Tickets · Prices updated 24 July 2026
Topkapı Palace tickets, in plain English and £ GBP.
A standard 2026 Topkapı Palace ticket for foreign visitors costs 1,700 TRY — about £47 at today’s rate — and covers the main palace plus Hagia Irene. The Harem is a separate 700 TRY (£20) ticket you buy inside the Second Courtyard. Prices are set by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and revised each spring.
Current price list
| Ticket | Official (TRY) | Approx. (£ GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Palace + Hagia Irene (foreign visitor) | 1,700 TRY | £47 |
| Harem (foreign visitor) | 700 TRY | £20 |
| Child, 8–17 | 500 TRY | £14 |
| Child under 8 | Free | Free |
| Audio guide (multi-language) | 300 TRY | £8 |
| Museum Pass Istanbul (5 days) | 3,400 TRY | £95 |
GBP amounts use the mid-market TRY/GBP rate on 24 July 2026. Pay at the gate in Turkish Lira — the on-site card terminals convert at a poor rate.
Which ticket should you buy?
Standard visitor
Palace ticket + Harem ticket, bought at the gate. Total: ~£67. This is the right choice for a single half-day visit if you have no other Istanbul museums on your itinerary.
Museum-hopper
Museum Pass Istanbul (~£95) if you will also visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Hagia Sophia’s History Museum, Chora, or the Galata Mevlevi. It pays back after three sites and skips the Topkapı ticket queue.
Family of four
Two adult palace tickets + two child (8–17) tickets = about £122 without the Harem, £162 with. Under-8s are free. A single audio guide (£8) shared between adults works well for family pacing.
Photographer / half-day
Palace-only ticket at 09:00 on a Wednesday. Skip the Harem for a return visit at last-admission (17:00) when the crowds have thinned — Harem tickets are usually still available in the late afternoon.
Where to buy — and where not to
- On site. The ticket kiosks are inside the First Courtyard, just before the Middle Gate. Card and cash accepted; TRY is best.
- Official website: muze.gen.tr. Sells timed-entry Topkapı tickets at the standard price. This is the only online source we recommend for the palace ticket itself.
- Museum Pass Istanbul. Sold at any participating museum. Buy it at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums next door to skip the Topkapı ticket queue.
- Avoid unofficial resellers. Sites that promise “skip-the-line” typically mark tickets up 30–50% and sell you the same government ticket. The only line an official ticket skips is the ticket queue; nothing skips the security queue.
Free entry & discounts
Under-8s enter free. Holders of a valid Müzekart (Turkish nationals and long-term residents) enter Topkapı and most other state museums for a nominal annual fee. ICOM cardholders (museum professionals) enter free on presentation of the card at the kiosk. There is no student discount for foreign visitors.
Frequently asked
How much does a Topkapı Palace ticket cost in 2026?
The standard Topkapı Palace and Hagia Irene combined ticket costs 1,700 TRY (~£47) for foreign visitors. The Harem is a separate 700 TRY (~£20) ticket bought inside the Second Courtyard. Turkish nationals with a Müzekart pay a reduced fee.
Is the Museum Pass Istanbul worth it for Topkapı?
If you plan to visit Topkapı plus at least two of Hagia Sophia's History Museum, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Chora and Galata Mevlevi Museum within five days, yes. The Museum Pass Istanbul (~£95) pays back quickly and lets you skip the Topkapı ticket queue.
Can I buy Topkapı tickets online?
Yes. The official Müze Genel Müdürlüğü site (muze.gen.tr) sells timed-entry tickets. Prices match the on-site rate. Some third-party sites resell tickets at a mark-up of 30–50%; check the URL before you pay.
Do children pay for Topkapı Palace?
Children under 8 enter free with a paying adult, both for the main palace and the Harem. Children aged 8 to 17 pay a reduced rate of around 500 TRY (~£14). Bring the child's passport as proof of age.
Are guided tours included in the ticket price?
No. The palace ticket covers entry only. Audio guides are available at the ticket kiosks for around 300 TRY (~£8). Licensed private guides charge from £60 for a two-hour tour; we list a few we trust on our contact page.
Read next: visiting information, the highlights of the palace, or our Harem ticket guide.