Private Istanbul Afternoon Tour: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Irene & Imperial Harem

Explore Ottoman Grandeur at Your Own Pace with a Licensed Guide

Step into the golden age of the Ottoman Empire with this private afternoon tour of Istanbul’s most majestic palatial landmarks. With your own expert guide and private vehicle, uncover the stories of sultans, queens, and court life as you wander through the magnificent Topkapi Palace, serene Hagia Irene, and the secretive world of the Imperial Harem — all with flexible timing and no other guests.

🕌 Tour Highlights

• Explore Topkapi Palace, the former seat of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years

• Visit the Hagia Irene Museum, one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul

• Discover the secrets of palace life in the Imperial Harem, with its ornate chambers and fascinating history

• Enjoy undivided attention from your private licensed guide

• Move at your own pace, with flexible starting time and zero waiting for others

• Ideal for history lovers, families, and luxury travelers

📌 Key Details

📅 Availability: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
🕒 Suggested Start Time: 13:30 (flexible upon request)
⏱ Tour Duration: Approx. 3.5 hours
🚐 Hotel Pickup & Drop-off: Included (with private vehicle)
🎟 Included: Entrance fees (Topkapi Palace, Harem, Hagia Irene), guiding services
🍽 Not Included: Lunch
👤 Guide: Private licensed English-speaking guide
🛡 Insurance: Travel insurance included

🗺 Private Tour Itinerary

Hotel Pickup
Start your royal experience with a comfortable private pickup from your hotel in central Istanbul.

Topkapi Palace
Walk through history at the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Your guide will lead you through imperial courtyards, the treasury, audience halls, and ceremonial spaces once frequented by the most powerful men of their time.

Hagia Irene Museum
A peaceful and lesser-visited gem within the palace grounds. Admire its ancient stonework and learn about its role as one of the first Christian churches in the city.

Imperial Harem
Step behind closed doors into the hidden world of the sultan’s court — where queens, concubines, and eunuchs once lived. Your guide will bring these silent halls to life with stories of intrigue, ambition, and tradition.

Hotel Drop-off
After your immersive historical afternoon, return to your hotel in comfort and privacy.

What's included

Itinerary

FAQ

TripAdvisor Reviews

joepX9639RP

Reviewed February 2026

Experience Date: 28 February 2026

Highlights Tour of Istanbul.

Gökhan was a great guide to share his passionate knowledge of the amazing sites of Istanbul. His manner and communication made our experience of the Turkish history and culture very meaningful. In two short days we have become very aware of the rich culture developed over centuries.

nicolepZ1880DH

Reviewed January 2026

Experience Date: 31 January 2026

Great experience!

We would like to thank HTR Tour and Meliha for our wonderful trip to Turkey. We were really happy with the organization and courtesy. Meliha was able to resolve every issue in the best possible way, quickly and helpfully. The guides were also wonderful and flexible in responding to our requests. All of this contributed to making our trip to Turkey memorable. We had fun and relaxed while discovering incredible new places.
I highly recommend HTR Tour to anyone who wants to go to Turkey and have perfect service!

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Brao16

Reviewed June 2025

Experience Date: 30 June 2025

Memorable tour of Turkey

We a family of three (Indians from Kuwait)Organised a twelve day tour of Turkey online through htr tours Were very apprehensive as we booked online and we're unsure if the tour would turn up as promised However they were patient enough to answer all are queries and plan the iternary even as we demanded changes frequently.Mr Gokhan who corresponded with us from
Day1 of our planning till the day we left Turkey was patient, graceful and knowledgeable enough to consider all are demands and queries.Htr tours came up with a best iternary as per our needs.They planned organised and executed the tour with no room fir complaints from our side.will recommend htrtours to all who want to visit Turkey

Even the guides mr gokhan ( serves as guide in cappadocia) ms Fatima (Antalya), Mr Mert( Euphesus), Ms Dimple( Antalya)and mr Emir ( Istanbul) were too good in their job.Guides can make or break the tour.They made the tour a truly memorable one.

Highly recommend HTRTours for anyone who wants to visit Turkey.They are truly professional and deliver the best possible.

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guharajann

Reviewed June 2025

Experience Date: 30 June 2025

Out trip to Turkey

We spent 10 days in Turkey. Meliha and the Htr team were absolutely a delight to work with. Every need (from airport meet to the actual tours themselves) was looked into making the tour stress free and most enjoyable. Thank you Htr for making this trip memorable.