The Tokapi Palace or as its also named Topkapi Sarayi is not an ordinary castle. Its large and I means large. You will need a full day if you want to see it al. But even if you just have time to see a part of it, you cant visit Istanbul with out checking it out. Its centrally located on a peninsula overlooking the Bosphorus Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Golden Horn. So you will get fantastic view over the Bosphorus when you walk around.
The palace was built in the 15th century and served as the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans. For over four centuries until the 19th century it served as a real palace. But the Tokapi Palace was not only the home for the sultan and his family. It was also the administrative and cultural center of the Ottoman Empire. Walking around you will find a library, a hospital, a mosque, and various workshops for producing luxury goods. It was a city by it self. Today it’s a tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you walk around here you will find rooms with a history as the Harem, the Treasury, and the Imperial Council Chamber al making us remember that we are just a small piece of history and the moral and values change over time.
But to be honest I was most impressed of the fact that they had a room specially for circumcision. I mean how many people do you need to circumcise for it should be worth to have a special room for it? Checking it out, the answer was one, the crown prince.
Where to stay
The Tokapi Palace is a concentration of 400 years of Turkish history and a most see at your Istanbul tour. But where should you stay to have an easy walk to the palace? My suggestion would be the DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Tokapi Its close by, but not on a busy noice street. It also have a luxury hammam so you can pamper your self after a day at the Tokapi Palace