A beautiful Ottoman palace. The Harem is the highlight without a doubt. It's 25 Turkish Lire (TL) inside and another 10 TL to see the Harem area which was in my opinion the most interesting bit and well worth the extra 4 euro.

The Harem is in the corner of the second courtyard. The added charge plus the ban on guided tours makes it a remarkably more peaceful place than the rest of the palace. A sign reminds you to be silent. There are large informative placks posted in all the rooms filled with historical details. Much of it challenges our modern take on what these places were. This was not some kind of royal brothel. It was so much more than that. Harem means forbidden in Arabic, referring to the fact that no men from outside the Sultan's immediate family or the African eunuchs who guarded it, could enter the Harem.

To read more visit: http://offwithorla.blogspot.ie/2012/07/istanbul-topkapi-palace.html

Islam forbids consumption of alcohol, but you can find beer, wine and a special national alcoholic drink called Raki (*same as Uzo for the Greek, Arak for the Arabs - it is a 35C alcohol, which is deluded with water turning from transparent into a white drink. If you enjoy alcohol try it ! ).
I remind you Turkey is a laic country were religion and government do not walk together like some other Arabic countries. Turkish people enjoy eating, drinking and dancing. Turkish cuisine is very rich and millennial. Over the weekend you will see full bars and tea gardens with young and mature, women and man enjoying their tea, coffee or also beer and Raki.

Nights can be long and enjoyable in Istanbul. You just need to find out the right place that matches your wishes.

Was the official and primary residence in the city of the redirect-Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword. Topkapı Palace is among those monuments belonging to the "HisrtoricAreas of Istanbul" , which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described in Criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces of the Ottoman period.

It's located in the city where I live; beautiful city Istanbul. I had the chance to visit this palace several times both by myself and with a couple of friends from abroad. It was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years during the Ottoman Empire period. There is a former Eastern Orthodox located in the outer courtyard of Topkapı Palace which is now used as a museum and host classical music recitals. It's one of the a few places where I listen the best classical music.
I would definitely recommend you to visit this palace to see the magnificence of an Empire.

One of the most amazing palaces i've been to. The Topkapi Palace (Topkap ı Sarayı in Turkish) is a palace which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans, from 1465 to 1853. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction toda y. Initial construction started in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II. At the height of its existence as a royal residence the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people. After the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1921, Topkap ı Palace was transformed by governm ent decree into a museum of the imperial era.