During the first half of this year, the Turkish national palaces attracted more than 3,800,000 visitors.

The Presidency of National Palaces indicated that the number of visitors increased by 18 percent in the first half of 2023, compared to the first six months of the previous year.

It added in a statement on Wednesday that the palaces received 3,806,297 visitors during this period, without further details.

“Topkapi” Palace in Istanbul topped the list of the most attractive to visitors, with 1,964,000 visitors.

It was followed by the “Dolmabahçe” palace in Istanbul, also with 660,000 visitors, then “Pillar Bey” in the same city, with 220,000 visitors.

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In Sultanahmet Square, you will stand in the middle of history! From time immemorial, people’s voices roared with glee in this square!

To get to know the heart of Istanbul’s history, just take a walk with us slowly in this square, and follow us until the end of the article.

Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul

Sultanahmet Square, known as Hippodrome Square, overlooks the famous Blue Mosque, and is surrounded by other famous places.

In addition to the presence of many different museums such as the Museum of Turkish Islamic Art.

Sultanahmet district is one of the most famous tourist areas in Istanbul, and it is also a popular place to start tourist trips due to the perfect beauty and size of this square.

This square is a very impressive tourist area in Sultanahmet district, similar to the historical peninsula that leads to all the historical sites around it.

Sultanahmet Square is one of the most popular places for all the tourists, you usually find most enthusiastic tourists in this square on the first day of their visit to Istanbul.

Due to the fact that this square has turned into a no-vehicle area, tourists can walk in this square for a few hours, and visit Topkapi Palace, the German Fountain, the beautiful Hagia Sophia, the small bazaar near Sultanahmet and the colorful houses with great views in complete comfort.

Beautiful trees, ponds, fountains and vibrant greenery around the square would be perfect for taking some photographs, as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque would be all smiling in the background. (Best photobomb ever)

History of Hippodrome Square

This square was once the most famous and busiest place in the Eastern Roman Empire, hosting many famous historical sites as well as many events and adventures.

The Egyptian Stone Column, Snake Column, German Fountain and many more were among the most crowded places, which we eagerly visit today.

The Hippodrome was built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century after the official proclamation of Istanbul as the capital of Eastern Rome, and this is exactly what we call today Sultanahmet Square.

The Hippodrome was an equestrian venue during the Roman Empire, where contestants ran around the racetrack seven times to win the race, and people watched the performances with excitement.

Things to do in Sultanahmet Square

Walk around Sultanahmet Square, I promise it will be one of the most beautiful moments of your life.

Enjoy the historical atmosphere that includes the most prominent places, museums, mosques, churches, fountains and historical sites in Istanbul all together.

Then relax in one of the restaurants and cafes around the square, and enjoy a cup of tea or Turkish coffee while watching these great historical places.

The most important places to visit

• Egyptian Stone Pillar.
• Hagia Sophia.
• Topkapi Palace.
• Serpent Pillar.
• German Fountain.
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
• The blue Mosque.

The Egyptian stone column

The obelisk or stone pillar that was brought from Egypt in 390 is one of the mysteries of history, and archaeologists have not been able to discover and read the mystery of the tablets written on these pillars.

Some of these obelisks are spread all over the world. From Argentina to Italy and even Sultanahmet Square!

This stone pillar dates back to 1450 BC by the Egyptian pharaoh.

If you visit this column, know that you are standing in front of one of the oldest places in Istanbul.

The monument stands on a marble pillar and depicts the Byzantine emperor, who used to watch matches around it.

Nowadays, tourists with this obelisk take funny pictures like pushing the pillar or leaning on it and then smiling at the camera! (Yep, everyone does that)

Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museum has an important collection of prehistoric artifacts from Greece, Rome and Byzantium, which are very beautifully displayed.

The entire collection has been transferred from Topkapi Palace to the Museum.

After visiting the museum, take time to walk in Gulhane Park, which was once a garden for the Ottoman kings.

