Private · 4-7 hours

A full day inside
Topkapi Palace.

Explore the Imperial Gate, courtyards, Treasury, Sacred Relics and the Harem with a licensed English guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Topkapi Palace courtyard in Istanbul
Your day, stop by stop

From the Imperial Gate
to the sultan's treasures.

  1. Hotel pickup
    9:00am

    Hotel pickup

    Your guide and private driver meet you at your hotel. Settle into a comfortable vehicle and head to the historic peninsula while your guide shares the plan for the day.

  2. The Imperial Gate
    Stop 01

    The Imperial Gate

    Enter Topkapi Palace through the grand Bab-i Humayun. Walk into the First Courtyard, once open to all Ottoman subjects, and feel the scale of the empire's seat of power.

  3. The Imperial Council & Kitchens
    Stop 02

    The Imperial Council & Kitchens

    In the Second Courtyard, see the massive palace kitchens and the domed Imperial Council Hall where viziers once governed an empire stretching across three continents.

  4. The Throne Room & Sacred Relics
    Stop 03

    The Throne Room & Sacred Relics

    Enter the Third Courtyard, the sultan's private domain. Visit the Audience Chamber, the imperial library, and the Pavilion of the Sacred Relics, home to treasures held for centuries.

  5. The Treasury
    Stop 04

    The Treasury

    Stand before the Spoonmaker's Diamond and the emerald dagger. The Treasury houses the dazzling personal collection of the Ottoman sultans, including gold, jewels, and imperial thrones.

  6. The Harem
    Stop 05

    The Harem

    Walk the private quarters of the sultan, his family, and the royal household. Intricate tiled rooms, hidden courtyards and stories of palace life bring this famous section to life.

  7. Bosphorus & Golden Horn views
    Late afternoon

    Bosphorus & Golden Horn views

    Finish the day on the palace terraces with sweeping views over the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea, the same views that once shaped the decisions of empires.

  8. Return to your hotel
    4:00 – 5:00pm

    Return to your hotel

    Your driver returns you to your hotel, or you can choose to stay in Sultanahmet for dinner with a list of our favourite local recommendations.

Where you'll go

Your route through the palace

Topkapi is a city within a city. Here is the path we take through its four courtyards.

Loading map…
  1. 1The Imperial Gate
  2. 2Imperial Council & Kitchens
  3. 3Throne Room & Sacred Relics
  4. 4The Treasury
  5. 5The Harem
  6. 6Fourth Courtyard views
Topkapi Palace views
The bonus experience

A whole day to absorb
every part of the palace.

Most visitors race through Topkapi in two hours. With a full day, you can linger in the Treasury, explore the Harem in detail, and enjoy the palace terraces without fighting the crowds.

What's included
  • Private licensed English guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Private vehicle for the day
  • Flexible pacing and itinerary
Not included
  • Topkapi Palace entrance fees (paid on the day)
  • Harem entry ticket (optional add-on)
  • Lunch and personal purchases
  • Gratuities
Pricing

Private guide and transport included.

Topkapi Palace entrance tickets are not included and are paid on the day.

Most requested

Topkapi Palace Tour

Hotel pickup and drop-off included. A full day inside Topkapi Palace with your own licensed guide.

$397 / group
  • 6 to 8 hours, private for your group
  • Start times at 9 or 9:30am with pickup
  • Imperial Gate, courtyards, Treasury and Sacred Relics
  • Skip-the-line entry arranged; entrance fees paid on the day
  • Optional Harem add-on available

Book this experience

Choose your date

Pick your date, guests and any add ons in the booking panel, then check out when you're ready.

Risk-free booking. Full refund within 48 hours of your experience, minus card processing fees.

TripAdvisor reviews

What travelers say about their experience.

5.0·Rated excellent by guests worldwide
Jul 2026

Koray is master of history with heart for Turkiye

"Koray is a master of history! Every date! Every Sultan! His wealth of knowledge is impressive but equally inspiring is his love for this city. He represents this bustling beautiful city with passion and kindness. He was generous with his time. A genuinely nice guy!"

