Audio Guides

A time journey through the Ottoman centuries

With this special Audio Guide you will explore the grand Topkapı Palace Museum, in which once, more than 5,000 people lived. Including members of the ruling family, senior administrators, servants and soldiers. The conqueror of Istanbul, Fatih Sultan Mehmed, had the idea to build a mighty palace right where the Acropolis from Byzantine times stood and where the beauty of the hills was so fascinating. From here one was also best protected from opponents and enemies. The palace had consciously a dominant position and offered a wide view over the Bosphorus.

The high wall reached from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara and separated the palace from the rest of the city. The walls built by the Byzantines, stretching along the coast of the Sea of Marmara from the eastern corner of the palace to the Theodosian walls, protected against the dangers of the water.

The area of the palace is twice as large as the area of the Vatican. The complex is divided into four courtyards and separates individual parts from each other. It consists of small pavilions, studios, reception rooms, mosques, baths, gardens, kitchens, libraries, and of course, the harem. All Ottoman rulers endeavored to expand and enrich the complex over the centuries.

Today, the collections and treasures of Ottoman rule can be admired in hundreds of rooms, including relics such as the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad. Visit nearly 500 years of eventful history and reward yourself with the magnificent views of the city and the Bosphorus, as the Sultans once did. 

Discover the Topkapi Palace at your own pace! Check our the free preview of the Topkapi Palace audio guide here!