The garden extends over wide green areas, decorated with flowers, tulips and tall trees.

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)

The Blue Mosque is one of the most important mosques and tourist attractions in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul.

This mosque was built in the seventeenth century between 1603-1617 by Sultan Ahmed I.

The name of this mosque is derived from the beautiful and eye-catching Iznik tiles used in its interior design.

This mosque is a fine example of Islamic architecture and one of the most visited places in Istanbul.

When you go to this mosque, remember to wear appropriate clothes, so that you do not have to use the general covering of the mosque.

Serpent Column

One of the most unusual buildings in Istanbul, this column was brought to Istanbul from Delphi, Greece.

And this spiral column was made from melting military equipment of the enemy army as a sign of the victory of Greece over the Persians.

After the victory in this war, this pillar was presented as a gift to the Delphi Apollo Monument to show their gratitude for this place.

On this blue pillar you will see three intertwined snakes with their heads cut off.

The only surviving snake head is on display in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, which is located just a few steps from the Sultanahmet Square, do not forget to visit it while you are there.

Hagia Sophia

Known as one of the best architectural examples in the world, the Hagia Sophia will undoubtedly amaze you both from the outside and inside.

According to the Turks, it is the eighth wonder of the world, although this claim is a little exaggerated.

In fact, this building was a nickname in the Roman era, as it was at that time the largest church in the world.

And then it was converted into a mosque when the Ottomans entered, and when the Republic of Turkey was declared, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum for many years by order of Ataturk.

Currently, Hagia Sophia has been converted into a mosque after a new law from the Turkish government, which means a free visit for tourists!

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is one of the biggest and most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul, this building was built between 1466 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II.

The palace was considered the political center of the Ottoman Empire from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries, and it continued in this state until the construction of Dolmabahce Palace.

You can enjoy a charming view of the Bosphorus and the Asian side of Istanbul from the beautiful balconies of the palace.

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts displays one of the most important Turkish and Islamic art collections in the world.

These holdings belong to the Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluk, Seljuk and Ottoman eras and include rare artifacts such as stone, ceramics, metal, silver, copper and wood, as well as jewelry, manuscripts, calligraphy, carpets and many more…

German Fountain

The German Fountain is located between Sultanahmet Square and the Blue Mosque.

It is a very beautiful fountain with great architecture, with beautiful columns and domes.

Do not forget to see it during your visit to Istanbul.

Tips for a pleasant visit:

• Official guide can make Sultanahmet Square more beautiful for you. Get help from them and know the exact date and details of each building. But beware of unofficial guides, the guide should have an official logo.
• Take good care of your bags and pockets, as this place is always crowded.

The post Sultanahmet Square – one of the best places to visit in Istanbul! appeared first on Move 2 Turkey.

Turkey is so beautiful that no matter which city you visit, you can have fun, and it isn’t an exaggeration to say that this country is full of stunning landscapes, tourist places and buildings so sophisticated that it isn’t possible to even collect all of them in one article.

The country is full of beautiful sights, but among all these beauties, there are many attractions that other parts of the world don’t have at all.

Today we want to introduce you to 8 of strange places in Turkey that are very popular with tourists, especially people who love exotic places.

In the continuation of this article, join us on a tour of 8 strange places in Turkey.

1- The Anatolian Mountains

The Anatolian Mountains, also known as the Pontic Mountains, are located in the northern part of Turkey.

The word Anatolia is actually a word written this way Anatoly and means the sunrise from the East.

The Anatolian Mountains goes from the Black Sea all the way to the east and the Aegean Sea in the west.

It may be interesting for you to know that these mountains were part of the Persian Empire during the time of the Achaemenid dynasty.

The length of this mountain range is 965 kilometers, which is a very large area. And this is the reason why the climate of the Anatolian Mountains varies significantly.

You may be in a place where the sun is shining, and somewhere else about 100 meters away you may encounter cold and foggy weather.