Susan T
Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 2026

Flawless airport transfer

"Came across Brit and Berat while doing research on Istanbul. Lots of informative posts on Facebook and YouTube. Decided to use their airport transfer services. Their representative was waiting as promised, gave me useful tips, and took me to a nicely customized Mercedes van. Flawless service. No complaints at all. Recommend them highly."

Selpo
College Station, Texas
Jul 2026

Istanbul Fun

"Our tour was great! Well informed and super safe. The group was thoroughly brought through all of the hot spots in Istanbul with information at every stop. Lots of fun! It lasted roughly four hours. We didn't need the van for our group so the company gave us a free shuttle to the airport, which was super considerate and generous!"

Vivian K
Tripadvisor
Jul 2026

Istanbul with Brit And Berat

"Booking with Brit and Berat was the best decision we made in planning our trip to Istanbul. They made it so easy. They planned out 4 full days of activities, including transportation. They are always just a text away. I had such a positive experience that I'm going to be returning to Turkey and booking new adventures through Brit And Berat. World class operators in a world class city."

A4959RPjayp
Tallahassee, Florida
Jul 2026

Outstanding Service and an Exceptional Guide

"My family and I had an excellent experience with Brit and Berat and would highly recommend them. Communication was easy, professional, and incredibly accommodating. One of the highlights was our guide, Yakup. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and never rushed us. It felt less like a scripted tour and more like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend."

Alex I
Tripadvisor
Jul 2026

Unforgettable Experience!

"We recently spent three nights in Istanbul and put ourselves almost completely in Brit & Berat's hands. From airport transfers to guided tours, they helped make our experience easy and memorable. Their drivers were friendly and efficient, with clean, comfortable vehicles always stocked with cold water. We highly recommend letting Brit & Berat help make your trip to Istanbul unforgettable."

Steve Harbula
Castle Rock, Colorado
Jun 2026

BEST tour we have ever had!

"Brit and Berat tours are PERFECT! As a first time to Turkey visitor, I needed someone else to be the expert. Koray was our guide and the shuttle pick up was seamless. He taught us so much about Old Town and Turkey, but moreover he was chill and someone I would like to be friends with. These guys are a class act - it will be the best part of Istanbul for you!"

Rachel H
Tripadvisor
Jun 2026

The best of Istanbul

"If you are visiting Istanbul, you must reach out to Brit and Berat. It was an amazing experience working with them. Our tour guide Koray is a great asset to their team. This visit was educational, relaxing, and memorable. We are so thankful we found Brit and Berat. They are truly experts and I highly recommend."

Justin M
Tripadvisor
Jun 2026

Fabulous day in Istanbul

"We booked a private customized tour with a guide and had a marvelous day with Brit & Berat tours. From the pick up to the drop off everything is handled with care with total focus to the clients' requests. First class from beginning to end. Our guide Mr. Koray was the best, very knowledgeable and easy going with a lovely sense of humor."

Global31683116929
Tripadvisor
May 2026

Fabulous Day in Istanbul

"Our day with Jacob could not have gone better. We explored the Hagia Sophia, the Roman Cistern, the Blue Mosque and did a little shopping. Jacob was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He went out of his way to point out things we might have missed. You cannot go wrong booking with Brit and Berat."

Patricia P
Apollo Beach, Florida
May 2026

Magical Istanbul

"We were introduced to Brit And Berat's service through an Instagram post. They were accommodating and sent a wonderful tour guide, Koray, and a great driver. Our experience was above and beyond. The bonus was an end-of-day visit with Berat, who made sure everything we wanted to do had been accomplished and then shared his favorite rooftop view of Istanbul."

