Museums - VISIT ISTANBUL-EN

Museums of Istanbul

IMM ATATURK MUSEUM

Ataturk Museum, also known as Reform Museum, is the house that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk once lived in between 1918-1919. It is known that the plans for the liberation of the nation were prepared during his stay in this house. The building was purchased by Istanbul Municipality in 1928, and was opened to visitors by the former Governor and Mayor of Istanbul, Lutfi Kirdar in June 1942. A significant part of the Ataturk Museum collection consists of Ataturk’s personal belongings, clothes, uniforms, photographs of his military and civilian life, hand writing and some of his hand-written documents, medals, and his commemorative belongings.

The museum can be visited every day excluding Monday between 09.00-17.00. A reservation must be made in advance for group visits. Entry is free of charge.

Address: Halaskargazi Caddesi No:140 Sisli

Phone: +90 212 233 47 23

Email: kutuphanemuzeler@ibb.gov.tr

IMM ASIYAN MUSEUM

Asiyan, the house where the famous Turkish Poet Tevfik Fikret lived between 1906-1915, was purchased by Istanbul Municipality from the poet’s wife, Nazime Fikret in 1940. The word “Asiyan” means “Home, bird’s nest” in Persian. The wooden building, constructed as three stories within a garden, has a magnificent view of the Bosporus, and it is the first museum of literature of Turkey. Besides the works of Tevfik Fikret and his family, separate sections where the belongings, photographs and books of notable people of the Turkish Literature such as Abdulhak Hamit Tarhan, Sair Nigar Hanim are displayed are also found in the collection of Asiyan Museum.

The museum can be visited every day excluding Monday between 09.00-17.00. A reservation must be made in advance for group visits.

Address: Asiyan Yokusu 34342 Bebek, Besiktas

Phone: +90 212 263 69 86

Email: kutuphanemuzeler@ibb.gov.tr

IMM CARICATURE MUSEUM

The Museum was initially opened in 1975 at Tepebasi as a joint undertaking of Caricature Artists Association and Istanbul Municipality. The museum was moved to its current location in 2010. The ownership of entire collection displayed at the museum, which is operating under the name of Caricature and Humor Center today, belongs to the Caricature Artists Association. Drawings and personal belongings of notable artists of Turkish and Global art of caricature are displayed in the collection.

The museum can be visited on weekdays between 09.00-17.30. It is closed on weekends.

Address: Catma Mescit Mah. Refik Saydam Cad. Tali Sok. (Kasimpasa Stadi Ustu) Tepebasi – Beyoglu

Phone: +90 212 256 42 58

Email: kutuphanemuzeler@ibb.gov.tr

IMM FIRE DEPARTMENT MUSEUM

Being the first and only fire department museum of Turkey, the “Fire Department Museum” was opened in 1932 by bringing the tools and materials used in the fire department, which has a history of 300 years. Within the collection of this museum, which is among the world’s most important fire department museums, firefighting clothes from the times of the early firefighters to today’s firefighters, the oldest firefighting equipment such as various pumps, fire prevention barrels, signal baskets used at Beyazit Tower, telephone switchboards, and motorized fire extinguishing tools are being displayed.

The museum can be visited on weekdays between 09.00-17.30.

Address: Yildiz Mah. Citlenbik Yokusu Horoz Sok. No: 1 Besiktas

Phone: +90 212 259 91 24

Email: kutuphanemuzeler@ibb.gov.tr

MINIATURK

Miniaturk was opened to visitors after being completed on 2 May 2003 by Kultur A.S., a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Miniature models of a total of 135 architectural works from Turkish and Ottoman regions which were picked among thousands of historical works according to their recognition and period, consisting of 62 works from Istanbul, 60 works from Anatolia and 13 works from the Ottoman region, which are now located outside the borders of Turkey, are being displayed at Miniaturk.
Unique natural formations were meticulously picked by an expert team. In addition, the Temple of Artemis and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, two of the seven ancient wonders of the world which were built in Anatolia but does not exist today, are also displayed at Miniaturk. Being one of the first destinations in the Istanbul tours of domestic and foreign tourists, Miniaturk could be the ideal place for those who would like to go on a tour of Turkey in a short amount of time.
Miniaturk is open to visitors every day between 09.00 – 18.00.

