Guide To Istanbul Museum and Attraction

We have built this little guide called “Guide To Istanbul Museum and Attraction” to help you with the all entrance time and visiting hours. This guide will surely meant to save you from all the hassale and save your time. It up-to-date schedule and admission fees information for both public and private entrance of museum.

 

1. Hagia Sophia Museum

Hagia Sophia Museum is situated in the heart of Istanbul penisula and is one of the most visited musuem of Turkey. It is often regarded as eighth wonder of the world. This place has witnessed historical moments. It was built in 537 CE, and functioned as a church for more than nine centuries before serving as mosque in 1453 CE. Since 1935, it has been riased to the level of museum.

Fees and Schedule 

Summer Schedule- 15 APRİL -30 OCTOBER Visiting Hours: 09.00 – 19.00

Hours of Ticket Sale: 18:00

Winter Schedule- 30 OCTOBER- 15 APRİL Visiting Hours: 09:00- 17:00

Hours of Ticket Sale: 16:00

Ticket Price: 40 TL

Official website: http://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/en

 

2. Topkapı Palace Museum

Situated on the eastern tip of Istanbul peninsula this is the second most visited museum in Turkey. It was used as an imperial palace by Ottoman Empire and was built in 1461 by Mehmet. This palace served as the symbolic and political home of the Ottoman till the imperial movemnet to Dolmabahce Palace in 1853. It was converted to museum in 1924 and has two sections because of which it has two tickets.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Museum is open everyday except Tuesdays.

Visit Hours

Winter Season: Between October 30th – April 15th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM as last entrance to the Museum 4:00 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 4:00 PM

Summer Season: Between April 15th – October 30th

Museum, Harem and Hagia Irene can be visited between 9:00 AM – 6:45 PM as last entrance to the Museum 6:00 PM

Attention: Ticket booths close at 6:00 PMWorking days: Topkapı Palace Museum is open everyday except Tuesdays.

Ticket Price : 40 TL for Palace

Harem and Halberdiers with Tresses Dormitory Ticket : 25 TL

If you want to visit Harem and Halberdiers with Tresses Dormitory Ticket you have to buy a seperate ticket from the ticket booths where stands outside of the museum or in front of the Harem  entrance.

Hagia Irene Ticket: 20 TL

Official website: http://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/en

 

3. Underground Cistern (Basilica Cistern)

It is located right next to Hagia Sophia Museum and is around 1500 years old. This cistern used to provide water to the citizen of Istanbul for more than 1000 years. It was built in 537 AD by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and it served as water storage for both Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. This is the largest cistern with 330 colums and was discovered by French traveler in 1545.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visit Hours

• The museum is open to visits between 09:00 and 18:30(winter) every day.

• The museum is open to visits between 09:00 and 18:30(summer) every day.

Admission Fee: Foreign Visitors: 20.00 TL

Museums Cards are not valid as the institution is not affiliated with the Ministry of Cultur

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Working days: The museum is open to visits seven days a week. Exceptionally, it opens at 13:00 on first days of religious holidays and on January 1

Official website: http://yerebatan.com/homepage

 

4. Galata Tower

It is one of the historic symbols of Istanbul which gives a panaromic view of Istanbul from A-Z. Built in fifth century and this tower has helped in controlling the city of Constantinople and Golden Horn. It got completely destroyed by fire but was restored in 1348. It is around 67 meter long and it still provides a clear sky view of magnificent Istanbul.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Galata Tower is open everyday.

Opening hours: 09:00 – 20:30

Admission fee: 25 Turkish Lira

 

5. Chora Museum

This church turned museum was build in 527-565. The word chora origniates from Greek word meaning country side. It was built outside the city walls but later was destroyed during fourth crusade. The church was repaired and decorated with mosaics and frescos in 13th and 14th century. It continued working as church till Ottoman empire take over and is now work as museum.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Chora Museum is open everyday

Opening hours: 09:00 – 19:00

Admission fee: 30 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://kariye.muze.gov.tr/en

 

6. Istanbul Archaeological Museum

It is located in the courtyard of Topkapi Palace and consists of three portions: Archaeology Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum and the Islamic Art Museum. You can find many treasures from the Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Istanbul Archaeological Museum is open everyday except Mondays.

