Plan Istanbul Day 3 Route: Museum Ticket Choices, UNESCO Heritage & Foods

Another thing I noticed in Istanbul is that the waiters usually wear nice white dress shirts. Even though they are not super high end restaurant, this dress code seems Istanbul applied. Also, people seem to like perfume. I saw a bunch of perfume stores on streets, which strengthen my idea to buy some as a gift 😄.

Table of Contents

• Istanbul Day 3 Itinerary

  • Actual Route Diagram

• Tips for Logistic

• My experience

  • 1. Topkapi Palace Museum

  • 2. Whirling Dervishes (Sufi whirling)

  • 3. Tea Amo Sirkeci

  • 4. Şehzade Cağ Kebap

  • 5. Shopping center around Mosque Yeni

Istanbul Day 3 Itinerary

Actual Route Diagram

Tips for Logistic

1. 🎟️ For a smooth visit to Topkapi Palace, I recommend buying tickets from the official source rather than third-party platforms, especially those that say “You can only enter inside the attraction with your host. Please check the instruction written in your voucher.” because you may end up waiting a long time and delaying your exploration.

I unfortunately bought that kind of ticket and lost almost 1 hour - waiting for an auido guide we never used, waiting again at the main entrance for the “guide” to scan us in and recycle the “voucher” he gave us, and once more at Harem’s entrance (has its own ticket machine) for another scan and reclaiming the audio guide. It’s at the point that the guide announced that we could freely explore afterwards.

I feel like the whole process isn’t transparent and it seems to have some underground deals that we customers don’t know. So I’d strongly avoid that option.

2. 🎟️ The official Topkapi Palace ticket including Harem is 2,400 Lira (~ USD) for foreign visitors, you can buy it on site (not a long line when I was there around 11AM, I guess the earlier, the better).

3. 🎟️ Thinking about buying online ticket? Unfortunately, the portal doesn’t seem to support online purchase even it says so:/ Note that E-Ticket National Palace Full Pass on official website here doesn’t include Topkapi Palace for some reasons.

4. 🎫 If you are a big fan of museums, you may consider buying a MuseumPass Istanbul E-Card which includes Topkapi Palace here. But it costs much more - 105 € with only 5-day pass option.

5. 🕚 Topkapi Palace is Closed to Visitors on Tuesday so remember to avoid the day. On other days, it opens from 9:00-17:00.

My experience

1. Topkapi Palace Museum

Topkapi Palace served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans from 15-19th. By visiting the Palace, you could have a sense of idea about what the life looked like back then. There are servant’s bedroom, toilets, eunuch’s dormitories, Sultan’s prayer room (Harem), and many treasures like gold, jade and big diamonds.

I really enjoyed my visit. I was drawn to the floral-tiled walls and the stories of the eunuchs in the late Ottoman period. Some blended into ordinary life after the Republic was established (even though they had significant influence in the late Ottoman period), while others went abroad to start a new life.

The last eunuch passed way in 1976, the Topkapi Palace Museum wrote: “It was not only a life that ended, but the memory of an entire era that was quietly laid to rest along with him.” It reminded me of Taiwan’s last comfort woman passing away in 2023. It feels like an era can shape a life so deeply that its marks are never easy to erase.

2. Whirling Dervishes (Sufi whirling)

The Whirling Dervish is from Sufism - a mystic body of religious practice found within Islam focusing on Islamic purification, spirituality, ritualism, and asceticism. (Wikipedia) It is said that by performing the whirling dance, the dancers are able to communicate with God. The Whirling Dervish is categorized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

I personally think the performers are quite impressive for the reasons that they could do the dance for more than 40 minutes without feeling dizzy. By visiting there, you are able to learn how the dancers do the training for maintaining their balance.

🫢 Fun fact: about 20 minutes in, I started watching the audience instead of the performers. Some stared blankly at the seats ahead (faces seemed to say “When will this end?”), others hid their yawns behind their hands. Most sat perfectly still, probably out of politeness, since the performance was considered sacred. Anyway, I mean to say that you might not find the performance interesting, but the audience reactions definitely were.

3. Tea Amo Sirkeci

One of my mission while traveling is to search for boba, and I was fortunate to find this one that not only serves good boba but also good food! (Fried rice, yes I have Asian appetite 😙) Recommend!

4. Şehzade Cağ Kebap

While we were walking towards the Whirling Dervishes place, we found this place seemed popular not only for tourists but also for locals. So we decided to give it a try. I’m generally a vegetarian, so I don’t have a say here about the food. But my partner said their Kebab is good. So maybe you can try someday!

5. Shopping center around Mosque Yeni

Not that I enjoy shopping, but it’s such a vibrant area to walk around in the evening. Bright storefronts display their shimmering products, and just behind them stands a grand mosque radiating serenity. I love that contrast so much.