Address: Ornektepe Mahallesi, Imrahor Caddesi, No.7 Sutluce 34445 Beyoglu

Phone: +90 212 222 28 82

PANORAMA 1453 HISTORY MUSEUM

The construction of Panorama 1453 History Museum started in 2005 by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and the museum was opened to visitors in 2009 at Topkapi Culture Park (Topkapi Kultur Parki). The conquest of Istanbul is one of the breaking points of history. This event, which brought a new order to the world, also enriched Istanbul in terms of art, architecture and culture. Panorama 1453 History Museum was opened to be able to introduce the cultural heritage created by the efforts of different civilizations, and to narrate the past and present of the city, and the spirit of the conquest.
The museum is fully panoramic both vertically and horizontally. With this feature, it is also known as the world’s first fully panoramic museum. The sky seamlessly spans from the upper area of the picture as a dome. By this way, it gives an outdoor feeling even though the museum is an indoor space. With its panoramic ceiling, sound effects and three dimensional parts, it conveys the thrill of the conquest of Istanbul to its visitors every day of the year.
The museum is open to visitors every day between 08.00 – 17.00.

Address: Merkez Efendi Mahallesi, Topkapi Kultur Park Ici Yolu, Zeytinburnu

Phone: +90 212 415 14 53

TURKISH WORLD CULTURE DISTRICT

Being home to various civilizations throughout the history, Istanbul is the center of culture and art in the present just as it was in the past. This ancient city also the meeting place for diverse faces, colors, traditions and beliefs. Turkish World Culture District, located in Topkapi Culture Park, bears importance among these aspects. Within the district, houses of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus, RF Tatarstan and RF Bashkortostan (Bashkiria), and the House of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi is found. Various cultural details such as objects from daily life, household items, musical instruments, and clothing are displayed in this area. In addition, the models of Kazakh and Kyrgyz yurts, original scale Orkhon Inscriptions, Maiden Tower of Azerbaijan and Burana Tower of Kyrgyzstan are also among the displayed works. Opened to visitors in 2009, the Culture District has taken its current shape by being enriched with new models and yurts added in the following years. It has quickly become the center of attention for domestic and foreign tourists, and citizens of Istanbul in particular.

The museum is open to visitors every day between 08.00 – 17.00.

Address: Maltepe Mah. Topkapi Kultur Parki Osmanli Evleri Topkapi / Zeytinburnu

Phone: +90 212 467 07 00

THE QUINCENTENNIAL FOUNDATION MUSEUM OF TURKISH JEWS

With an updated content and modern exhibition technologies, The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews has started to accept visitors in its new place, Neve Shalom Synagogue in December 2015.
The museum consists of three areas where the historical and cultural heritage of Turkish Jews, their contributions to the social and governmental life of the nation, and certain chronological information are found. In its new place, where the modern mindset of museology and technological facilities are blended together, visitors can view photos and videos of traditions and origins, highlights from the Jewish life, and objects used in religious rituals, while sharing detailed information simultaneously with the visitors via the touchscreens available across the museum.
With the glass section separating the museum and Neve Shalom Synagogue apart, the visitors are able to observe religious ceremonies such as weddings or brit milah ceremonies happening at that moment.
In the museum’s new place, some new ideas have been thought such as movie screenings, music recitals with Jewish songs every Thursdays, and certain innovations in the children’s section.
Moreover, there is also a café in the museum which the visitors are able try the delicacies in Sepharad cuisine.

Address: Bereketzade Mahallesi, Buyuk Hendek Sok. no:39 Beyoglu /ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 292 63 33-34

Email: Info@muze500.com Source: www.muze500.com

Visitor Information: Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday 10.00 – 17.00, Friday 10.00- 13.00 Sunday 10.00- 17.00

The museum is closed on Saturdays, Sabbath days, and in religious and national holidays.

ADAM MICKIEWICZ MUSEUM

The house in Tarlabasi, where the Polish freedom poet Adam Mickiewicz have spent his last years until his demise in 1855, have been transformed into a museum with the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and Art of Poland in 1955, the 100th anniversary of the poet’s death. Information and documents related to the works and life of Mickiewicz, photographs taken during the years which the poet has spent in Istanbul and documents and photographs about the liberation struggle of Poland are found in the museum. In the basement floor of the building, a symbolic grave for Mickiewicz, whose actual grave is in Krakow, is located.