You can also find traces of life and people in this beautiful mountain range.

As the green space of this mountain has been receiving different people and tribes for many years, this has led to amazing and interesting works in these mountains.

2- Pamukkale

In Turkish, Pamukkale means cotton castle, and this name really applies to describing this natural attraction, Pamukkale is located in Denizli city in southern Turkey.

If we want to tell you about the exact location of Pamukkale, you will see a white peak at a height of about 2,700 meters and a width of about 600 meters above the Denizli Hills and on an area of ​​​​20 km of land, and this place will attract and amaze everyone!

It consists of a group of natural hot springs, which contain large amounts of calcium, which creates one of the strangest natural attractions in the world.

In Pamukkale, you will see uneven surfaces made of limestone, and of course in this region many sedimentary rocks were formed due to mineral deposits in hot springs, then turned into what resembled mountains of ice, looking like white terraces.

For this reason, the Pamukkale region is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Turkey and the world, not to mention that it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There are 17 hot springs with temperatures ranging from 95 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

The strange thing about Pamukkale is its strange shape that simply astonishes any viewer!

3- Cappadocia

In the third place, we want to present to you one of the strangest attractions in Turkey, it is Cappadocia.

In fact Cappadocia is located in the Nevsehir region near the capital Ankara, and thus it has interesting and unique features that make it more exotic and famous.

Cappadocia is one of the best places for hot air balloons, and this is the reason why the region thrives in tourism. Another advantage of Cappadocia is that it has an entire city underground.

During the excavation work on a construction project in the area something very strange was discovered.

Demolition workers in Cappadocia discovered a new area, the area was a collection of rooms and tunnels underground.

Numerous underground dwellings have been discovered in the area, including a gallery, church, waterway, reservoir, living rooms, kitchen, and even a café.

4- Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one of the most famous palaces in Al-Fatih, which is visited by millions of tourists for its historical importance.

The palace that was the residence of the Ottoman sultans today has become one of the most famous museums in Istanbul.

But what many visitors do not know is that it is said that spirits  and ghosts of the ancient kings who inhabited this palace frequent this palace.

As some employees said strange sounds come out at night from the palace like crying and groans and they are very scary.

So if you have a brave heart, visit this palace on your trip and explore it.

5- Perili Köşkü Palace

Perili Köşkü Palace Also known as Yusuf Ziya Pasha Palace, it is a charming and frightening palace at the same time, meaning in Turkish the palace of ghosts.

It is located near the castle of Rumeli Hisar within the Sariyer municipality in Istanbul, specifically under the second Bosphorus bridge, and the building dates back to 1911 AD.

Today, after more than a century, the palace serves as the headquarters of the Bursan Holding Company and the Bursan Museum of Contemporary Art.

The building consists of nine floors, with an area of ​​5,000 square meters. People called it this house because of the long delay in completion of its construction.

On some nights, you can hear the sounds of playing the piano.

So if you like adventure, we recommend that you visit this palace during your trip to Turkey.

6- Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, and it is one of the most famous buildings in Turkey.

This reservoir was built in the 6th century AD and was the main source of water supply in Istanbul.

What makes this reservoir scary and strange is that thousands of slaves lost their lives in order to build it.

Some city residents say that the spirits of these workers are still wandering in the place, and on some nights strange sounds are heard such as crying and screaming.

During your trip to Istanbul we recommend that you visit this strange and beautiful place.

7- Kayakoy village

A deserted and beautiful village full of destroyed houses, this quaint village is located near the famous Fethiye area.

This village was destroyed after a strong earthquake, displacing and killing many of its residents.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Kayakoy village was vibrant, with schools, churches and shops.

At the present time, the view of the village is scary and a bit strange.

We advise you to visit it, especially at sunset, you will see a charming and at the same time frightening and strange scene.

8- The historic city of Ephesus

Ephesus is an ancient city located on the western coast of Asia Minor in the Turkish province of Izmir.

