Topkapi palace
Topkapi palace is open every day to visitors, except on tuesdays,on the first days of the 2 Muslim holidays (Ramazan Bayrami and Kurban Bayrami), and August 30th 2016 Tuesday (Victory Day)
Visit Hours
Winter Season: Between October 30th – April 15th
Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM
Summer Season: Between April 15th – October 30th
Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM
So, here we go.
Amount of time recommended for visit:On average 3-4 hours for the palace,50 minutes for the Harem,45 minutes for the treasury.
Important note:Ticket booths close at 6:00 PM . A seperate ticket is required for the Harem section of the palace.
On the way towards the Topkapı palace entrance gate , at the end of the road that passes between Hagia Sophia on your left and the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed 3th. On your right, you can see the Imperial Gate, and magnificent outer courtyard door of palace. This is the main door connected to the walls that surround the palace and the tower complex.
The Foundation of Ahmed III
The Foundation of Ahmed 3th is situated in front of the palace and behind Hagia Sophia. It was built during the reign of Sultan Ahmed 3th. In the 18th century. It famous for 14- line poem that is inscribed on it. The most famous line of poem is “Drink water in name of God, pray sultan Ahmed Third. The niches in walls of fountain for birds to drink water from are indication of the Ottoman character. On the back splash behind taps, the phrase Masha Allah(ماشالله) What God willed is inscribed. On the four sides of the fountain there are four small fountains; there is a tap on the sides of the corner.
The Imperial Gate
The gate is vaulted and arched. On both sides there, there are engraved tughras (monograms) of sultans Mahmud second and Abdülaziz. The spaces on the sides of the door used to be janissary quarters. The İmperial Gate was protected by special guards. The gate gives passage to the first courtyard which is the Birun section ofthe Palace. Birun /bee roon/ بیرون means outside in Persian language.Ottoman used Persian as literature language. Because of this Turkish Language has a lot borrowed words from Persian language.so let us get back to Topkapi Palace. This part contains building
Hagia Irene Museum
Hagia Irene Museum, which is located at first courtyard of The Topkapi Palace, is opened to visit for visitors. The Hagia Irene Museum can be visited as individual visitor from now on. The Hagia Irene Museum is open everyday except on Tuesday. Ticket Price is 20 TL for one person.
