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- Destinations
- Europe
- Turkey
- Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace Museum
Topkapi Palace Museum
The Topkapi Sarayi, built by Mehmet the Conqueror as a Sultan's
Palace, consists of a sprawling collection of buildings arranged
around several interconnecting courtyards. Magnificently situated
on one of the seven hills of Istanbul with uninterrupted views over
the Bosphorus River and the Golden Horn, it was the seat of the
Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries. Home to nearly 3,000
people, it served as royal residence, harem, state administration
and military barracks. One of the most popular sections is the
harem, once the quarters of about 300 women who were the sultans'
wives and concubines, and their children. Visitors can view the
apartments, halls and terraces of the harem, and see the lavish
royal bedchamber and Imperial Hall. No expense was spared in
decorating the palace and exquisitely designed rooms, intricately
detailed fountains and gateways, and the splendid Treasury, housing
one of the greatest collections of treasure in the world, afford
insight into the opulent lifestyle of the sultans of the Ottoman
Empire.
Information & Facts
Address
Topkapi Sarayi, Sultanahmet
Admission
US$10 -15 depending on exchange rate; concessions
available. The Harem can only be visited on a guided tour and a
separate ticket is required for $10.
Language
Turkish is the official language, but English is widely
understood in the main tourist areas.
Money
The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was
introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from
the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be
exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and
ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions,
but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open
mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas.
ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but
Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on
their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and
Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are
Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the
more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some
banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash
or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions
and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as
payment.
Opening Times
Open daily except Tuesdays from
9am-5pm