Skip-the-Line Topkapi Palace and Harem Small Group Tour

We booked this tour in German. I received the booking confirmation and the ticket for a tour in GERMAN. However, the tour was only conducted in English, for whatever reason. When we asked the tour guide that we needed it in German, he gave us the information that this tour is ALWAYS conducted ONLY in English. He was a bit annoyed that we did not think this was good. We did NOT understand anything the tour guide said during the 1 1/2 hour tour. The tour was more than a disaster for us, paid money and received no information about the history of the palace and its sultans.

Excellent tour guide, very knowledgable. There was a small group and we had an ear piece so we could hear the guide when we were inside the palace. We met outside a shop a few minutes walk away from the palace, away from the crowds and then walked up as a group.

The provided audio guide is not the official Topkapi audio guide, but rather an application that must be downloaded. This application did not work well for us, and we had to do without it. We were content to read the explanatory panels in each room, and that was sufficient for us. We needed a guide, which cost an additional 15 euros, to visit the harem, and we had difficulty with the quality of his English. So, similarly, we were content to read the panels in the harem as well. If we could do it again, we would buy the tickets directly at the Palace ticket office and use the palace audio guide.

I took my 14yo daughter because we really wanted to see the Harem and Holy Relics. For a very last minute booking, this included the price of admission for both the palace and harem, working audio sets, lively tour guide, Martin, true skip the line experience, and a breakneck tour lasting 90 minutes. Given his directions after, we stayed another 2 hours and did a lot on our own, but it was mostly viewing exhibits, for which we didn’t feel the need for a tour guide. However, the lines to the treasury and costumes got very long and I’ll have to return to Istanbul to do this tour again. I was worried about reviews that said the meeting point was hard to find, but I didn’t think it was the case. I easily reached out on Viator and WhatsApp to message and double check landmarks and the company was very responsive. Great experience!

Good guide knowable and friendly. Good tour with free time after in the palace complex. Only problem meeting place difficult to find some where better know would have been better

Martin was an excellent, informative guide. He took time to explain details of the palace and the harem. We were in a group of 10, and was careful to keep us together despite the crowds.

Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, & polite. However, he did not have a flag. The crowds during our tour 9/28 were huge. I stopped to take a quick picture & lost my group. Just before total panic set in my partner called me to let me know where they were. ALWAYS request a Flag!

The meeting address provided was incorrect. I arrived early and waited. When I reached out to the company through the “contact vendor” button, they were very responsive and rebooked me from the 9:30 tour to the 12:00 tour. The change was irritating but not horribly inconvenient. The new tour guide had all of my tickets and information. I was very pleased with that. The tour guide himself was less than adequate. He stated a few times, after questions were asked, that “people take his tour to skip the lines” as opposed to relying on him for historical information. I had already taken two other different tour groups and had been impressed with the guides English, personality and knowledge. Unfortunately, this one did not live up to expectations. In addition to that, he mentioned several times over the course of the tour that he ex pected tips from us. At the end of the tour he called us by name asking for tips.

No meeting information provided through Viator, when questioned we were told to wait in place for tour guide, tour guide never showed. Requested refund; denied. Do not book with these guys.

Ozcan was a knowledgable tour guide who was able to give context to the huge Topkaki Palace. He also provided historic context that was relevant to everyone in our party. Great tour. Would recommend for everyone who is a history buff.