Topkapi Palace:
Why You Should Skip It.

There are a lot of beautiful things, and Topkapi Palace is among them. Old harem, rooms full of gold and jewels, mosques, libraries, etcetera, etcetera. Its a pretty place.

It also, unfortunately, is just about the single most crowded thing to do in Istanbul. You thought the Grand Bazaar was busy? At least there you can wander back alleys and find some breathing room!

So, go to Istanbul. Walk the streets of Sultanahmet, and soak in the history and beauty of a thousands-years-old city.

If you really must go to Topkapi, skip the long lines and expensive entrance fees. Instead, head around the back to the sweet little coffee shop on a hillside overlooking the Bosphorus. You’ll have a much better time!

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Topkapi Palace costs 20TL to enter, with an optional 15TL on top of that to enter the Harem section. The Palace complex is closed on Tuesdays. There really isn’t that much to see inside the Palace, but if you want to know more about the history consider taking a guided tour.