One of the most vibrant cities in the ancient world throughout the ages, and the second largest in the Roman Empire, Ephesus became a Roman city in 133 BC.

The city is best known for the Temple of Artemis (built in 550 BC) which is actually one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and today only a few temple columns remain.

But there are still many landmarks that remind us of the city’s former glory, such as the Celsus Library which was the third largest library in the ancient world, and the Ephesus Theater with a capacity of more than 25,000 people.

The post 8 strange places you have to visit in Turkey appeared first on Move 2 Turkey.

Istanbul is currently one of the most popular tourist cities among tourists around the world.

As this Turkish city receives millions of tourists every year from all over the world, and many tourists come to visit its archaeological sites.

Meanwhile, there are many people wanting to visit museums in this city, and the Turkish government has provided facilities for tourists, including the Istanbul Museum Pass.

With the purchase of the Istanbul Museum Pass, you no longer have to pay every time you visit a museum in Istanbul, and you can also go to museums without having to wait in long lines to enter.

Follow us in this article to inform you about the advantages of the Istanbul Museum Pass.

Istanbul Museum Pass

As mentioned earlier, the Istanbul Museum Pass is one of the facilities provided by the Turkish government to the city’s tourists.

With this card, you can visit the most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul at the lowest cost, and you should know that many buildings and historical monuments in Istanbul have been converted into museums today, so through this card, you will be able to see different places closely.

You should know that each museum card is for one person only, and you do not need to get an Istanbul museum Pass for children under 12 years old.

With the museum card, you can visit each attraction only once, and if you leave the museum, you cannot re-enter it.

This museum entry card provides access to 10 museums in Istanbul, which only belong to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

Is the Istanbul Museum Pass the same as MüzeKart +?

No, not the same, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism created the MüzeKart + card in 2008, it was and still a great success among Turkish citizens and foreigners residing in Turkey.

But tourists are not allowed to buy one, and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has created a separate card for tourists, the Istanbul Museum Pass.

The MüzeKart + card is valid for more than 300 museums all over Turkey, which only Turkish citizens and foreigners with a residence permit can obtain.

Therefore, as a tourist to Istanbul, Museum Pass Istanbul is the only card that you can apply for!

Museums that you can visit using the Istanbul Museum Pass

• Topkapi Palace Museum
• Harem Apartments in Topkapi Palace Museum
• Hagia Sophia Museum
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
• Istanbul Archeology Museum
• Chora Museum and Church
• The Great Palace Mosaic Museum
• Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
• Galata Tower Museum
• Rumeli Hisar Castle Museum

Pros of the Istanbul Museum Pass

• The Istanbul Museum Pass will save you the cost of visiting the most famous museums in Turkey, about 45% of the cost
• With the Istanbul Museum Pass, you do not need to stand in line and you can enter the museum without delay

The price and validity of the Istanbul Museum Pass

The Istanbul Museum Pass is valid for 5 days, and the start time is exactly the same time you use the card for the first time.

The price of the Istanbul Museum Pass is 360 Turkish liras (about 40 euros).

How to get the Istanbul Museum Pass?

You can prepare the Istanbul Museum Pass in person or by applying online. Below, we will explain to you how you can obtain the Istanbul Museum Pass:

Getting the Istanbul Museum Pass in person

You don’t need to go to a special place to buy an Istanbul Museum Pass, all you have to do is plan to visit one of the most famous attractions in Istanbul and get the Istanbul Museum Pass from the ticket office.

In general, you can find the Istanbul Museum card in museums such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Archeology Museums, Palace of the Mosaic Museum, Khora Church, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, and Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam.

Setting up Istanbul Museum Pass online

As you know, these days we can use the Internet to fulfill most of our needs, so you can also apply for an Istanbul Museum Pass online, and by registering and providing your hotel’s address on the website, they will send the card to the hotel for you.