Address: Bostan Mahallesi Tatli Badem Sokak No:17 Posta Kodu:34435 – Beyoglu/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 235 66 98

Email: tiem@tiem.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00 – Winter Period Opening Hour: 09.00, Closing Hour: 17.00

ANADOLUHISAR MUSEUM
Anadoluhisar (“Anatolian Castle”) was built by Sultan Bayezid I in 1394.
The reason for this building to be constructed was to disrupt the supplies coming from the Black Sea to Byzantine Empire. Some renovations have been carried out on the castle between 1991-1993 by the Ministry of Culture.
Today, Anadoluhisar is located within the boundaries of Beykoz Municipality. There are no movable cultural assets in the castle. It is not open to visitors.

Address: Anadolu Hisari – Beykoz/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 263 53 05

Email: anadoluhisarimuzesi@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: The museum is not open to visitors. The museum can only be visited with the permission of the Directorate of the Museum of Castles.

MILITARY MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER

It is a museum located in the Harbiye district of Istanbul, governed by the Department of Culture and Arts of Directorate General for Administrative Services of the Ministry of National Defense. The name of Harbiye district comes from the use of service buildings of the Military Museum as a Military Academy in the late periods of the Ottoman Empire. The founder of our Republic, Great Leader Mustafa Kemal ATATURK also graduated from this academy. The Military Museum and Cultural Center Command collects the artifacts classified as military cultural assets, conducts the maintenance and restorations of these assets, displays them via contemporary methods and preserves them to be given to future generations.

The Military Museum and Cultural Center Command holds approximately 55,000 objects within the scope of military cultural assets, and 5,000 of these artifacts are displayed in the exhibit halls of the museum. The Military Museum and Cultural Center Command brings the wealth of our glorious history out for the perusal of native and foreign researchers by displaying its historical assets according to modern museology techniques. The world’s oldest band, Mehteran Band Command, contributes to the introduction of our nation with the concerts it gives in the nation and abroad.

Address: Vali Konagi Cad. No:2 Harbiye/SISLI/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 233 27 20

Visitor Information: The Military Museum is open to visitors every day between 09.00- 16.30. The Mehteran Band performs every day excluding Monday, between 15.00-16.00.
The museum is closed on the first days of religious holidays, but it is open on national holidays.

HAGIA EIRENE MUSEUM

The Church of Hagia Eirene is an old Byzantine church located at the outer court of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Hagia Eirene. It is known that it was initially constructed during the period of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century. It was demolished with Hagia Sophia during the Nika Riots in 532. Later, it was constructed again in the 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Address: Topkapi Sarayi Avlusu, Sultanahmet Posta Kodu:34122 – Fatih/

Phone: +90 212 512 04 80

Email: ayairinimuzesi@kulturturizm.gov.tr

Visitor Information: The museum is closed to visitors on Tuesdays, but it is open on other days of the week. Winter Visiting Hours (October 3 / April 14): 09.00 – 17.00 Summer Visiting Hours (April 15 / October 2): 09.00 – 19.00

Ticket sales are stopped at 16.00 for the winter period.

AYNALIKAVAK MUSIC MUSEUM

The idea of establishing a music museum in Aynalikavak Pavilion was initially brought by the efforts of one of the grandchildren of Sultan Abdulhamid II, Gevheri Osmanoglu. Osmanoglu and his successors have donated their collections consisting of stringed instruments, notes, phonograph records, and others in 1984 to be displayed here. Later, the efforts were commenced to transform this pavilion where Selim III, a sultan with endless contributions to music who is also a composer once lived in, into a museum of music.
After the donation of Gevheri Osmanoglu’s archive, many other collectors and musicians have also donated numerous instruments for the museum. In addition, the instruments belonging to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Collection were also included in the Aynalikavak Pavilion’s Collection. A total of 65 stringed instruments, over 200 phonograph records, many notes and printed works are found in the museum’s collection.

Address: Haskoy, Aynali Kavak Cad. 34445 Beyoglu/Istanbul

Visitor Information: The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays.
It may be visited on other days of the week, between 09.00-16.30.

MUSEUM OF GREAT PALACE MOSAICS

The museum is located in the Social Complex of the Blue Mosque, within Arasta Bazaar. It was built to include the partly undamaged mosaic floor covering in the northeastern area of the cloister of Great Palace built during the Eastern Roman Empire era. Only the 180 square meters of the mosaic area was revealed.
The Museum of Great Palace Mosaics was put under the administration of Istanbul Archaeological Museums in 1953. After 1979, it became an entity of the Directorate of Hagia Sophia Museum. The restoration and conservation works started by the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums of the Ministry of Culture in 1982 were completed in 1997.