Michianamama
Chicago, Illinois
May 2026

Terrific airport transfer experience

"Excellent communications from start to finish. Immaculately clean vehicles and responsible drivers made our journey pleasant. I highly recommend Brit and Berat for your transportation needs. While we were unable to reserve any tours because of our previously planned itinerary, I would not hesitate to use them if I ever get back to Istanbul!"

weemargaretmcd
Tripadvisor
Feb 2026

HIGHLY Recommended!

"I can not express enough how highly I recommend the services offered by Brit & Berat. Especially for those 1st & 2nd time visitors to Turkey. If you've ever questioned whether or not you should visit Turkey for unfamiliarity reasons, put all that to rest and just contact Brit & Berat."

Howard H
Dallas, Texas
Jul 2026

Koray is master of history with heart for Turkiye

"Koray is a master of history! Every date! Every Sultan! His wealth of knowledge is impressive but equally inspiring is his love for this city. He represents this bustling beautiful city with passion and kindness. He was generous with his time. A genuinely nice guy!"

Susan T
Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 2026

Flawless airport transfer

"Came across Brit and Berat while doing research on Istanbul. Lots of informative posts on Facebook and YouTube. Decided to use their airport transfer services. Their representative was waiting as promised, gave me useful tips, and took me to a nicely customized Mercedes van. Flawless service. No complaints at all. Recommend them highly."

Selpo
College Station, Texas
Jul 2026

Istanbul Fun

"Our tour was great! Well informed and super safe. The group was thoroughly brought through all of the hot spots in Istanbul with information at every stop. Lots of fun! It lasted roughly four hours. We didn't need the van for our group so the company gave us a free shuttle to the airport, which was super considerate and generous!"

Vivian K
Tripadvisor
Jul 2026

Istanbul with Brit And Berat

"Booking with Brit and Berat was the best decision we made in planning our trip to Istanbul. They made it so easy. They planned out 4 full days of activities, including transportation. They are always just a text away. I had such a positive experience that I'm going to be returning to Turkey and booking new adventures through Brit And Berat. World class operators in a world class city."

A4959RPjayp
Tallahassee, Florida
Jul 2026

Outstanding Service and an Exceptional Guide

"My family and I had an excellent experience with Brit and Berat and would highly recommend them. Communication was easy, professional, and incredibly accommodating. One of the highlights was our guide, Yakup. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and never rushed us. It felt less like a scripted tour and more like exploring Istanbul with a knowledgeable friend."

Alex I
Tripadvisor
Jul 2026

Unforgettable Experience!

"We recently spent three nights in Istanbul and put ourselves almost completely in Brit & Berat's hands. From airport transfers to guided tours, they helped make our experience easy and memorable. Their drivers were friendly and efficient, with clean, comfortable vehicles always stocked with cold water. We highly recommend letting Brit & Berat help make your trip to Istanbul unforgettable."

Steve Harbula
Castle Rock, Colorado
Jun 2026

BEST tour we have ever had!

"Brit and Berat tours are PERFECT! As a first time to Turkey visitor, I needed someone else to be the expert. Koray was our guide and the shuttle pick up was seamless. He taught us so much about Old Town and Turkey, but moreover he was chill and someone I would like to be friends with. These guys are a class act - it will be the best part of Istanbul for you!"

Rachel H
Tripadvisor
Jun 2026

The best of Istanbul

"If you are visiting Istanbul, you must reach out to Brit and Berat. It was an amazing experience working with them. Our tour guide Koray is a great asset to their team. This visit was educational, relaxing, and memorable. We are so thankful we found Brit and Berat. They are truly experts and I highly recommend."

Justin M
Tripadvisor
Jun 2026

Fabulous day in Istanbul

"We booked a private customized tour with a guide and had a marvelous day with Brit & Berat tours. From the pick up to the drop off everything is handled with care with total focus to the clients' requests. First class from beginning to end. Our guide Mr. Koray was the best, very knowledgeable and easy going with a lovely sense of humor."