Istanbul Museum Pass Website: www.muze.gov.tr

Other Istanbul Museum pass types and prices

Istanbul Deluxe Welcome Card

This card is delivered to your hotel for free when you buy it online, and it will be ready for use upon your arrival, you can also get it from both airports in Istanbul.

Istanbul Welcome Card enables you to skip long queues in 9 museums, and a tourist guide is included with 3 of them, a Bosphorus cruise, 20 free rides on public transport (metro, bus, tram …), and a digital guide book and a map .

Museums include:

Topkapi Palace, Galata Museum, Great Mosaic Palace Museum, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Archeology Museum, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Rumeli Hisar Castle, Museum of Science and Technology in Islam, and the Basilica Reservoir.

Tour guides include:

You will have a guided tour of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Reservoir with one of Istanbul’s historical guides.

• Hagia Sophia: Tour duration: 60 daily minutes at 10:30
• Topkapi Palace: Tour Duration: 90 minutes daily at 12:00, except for Tuesday
• Basilica Reservoir: Tour duration: 30 minutes, daily at 12:00, 13:00, 15:00
• Bosphorus cruise: Tour duration: 90 minutes, daily at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00

Card validity and price:

It is valid for 7 days from your first visit.

Price: 85 euros.

You can buy the Istanbul Deluxe Welcome Card through its official website by clicking here.

MüzeKart + card

There are about 300 museums in Turkey, and if you want to visit them all, you can get a MüzeKart + card that cost 60 Turkish liras, which is valid for one year, but this card is only available to Turkish citizens and foreigners residing in Turkey.

To purchase a MüzeKart + card click here.

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Whether it is walking the ancient city walls, wandering in the bazaars, visiting the Ottoman mosques, watching the sunset in the Golden Horn, or even relaxing in one of the traditional Turkish baths, there is always something you can do in the old city of Istanbul.

The Sultanahmet district in Istanbul is home to the most historical sites in Turkey, and one of the best tourist areas in Istanbul, and it is one of the most crowded areas of Istanbul that are crowded with tourists from all over the world.

Sultanahmet is located on the historical peninsula that stretches across the Bosphorus to Asia, and was formerly the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

The area was named after Sultan Ahmed I, who died in 1617 AD, and was buried in a mausoleum near the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul.

In our article, we will get to know about many things that you can do to make the trip to Sultanahmet more enjoyable, stay with us!

Walk the ancient city walls from the Sea of ​​Marmara to the Golden Horn

The Great Walls of Theodosius kept the city safe from any attacks for a thousand years before it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, and it stretched 6.5 kilometers (four miles) across the historic peninsula.

From the Sea of ​​Marmara to the Golden Horn, these Roman walls have survived and remain a tourist attraction visited by thousands of tourists, wander the neighborhoods around the wall, and sample Turkish food and tea from the restaurants and cafes located there.

Major attractions include the Chora Church (Kariye Museum) that is famous for its mosaics, the beautiful Ottoman Mihrimah Mosque and the former palace of Byzantine Emperors Blachere (Tekfur Saray Palace).

Note: Out of caution, avoid walking along the walls at dusk, and at the end of your walk take the ferry down the Golden Horn from Ayvansaray.

Refreshing steam bath in Istanbul

Hygiene is an integral part of Islam, and in the days before homes got their own water supply, the traditional Turkish bath played a major role in the lives of residents in Turkey, as the sultans created huge dome places for cleanliness between the wooden houses of the city.

Visitors to the Turkish baths today have come to get the distinct Turkish bath experience, lounging on the hot marble, washing themselves with warm water from elegant copper dishes and having a perfect massage.

Hürrem Sultan, Cağaloğlu and Çemberlitaş are among the best Turkish baths in the old city of Istanbul.

Note: The above three hammams have separate sections for men and women, for a mixed session with traditional Turkish baths try the Sulaymaniyah Hamam.

Walk around the colorful streets of Balat and Fener!

