Istanbul: Topkapi Palace & Harem Museum Priority Entrance Ticket (with Audio Guide)

2025.01.20

First of all, the entrance ticket itself is worth it. It is a route that only government-authorized guides can enter, and they include everything from the harem. But that's it. Unlike Hagia Sophia, I think that Topkapi Palace and the harem are much better when explained by a guide, so next time I want to go with a guide who can speak Korean. The biggest problem is that Turqoise, the travel agency that issues this ticket, is extremely insincere. It is so insincere that I wonder if this is why the ticket price is slightly cheaper than other places. I remember that someone who had a similar experience wrote a detailed note somewhere on the WAG page, but when I tried to read it again, I couldn't find where that writing was. First of all, the travel agency is 'outside the main gate' of Topkapi Palace. If you don't know this and just enter the palace from Gülhane Tram Station, you will end up going around the garden like me, not knowing where the travel agency is, and you will get yelled at after going to the museum shop, ticket office, and cafe inside. You must enter the small cafe near the entrance of Hagia Sophia to find the Turquoise travel agency. Once you find it, the staff will tell you to wait as they will leave soon without paying any attention, but at this time, they will say, "Don't feel free to go to the bathroom." While you are gone, they will start the tour on their own. Later, when you ask them, "When are we leaving?" they will say, "Oh, everyone left? What did you do?" After going through all sorts of difficulties, you catch the group that has already left and follow them, but the guide will suddenly go to the entrance of the harem, so you will not receive the audio guide service. In other words, you will be thrown into the harem "without any explanation." Those who are going to visit the palace with this ticket, please study the historical sites in advance.