Opening hours: 09:00 – 19:00

Admission fee: 20 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr/

 

7. Dolmabahçe Palace Museum

A place which was built in nineteenth century is the most ornamented building in Istanbul. It took around 13 years to built this beautiful piece of art and was built by Abdulmecid who was inspired by European Architect. It was designed by Armenian architect Karabet Balian and his son Nikogos Bailian.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Dolmabahçe Palace Museum is open everyday except Mondays and Thursdays.

Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00

Admission fee: 40 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.millisaraylar.gov.tr/portalmain-en/default.aspx

 

8. Galata Mawlawi House Museum

It was built in 1491 and was the first Mawlawi house in Istanbul. It was opened as museum in 1975 and also underwent major refurbishment in 2005 and 2009.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Galata Mawlawi House Museum is open everyday except Mondays

Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00

Admission fee: 10 Turkish Lira

Official website: https://galatamevlevi.com/en

 

9. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

It is located right next to Sultanahmet and next to the Hippodrome of Constantinople. It provides a fascinating insight into traditional arts. You will be able to visit this area and witness impressive collection like calligraphy in Islamic art, Islamic art paintings, Islamic abstract art and contemporary Islamic art.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is open everyday

Opening hours: 09:00 – 19:00

Admission fee: 25 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.tiem.gov.tr/

 

10. Rumeli Castle Museum

Rumeli Castle was built in 1452 by Ottoman Sultan as preparation for the conquest of Constantinople. It is located on the shore of the Bosphorus strait at the narrowesr point of the channel.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Rumeli Castle Museum is open everyday except Wednesdays

Winter Timing:  09:00 – 19:00

Summer Timing: 09:00 – 17:00

Admission fee: 10 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.muze.gov.tr/tr/muzeler/hisarlar-muzesi-rumeli-hisari

 

11. Istanbul Modern Museum

Istanbul is also known as world’s hubs of contemporary art. Hundreds of galleries have opened in last decades.  Istanbul Modern Museum is one such place which has evolved over the years and has become leading place for the contemporary arts. It is located in Tophane and on the shore of Bosphorus. It was opened in 2004 and since then it hosted many exhibitions.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Istnabul Modern Museum is open everyday except Mondays

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), 10:00 – 20:00 (Thursday)

Admission fee: 40 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.istanbulmodern.org/en

 

12. Pera Museum

Pera Museum was opened in 2005. Museum located in Taksim plays a vitol role in brushing up the modern art scene in Turkey.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Pera Museum is open everyday except Mondays

Opening hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (Tuesday – Saturday), 12:00 – 18:00 (Sunday). Pera Museum is open and free of admissions from 18:00 to 22:00 every Friday.

Admission fee: 20 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://en.peramuzesi.org.tr/

 

13. Rahmi Koç Museum

It contains impressive collection of Turkish and Internationalvehicles and that too of all types.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Rahmi Koç Museum is open everyday except Mondays

Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Tuesday – Friday), 10:00 – 19:00 (Saturday and Sunday)

Admission fee: 15 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/en/index.htm

 

14. Sadberk Hanım Museum

It was founded in 1980 is considered as the first private museum in Turkey. It consists of two building i) Azaryan Mansion and ii) Sevgi Gönül Building. Both building exhibits different collections. Most of the Archaeological objects dates back from 6500BC to Ottoman Period are in the Gönül Building, whereas Islamic object are exhibited in Azaryan Mansion.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Sadberk Hanım Museum is open everyday except Wednesdays

Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00

Admission fee: 10 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.sadberkhanimmuzesi.org.tr/

 

15. Sabancı Museum

It is located on the shores of the Bosphorus in Emirgan and is one of the most renowned private museums of Istanbul. It was set in mansion which was primarily set in a mansion. This mansion was owned by Egyptian Family and it served as Summer house. In 1950 it was bought by Sabanci and was later turned into museum in 1951.

Admission Schedule and Fees

Visiting Hours

Sakıp Sabancı Museum is open everyday except Mondays

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), 10:00 – 20:00 (Wednesday)

Admission fee: 20 Turkish Lira

Official website: http://www.sakipsabancimuzesi.org/en

This guide will certainly be helpful and will save all the hassale of checking the visiting hours and admission fees. We will try to keep this site up to date and any change will surely be notified.

 

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