The narrow cobbled streets of these two areas, which descend from the hill to the waterfront of the Golden Horn, were once the preserve of the Jewish, Armenian, and Greek communities of the city of Istanbul.

Then some old European style houses were bought and renovated in the late nineteenth century, coinciding with the emergence of a large number of old-style cafes around the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George, making it a tourist attraction.

Balat and Fener are great areas to wander around and take lots of photos, don’t miss the recently restored Bulgarian Church of St Stephens.

Note: Ferries leave from the dock in Karakoy, and you can also reach them from Sultanahmet neighborhood, and they stop at Fener and Balat.

Dive into Istanbul’s old Bazaars

The Grand Bazaar with more than 4000 shops and the Spice Bazaar is perhaps the most square of the old markets in Istanbul, and it attracts a lot of visitors every year.

Dive into the maze of the Grand Bazaar in search of everything from handcrafted Turkish clothing and rugs to leather jackets and traditional gold jewelry, as well as dried fruits, nuts and Turkish sweets everywhere in the Bazaar.

Note: Exit the Spice Bazaar via its western gate and stroll the bustling Hasırcılar Sokak Street (Straw Makers Street), while smelling the delicious aroma emanating from Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, one of Istanbul’s leading coffee roasters.

Enjoy a Turkish coffee on the roof with a panoramic view of Istanbul

Experience the multiple terraces of Ağa Kapısı Café at sunset to enjoy the stunning views across the domes and minarets of the old city from Galata Bridge to the Bosphorus.

The place serves Turkish coffee and tea and also offers some types of juices.

Explore the Galata neighborhood at sunset

Head to the crowded market area spanning Galata Bridge at sunset to see how the Golden Horn got its name.

You will see the mesmerizing reflection of the sun at sunset, and have a cold drink at one of the many cafes built on the bridge itself.

Note: Be sure to walk along the Galata Bridge to take beautiful pictures, the bridge is also surrounded by local fishermen so you can have a nice chat with them.

Discover the famous Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

More than a thousand years of history separate these two colossal and iconic buildings, rising proudly 500 meters (1640 feet) in the heart of Sultanahmet.

Start with Hagia Sophia, which was built in 527 by order of Justinian I (Byzantine Emperor), then with the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the entry of the Ottomans it was converted into a mosque.

Today, the Hagia Sophia is a museum and mosque, and one of the great buildings in the world, with its stunning central dome and interior architecture covered with golden mosaics.

A short stroll through a green square decorated with a beautiful fountain takes you to the domed Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), which was deliberately built opposite the Hagia Sophia to simulate the wonders of the previous structure, its name largely derived from the blue Iznik tiles, as more than 20,000 pieces adorn the interior.

Note: Be sure to visit the square between the two buildings at night to see their dimly lit architectural beauty.

Buy vegetables for the week at Çarşamba Market (Wednesday)

The oldest, largest and most lively street market in the city has given its name to an entire region.

Çarşamba (Wednesday in Turkish), a large market that stretches for many miles along the streets, there is stall after stall filled with fruits, vegetables, household utensils and clothes.

Note: Çarşamba is known for its conservative attitude, so expect to see lots of shoppers in traditional and modest clothing.

Visit Topkapi Palace, the center of the Ottoman Empire

Topkapi Palace is a whole series of buildings nestled between picturesque gardens, and a half-day visit barely suffices to do it.

From here, various Ottoman sultans ruled an empire that stretched from the Balkans to the Arabian Peninsula and from North Africa to the Crimea.

In Topkapi Palace you will find many beautiful rooms, charming gardens, armories and spacious kitchens to discover, and the view of the Bosphorus at the top of the palace will captivate you with its beauty.

Note: To get quick entry to the palace and many other museums without having to wait hours in a long line and at the same time at a lower price, get an Istanbul Museum Card for five days, which can be purchased online, from hotels, or in the museums themselves.

The post Sultanahmet district – 9 things to do in the old city of Istanbul appeared first on Move 2 Turkey.