Global31683116929
Tripadvisor
May 2026

Fabulous Day in Istanbul

"Our day with Jacob could not have gone better. We explored the Hagia Sophia, the Roman Cistern, the Blue Mosque and did a little shopping. Jacob was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He went out of his way to point out things we might have missed. You cannot go wrong booking with Brit and Berat."

Patricia P
Apollo Beach, Florida
May 2026

Magical Istanbul

"We were introduced to Brit And Berat's service through an Instagram post. They were accommodating and sent a wonderful tour guide, Koray, and a great driver. Our experience was above and beyond. The bonus was an end-of-day visit with Berat, who made sure everything we wanted to do had been accomplished and then shared his favorite rooftop view of Istanbul."

Michianamama
Chicago, Illinois
May 2026

Terrific airport transfer experience

"Excellent communications from start to finish. Immaculately clean vehicles and responsible drivers made our journey pleasant. I highly recommend Brit and Berat for your transportation needs. While we were unable to reserve any tours because of our previously planned itinerary, I would not hesitate to use them if I ever get back to Istanbul!"

weemargaretmcd
Tripadvisor
Feb 2026

HIGHLY Recommended!

"I can not express enough how highly I recommend the services offered by Brit & Berat. Especially for those 1st & 2nd time visitors to Turkey. If you've ever questioned whether or not you should visit Turkey for unfamiliarity reasons, put all that to rest and just contact Brit & Berat."

Howard H
Dallas, Texas
FAQ

Good questions, answered.

How long does the tour last?

This is a full-day experience, typically lasting 6 to 8 hours. We keep the pace flexible so you can absorb the palace without feeling rushed, and we can adjust timing based on your energy and interests.

Is the Harem included?

The standard tour includes the main palace courtyards and Treasury. The Harem can be added as an optional extra. Your guide will help you purchase the additional ticket on the day if you would like to include it.

How much walking is involved?

Topkapi Palace is spread over a large hillside with courtyards, steps, and uneven surfaces. We keep a relaxed pace with plenty of breaks, but comfortable walking shoes are essential.

Is this suitable for older travelers or families?

Yes. The tour is private and tailored to your group. We can slow the pace, add rest stops, and skip sections if needed. It is a great choice for travelers who want depth without a big group.

What should we wear?

Comfortable walking shoes and modest clothing. The Sacred Relics section requires shoulders and knees to be covered for all visitors. Women may also need a headscarf in that area.

Are entrance tickets included?

Skip-the-line main palace entry is secured in advance, but the actual entrance fee is not included and must be paid on the day. The Harem has a separate ticket that can be added on request. Ticket prices and availability are set by the palace museum.

Brit and Berat in Istanbul
Meet your hosts

With love, Brit & Berat.

Brit is American and remembers exactly what it feels like to plan a first trip to Istanbul. Berat was born and raised here and knows the city inside and out. Together, we help travelers explore Istanbul safely, comfortably, and with a local they can trust.

From our guests

A few faces who felt at home in Istanbul

Berat with a guest overlooking the Blue Mosque
Group tour in Sultanahmet Square
Guests at an Iznik tile shop in the Old City
Mother and daughter exploring Istanbul streets with Berat
Group dinner with a view of the Blue Mosque
Berat with guests overlooking the Bosphorus
Guests on a Sultanahmet rooftop with the Bosphorus view
Guests at the Spice Bazaar with Berat
Family tour near Hagia Sophia gardens
Guests on a rooftop with the Blue Mosque behind
Berat with a guest overlooking the Blue Mosque
Group tour in Sultanahmet Square
Guests at an Iznik tile shop in the Old City
Mother and daughter exploring Istanbul streets with Berat
Group dinner with a view of the Blue Mosque
Berat with guests overlooking the Bosphorus
Guests on a Sultanahmet rooftop with the Bosphorus view
Guests at the Spice Bazaar with Berat
Family tour near Hagia Sophia gardens
Guests on a rooftop with the Blue Mosque behind