritised by the group. As a result we finished the tour safely without compromising much of the itinerary. :) Would definitely consider other tours by the same company and awesome guides!!
Review provided by Viator
Haleh_b
Apr 20, 2025
If you don’t know about... - If you don’t know about Ottomans history and the palace, you’ll be lost on your own. A guided tour is money well spent.
Review provided by Viator
Sanya_l
Apr 15, 2025
Great tour - Very informative tour. Our guide Elif was knowledgeable, explained the history well, in enough details, but without being overwhelming.
Review provided by Viator
Joe_h
Apr 6, 2025
Great tour of an huge site! - This tour is comprehensive in a vast site, so you only cover the essentials, but have free time at the end to explore at ypur own pace. The guide was fantastic!
Review provided by Viator
Laura_s
Apr 1, 2025
Topkapi Tour with Kaan - Kaan was very knowledgeable and gave unexpected insight about the palace, harem, sultans, eunuchs, and all the history. He regaled us with the story of the Ukrainian slave girl who outwitted all, including the queen mother, and advanced to become the first empress. If you are a woman be sure to bring TP and mark where each facility is in the complex since the lines are long and western toilets are not abundant.
Review provided by Viator
Ingridcb5259mu
Apr 10, 2025
Beautiful place - Interesting. Very large. Make sure you have read about it before going otherwise it can be quite overwhelming/confusing as there are multiple courtyards. This is the one place we visited in Istanbul where we thought it might have been better to have a guide. If you plan to use the audio guide bring your phone and headphones and scan the QR code, instead of waiting in a long queque for their audioguide which was not useful, and not user friendly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Burgesslondon
Mar 29, 2025
Friendly and knowledgeable - The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. She was helpful to my wife who has difficulty walking. The only drawback was that the meeting point was 500 m away from the entrance to the Palace.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dorothy_t
Mar 31, 2025
Could have been better - It was an average tour. Tour guide was serious and lacked expression in her delivery. She missed out on important info about Topkapi Palace that we learned from the free walking tour afterwards.
Review provided by Viator
From $61
up to 14 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).