Topkapı Palace opened its doors to visitors at night for the first time since 1924. Palace Department Head İlhan Kocaman stated that they took a historic step regarding the night tour. Kocaman, who announced that Topkapı Palace will be open to visitors on Saturday evenings during the summer season, said that with this project, they allowed visitors to visit all sections of the museum.
Kocaman emphasized that Topkapı Palace hosted the Ottoman Empire for more than 400 years and said that the night visits aimed to satisfy curiosity about what life was like in the harem and selamlık sections of the palace. Kocaman stated that the palace will be open to visitors every Saturday evening between 21:00-23:00 and noted that all sections can be visited during this time.
Kocaman, who stated that there was no electricity in some sections for security reasons, said that they would group the visitors at the Babüsselam Gate in order to tour them in groups. The Fatih Pavilion and the Holy Relics are among the areas of the palace that are open to visitors at night. Kocaman, who stated that the Quran is read 24 hours a day, especially in the Holy Relics section, said that this detail will be a special experience for visitors at night.
Visitors’ Opinions
- Serap Ozmete:“We saw the night tours on social media, we really enjoy it. The view of Istanbul is great, and the works inside are very impressive. It is a great experience to be able to tour the palace, which is crowded during the day, in a calm way at this hour. The night tour is a great option for those who want to visit Istanbul and cannot find time during the day.”
- Bora Tayfun Ozmete:“It’s great that Topkapi Palace is crowded during the day, it’s quiet at this hour. We walk around comfortably, we feel like we’re in our own home. It’s a great alternative for a family trip.”