(The most notable mosaics in the museum can be listed as depicted scenes of a griffon attack, elephant fighting a lion, a mare suckling its foal, children with geese, the milking of goats, a child feeding a donkey, a young woman carrying a pot, bears eating apple and the fight of a hunter and a tiger. There are 90 different themes with 150 human and animal figures found on the mosaics.)

Address: Arasta Carsisi, Sultanahmet Mahallesi Fatih – Istanbul/Turkiye

Phone: +90 212 518 12 05

Email: mozaik@muze.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period April 1 – October 1 Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00

Winter Period: October 1 – April 1 Opening Hour: 09.00 Closing Hour: 17.00

Box Office Summer / Winter Closing Hour:
Summer Period: 17.00
Winter Period: 17.00

Days Closed: Monday

MARITIME MUSEUM

Being the greatest maritime museum of Turkey, the Maritime Museum is one of the special museums of the world with regards to the diversity of its collection.

Address: Sinan Pasa Mah. Besiktas Cad. 6/1 Besiktas – Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 327 43 45

Visitor Information: The museum is open to visitors between 09.00 – 17.00 on weekdays, and between 10.00 – 18.00 on weekends.
Entrance of visitors is not allowed after 16.00 on weekdays and after 17.00 on weekends.

Days Closed: New year’s day, first day of religious holidays and Mondays

DOLMABAHCE CLOCK MUSEUM

Being the first and only clock museum of Turkey, Dolmabahce Clock Museum has become a museum where the majestic works of 19th century’s Ottoman Mawlawi watchmakers can be seen besides the magnificent mechanicals of French masters and British automats of 18th and 19th centuries.

71 clocks are displayed at the museum. Notable works within the world’s mechanical clock collections such as the musical automats of famous British watchmaker George Prior, French gold plated console clocks, automated and semi-automated musical clocks, the latest work of Ahmet Eflaki Dede, clock numbered 9, tourbillon clocks made by the Ottoman Mawlawi masters Mehmet Sukru and Mehmet Muhsin, the magnificent astronomical clock of Suleyman Leziz, and the decimal clock of Osman Nuri are being displayed in the museum.

Address: Visnezade, Dolmabahce Cad. 34357 Besiktas/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 327 26 26

Visitor Information: The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays. It may be visited on other days of the week, between 09.00-16.30.

OLD EASTERN WORKS MUSEUM

The Old Eastern Works Museum building was constructed by the famous painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey in 1883 to serve as the Academy of Fine Arts (“Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi”).
This academy, which will also represent a foundation for the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in the future, is the first fine arts school opened in the Ottoman Empire.
The architect of this building that is used as a museum today, is Alexander Vallaury, who also constructed the building currently used as the classical building of Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
The collections of the Old Eastern Works Museum includes artifacts from pre-Hellenic Anatolia and Mesopotamia and pre-Islamic Egypt and Arabian Peninsula. Most of these artifacts were discovered during the archaeological excavations conducted between the 19th century and the First World War, and then brought to Istanbul, the capital of Ottoman Empire and the latter ruler of these countries. While the Islamic-Arabian Art, Egyptian Collection, Mesopotamian Collection, Anatolian Collection, Urartian Collection and Cuneiform Inscriptions are divided according to different regions, the Arabian Peninsula and the cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia are displayed according to their own historical orders.
Besides unique artifacts such as the stele of Akkadian King Naram-Sin, Kadesh Treaty and the Ishtar Gate, the Tablet Archive containing 75,000 cuneiform inscriptions is also a part of the Old Eastern Works Museum collection.

Address: Istanbul Arkeoloji Muzeleri Alemdar Cad. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sok, 34122, Gulhane Fatih Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 520 77 40-41

Email: info@istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr

Visitor Information: The museum is closed on Mondays, and open on other days of the week between 09.00-16.00.

FETHIYE MUSEUM

It is located in Fatih – Carsamba district of Istanbul. It is the Pammakaristos monastery church built during the Byzantine Era. A parekklesion (a side chapel) was added with the end of Latin invasion in 13rd century.
After the conquest, it was left for the Christians to be used as a women’s monastery, and it was used as a patriarchate until 1586 with the transfer of the patriarchate to here in 1455.
Murad III (1574-1595) transformed this church into a mosque and gave it the name “Fethiye”. The Northern church is still used as a mosque. The additional church, on the other hand, has its walls decorated with the beautiful mosaics of the 14th century, and after the restoration process between 1938-1940, it was put under the administration of Hagia Sophia Museum as a museum.