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has long been a political and symbolic center of the Ottoman Empire.

The palace and museum are located on a picturesque hill in the middle of the European section in Istanbul. In the fifteenth century it was considered the headquarters and main center of the government of the Ottoman Empire.

The construction of Topkapi Palace began in 1459 by orders of Sultan Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror) and was first called the “new palace” so as not to be confused with the “old palace” in Beyazit Square.

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul was the residence of the Ottoman Sultans and Saints and the Ottoman Court members, in addition to being the center of government administration.

The construction of Topkapi Palace began in 1459 and was completed in 1478. It is in fact the second Ottoman palace to be built in Istanbul. The palace was the home of the Ottoman Sultans for four centuries and 25 Ottoman Sultan lived in it, from Sultan Mehmed II to Sultan Abdul Malik, all of whom lived in Topkapi Palace.

Each Sultan who came to the throne added a section with the different architecture and design in the palace, and the palace was expanded several times throughout history, and it was widely rebuilt, especially after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 big fire.

Topkapi Palace houses four main courtyards and many small buildings, each with its own entrance gate.

By visiting Topkapi Palace, you will actually see 4 centuries of architecture, because every corner of this palace represents architecture for a certain period and has been rebuilt and expanded over the centuries.

Topkapi has lost its importance since the seventeenth century, as the Ottoman sultans wanted to spend more time in the newer palaces on the Bosphorus. In the end, Sultan Abdulmejid I decided to move the center of the government to the newly built Dolmabahce Palace. Of course, Topkapi Palace was still used as a royal locker and library, and in 1924 the palace was converted into a museum.

Parts of Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

Topkapi Palace contains hundreds of rooms, but tourists can only visit the most important ones. The Palace Museum displays a collection of weapons, ancient clothing, Ottoman paintings, and Islamic calligraphy, including one of the oldest Quranic manuscripts.

The palace is also one of the most visited areas in Istanbul and is visited by about 3 million people annually. Due to its importance and great touristic and archaeological value in Istanbul.

The high-quality “Iznik” marble tiles can be seen in the Haramlik section of the palace, where the Sultan’s wife and mother lived. Another piece of art we suggest you not to miss is Spoonmaker’s Diamond. It is an 86-carat diamond in the Royal Treasury Gallery, and there is a wide variety of stories about its origins. Some say that the fishermen found diamonds off the coast, and did not realize its value, they went to a jewelry store and sold it for a cheap price of three tablespoons. For this reason it was called with this name, and after that the Minister of the Court bought it on behalf of the sultan.

But others say that the spoon maker actually found the diamond, and others believe that the name of this diamond is derived from its similarity to the surface of the spoon.

The Sultan Ahmed III Library is located in the middle of the palace’s third courtyard and is a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture in the eighteenth century.

The exterior of the building is made of marble, which resembles the Greek cross, and from the inside, the walls above the windows are decorated with tiles of Iznik marble from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Once you enter the palace, you will see the first beautiful imperial gate of the Sultan Ahmed III in the backyard.

The palace was divided into four main sections:

• The main patio.
• Other structures.
• Hermelk, where females lived from the Sultan’s family.
• The Imperial Council building, where meetings were held between important government officials.

Unlike the European palaces, where only a large building was built in the middle of the garden, Topkapi Palace was not the only royal palace, and included a group of halls, barracks, kitchens, kiosks, sleeping areas and rooms in the central courtyard. The Ottoman Topkapi Palace was built in a simple, humble manner and at the same time in a practical way.

The courtyard of the palace was open to the public, and it included a hospital, bakery, ammunition depot, storage warehouses and some dormitory rooms.

The second courtyard, also known as the courthouse, was the area of the court (the imperial council) and was open to anyone with work with the court.

The second courtyard, courthouse, was in fact the administrative center of the empire. In addition to the court, the monastery and kitchen are located in the second courtyard.

