A
Go early and small group...
Go early and small group if you can Do the Palace first before the Crowds Errol was very knowledgeable and we had a good tour
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour
+22 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3h 30min
- Price from
- $64 / person
- Location
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 90 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 8
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Local Tour Guide Istanbul
- Meeting point
- Meet your guide outside 'FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE,' just a 2-minute walk from the (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide, easily identifiable by their tour guide badge, will be waiting for you at the cafe entrance.
Description
Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are two of the city’s unmissable cultural and historic sites. Focusing on these two places will allow you to concentrate on their beauty and unique histories at leisure, without rushing on to other sites. Save time by skipping the ticket line in Topkapı Palace with priority access, definitely a bonus whether it’s your first time in Istanbul or you’re a repeat visitor.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 13+)
- $64
- Child (ages 7–12)
- $41
- Infant (ages 0–6)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $74.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Blue Mosque
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque by many tourists has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes with traditional Ottoman architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.
TopkapI Palace
Topkapı Palace was the seat of Ottoman Empire more than 380 years where 24 of 36 Sultans lived and ruled their land. The palace was transformed into a museum in 1924 and now one of Turkey’s richest museums with its permanent and temporary exhibition halls. Buildings and courtyards, including a treasury, apartments, bathhouses, harems, and an armoury, holy relics section, not to mention imperial halls, kitchens and royal chambers that make a visit into Topkapi’s inner walls one of the world’s great wonders. Treasures within include 13th-century Japanese porcelain, weaponry used by the Ottoman army, 86 carat 4th biggest diamond of its kind and world famous Topkapi Dagger any many more..
Sogukcesme Sokak
This is a small street with beautiful historic houses which are leaning against the wall of Topkapi Palace. Sogukcesme means, the cold fountain in English and street is named after the fountain situated at its end.
Sultanahmet Square
This beautiful square and a great place to make a stop, relax and take photos of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Sultanahmet District
"Sultan Ahmet Center", the heart of the "Old City" from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
The Church of Divine Wisdom, a fifteen hundred years old splendid monument, is a must see in Istanbul, built to be the world’s largest place of worship by Emperor Justinian in 532 AD
What's included
Included
Topkapi Palace and Harem entry ticket (*if all-inclusive option selected)
Professional Guide
Small Group
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratitudes
Topkapi Palace
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
90 reviews
How it compares in Istanbul
- Starting price $64 is 44% below the typical $114 for tours of similar length in Istanbul
Excurgo comparison of 3,635 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Modest clothing should be preferred when visiting the Blue Mosque. Shorts for men or women should be below the knee. Women cover their heads and exposed shoulders with a scarf or shawl, skirt should be below the knee. For those who do not have suitable clothes, stands are available at the entrance. Overalls and headscarves are provided for free of charge.
- If the All-Inclusive option is not selected, the entrance fee to Topkapı Palace (€55 per person) is not included in the tour price. You can pay the entrance fee to your guide in cash in EUR, or the equivalent amount in Turkish Lira (TL) or USD, or via an online payment link provided by your guide. Your guide will then arrange access so you can skip the regular ticket-purchase queue.
- Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the activity starts. Finding a taxi and traffic congestion can sometimes cause delays, so we kindly recommend allowing extra time for your journey.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour take?
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour lasts about 3h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour cost?
Prices start at $64 per person for this Istanbul experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $74. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM.
How much does Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour cost for children?
Children aged 7–12 pay from $41, adults from $64. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Meet your guide outside 'FOODIE-IST CAFE AND BRASSERIE,' just a 2-minute walk from the (T1) Sultanahmet tram stop. Your guide, easily identifiable by their tour guide badge, will be waiting for you at the cafe entrance. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 90 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Local Tour Guide Istanbul.
Reviews(90)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
Gamze was an excellent...
Gamze was an excellent guide. Lots of history on tour. Would recommend. Meeting spot a little hard to find, Leave extra time.
K
The guide Erol was...
The guide Erol Ütgün was amazing, very friendly, very knowledgeable and took the time to answer all our questions. The tour was more like walking with a friend, filled with laughter and no rush.
K
Great tour and experience
My guide, Erol Ütgün, was exceedingly knowledgeable and attentive. I felt like a learnt so much, and the 3.5 hours we were together flew by. Really enjoyable tour, I would recommend.
K
Kind and knowledgeable guide
Great experience. Guide was very knowledgeable and patient. The itinerary was good, not too long, and, fortunately, we were the only ones in the tour.
C
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace and Mosque
It was very difficult to find the rendezvous point due to Istanbul's confusing streets and alleys. We had to get help from numerous locals, in fact one of whom called our guide and escorted us to the meeting spot.
E
Topkapi palace and blue mosque
Our tour guide was 30 minutes late. It was very crowded so hard to see everything. She was a good guide except for being late.
S
The Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace
Our tour guide Kim was a wealth of information not just on the Palace and the Mosque but of the whole history of Istanbul and Turkey. We were the only ones who signed up for this tour and were so surprised that they did not cancel. So we actually had a private tour. Highly recommend this tour because Kim led us through all the buildings and especially knew what was not to be missed. We just followed along without any worries about where to go. Would highly recommend this tour. Be prepared for a lot of walking and a lot of steps.
T
It’s okay
Our guide was nice but the tour ended up being 3 hours, not 4 and it didn’t feel worth the cost. That said, depending on the included admission fee and the fact that you skip the line, maybe that’s worth it. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t recommend it.
D
Must see tour with Kim
Kim was an amazing guide. We really enjoyed our time with her. She was very knowledgeable. The Palace is a must see!
Compare similar tours in Istanbul
- Lowest price: Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour with Tickets — $54
- Best rated: Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour (Small Group & Fast Track Entry) — 4.8 (347 reviews)
- Shortest: Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour (Small Group & Fast Track Entry) — 3 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Harem & Blue Mosque Tour | 3h 30min | 4.7 (90) | $64 | |
 Topkapı Palace with Harem & Blue Mosque Guided Tour | 4 hours | 4.7 (76) | $80 | View |
 Istanbul: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque | 8 hours | 4.9 (59) | $57 | View |
 Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour (Small Group & Fast Track Entry) | 3 hours | 4.8 (347) | $143 | View |
 Small-Group Topkapi Palace and Harem Tour with Tickets | 3 hours | 4.8 (290) | $54 | View |
 Topkapi Palace, Harem & Basilica Cistern Guided Walking Tour | 3 hours | 5.0 (74) | $109 | View |
 Private: Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hipodromme | 8 hours | 4.8 (41) | $99 | View |
from$64
4.7(90) Free cancellation