This courtyard contains two watchtowers known as the Peace Gate, and the reason for this is that everyone who entered this place had to send greetings to the Sultan before entering, and only the Sultan himself and his crew had the right to enter this courtyard.

The third courtyard is known as the happiness yard, and the reason for this is that the Sultan and the people of the palace celebrated great events in this place.

Topkapi Palace Library in Istanbul

The Palace Library is unique and a beautiful example of 18th-century art. The shelves are designed with spiral circles, the books are stamped with the seal of Sultan Ahmed III, and the windows are made of elephant ivory. The number of books is about 18,000 books.

There is no doubt that this library is the richest and most expensive collection of manuscripts, miniatures, paintings and Islamic designs in the world, especially in the Islamic world, and includes books from all over the world, including the Timorese in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

There are also 21,000 foreign books from non-Islamic sources, in addition to 600 beautiful antique manuscripts.

Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace Museum contains more than 86,000 valuable important and high quality artifacts. This museum contains beautiful and valuable works and collections in various fields, and it is interesting for anyone around the world.

Although they contain beautiful collections of jewels, watches, clothes, and the beautiful relics of emperors and sultans, the museum mostly known among Muslims for possession of properties of the prophets, especially some of the property of the Holy Prophet Muhammed, and his senior companions, which are preserved in the sacred box section.

Making the museum to be considered as the most important Islamic museum in the world.

Some of the important things are in Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul

• The throne and dagger of Nader Shah.
• Manuscript of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
• Kaaba curtains, golden key and Kaaba lock
• The oldest swords, including the swords of the Prophet Muhammed, Imam Ali, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, Jaafar Al-Tayyar, Hamza the Uncle of the Prophet, Othman bin Affan, Omar bin Al-Khattab.
• The property of the Ottoman Sultans and the gifts of other emperors of the world.
• All property of the Ottoman Sultans clothes, war gowns, swords, crowns…
• The shield of the hand of the Prophet Yahya, obtained during the extraction of his grave.
• The turban of the Prophet Joseph.
• A leather Quranic manuscript.
• The clothes of Fatima Al Zahra, daughter of the Holy Prophet.
• The famous sword of Ali bin Abi Talib (PBUH): The name of the sword is Zulfiqar, and it contains Quranic verses engraved on it.

The history of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul in brief

• Topkapi was the first Ottoman palace built by the Ottoman Empire in 1459 after the Ottoman Empire invaded Istanbul.
• From 1465 CE until 1856 CE, the palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.
• The palace has been one of the main dwellings of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul about 400 years ago.
• The palace inhabited 25 different Ottoman sultans for over four centuries.
• Topkapi Palace was a small town in the true sense of the word, with a population of about 5,000 people, covering an area of ​​70 hectares.
• Topkapi Palace and Museum was included in the World Heritage List in 1985 by UNESCO as the best example of architecture during the Ottoman Empire.
• Construction of the palace began in 1459 and was completed in 1478.

The name Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace was first named Yeni Sarai (the new palace), but its name was changed to Topkapi in the nineteenth century.

The address of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

Cankurtaran Mh, 34122 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey

Visiting hours and rules in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

During your trip to Turkey, you can visit this wonderful palace every day in the fall and winter from 9 am to 5 pm and in the spring and summer from 9 am to 7 pm, except for Tuesday.

It should be noted that the museum is also closed to the public on religious holidays.

• It is forbidden to enter the religious monuments and sacred places in the palace for people dressed in inappropriate clothes (miniskirts, open summer shirts, etc.).
• Photography is prohibited in the palace.
• The use of baby carriage is not permitted.

How to go to Topkapi Palace in Istanbul?

Tourists can easily reach the palace through public transportation in Istanbul, such as buses, Istanbul Metro and tram line.

The ticket price

Currently, the ticket price for visiting this palace is 65 TL for adults.

Great places near Topkapi Palace

Hagia Sophia Mosque and Museum
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

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