Address: Fethiye Caddesi, Balat, Draman Cad. 34087 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkiye

Phone: +90 212 635 12 73

Email: istanbulfethiyemuzesi@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Istanbul Fethiye Museum is closed to visitors because of ongoing restoration.

GALATA MEVLEVI LODGE
Galata Mevlevi Lodge is the oldest mevlevi lodge of Istanbul. It was constructed in 1491 on the land where the house of Iskender Pasa, the governor during the Sultan Bayezid II era, is located.
The first sheikh of the Mevlevi Lodge was Mehmed Sema-i Celebi. Even though the Mevlevi Lodge suffered from a fire during the reign of Sultan Mustafa III, the Mevlevi Lodge that stands today have been constructed by the same sultan. Being restored again between 1967-1972 and constructed as a social complex, the Mevlevi Lodge is comprised of a semahane (sama building), dervish niches, sheikh quarters, the sultan lodge, area of sisters, library, water fountain, muvakkithane (building for people determining the time for azan), kitchen, mausoleums and the treasury.
The semahane is used as a museum, and the epitaph of restoration of Sultan Abdulmejid I, dated 1853, is located at the entrance door of this wooden area.
The building is one of the beautiful examples of 18th century Baroque style. Opened as a museum in 1975, Galata Mevlevi Lodge, otherwise known as Kulekapi Mevlevi Lodge, is one of the important establishments of the period that reflects the culture and art.

Address: Sahkulu Mahallesi Galip Dede Caddesi No:15 Posta Kodu: 34420 – Tunel-Beyoglu/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 245 41 41

Email: galatamevlevihanesi@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period April 1 – October 1 Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00
Winter Period October 1 – April 1 Opening Hour: 09.00 Closing Hour: 17.00
Box Office Summer / Winter Closing Hours Summer Period: 16.00 Winter Period: 16.00

Days Closed: Monday

CARPET MUSEUM

The Carpet Museum, which is under the administration of the General Directorate of Associations, is located at the Imperial Pavilion of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The structure is the first instance of imperial pavilions which were designed for the Sultan to rest and speak to other people before or after the prayer.
The Imperial Pavilion, constructed together with the Blue Mosque, was built by Sultan Ahmed I between 1609-1617. Its architect is Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. Surviving until the present thanks to various restorations, the pavilion has lost many of its specific details, and had its last grand-scale restoration carried out after the fire in 1949. It is learned from the construction book’s section of purchased items that this pavilion, which has lost its original roof and decorations, had been furnished with rugs and carpets. The Carpet Museum (The Blue Mosque Imperial Pavilion) consists of two floors, where the entrance corridor and ramp to the upper floor is found on the lower floor, and three rooms are found on the upper floor. Large carpets are displayed in the entrance hall and on the ramp of the lower floor, and small carpets are displayed in the rooms of the upper floor. It is the only museum in turkey where only carpets are displayed. The museum collection was created with the collection of carpets with high historical and artistic value, which were donated to mosques under a centuries-old Islamic tradition. There are 448 carpets in the Carpet Museum. 62 carpets are displayed on a rotation basis. In the museum, where the Genuine Turkish carpets are found, very rare carpets are put on exhibition.

Address: Cankurtaran Mah. Babi Humayun Caddesi Sogukcesme Sok. Fatih/ Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 512 69 93

Email: info@halimuzesi.com

Visitor Information: Istanbul Carpet Museum is closed on Mondays. It may be visited on other days of the week, between 09.00-16.00.

THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The museum is located at the Imperial Stable (Has Ahirlar) Building adjacent to the Palace Fortification Wall inside the Gulhane Park in Istanbul. (The stables where the horses of the sultan and his close servants held were called “Has Ahir” (“Istanbul-i amire”) during the Ottoman period.) Prepared by the Islamic science historian Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin and opened in 2008, the museum is distinguished as the first example in its field in Turkey, and second in the world after Frankfurt, with its exhibition area of 3,500 square meters and its collection including a total of 570 tools, device replicas, models and mock-ups. Its founder Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin, who is known for the studies he has been conducting for over fifty years, holds the view that the advancements in science and the history of civilization are not separate from each other, in fact, they are integral, according to his researches on original sources. With the aesthetic and the didactic quality of scientific works, and their impression and special impact originating from the knowledge they provide, the progress of the Islamic world of the past within the history of science has been proven with documents. Moreover, it also bridges the gap between science cultures of the East and the West.

Address: Gulhane Parki Ici Has Ahirlar Binasi 34122 Gulhane/Fatih

Phone: +90 212 528 80 65

Email: bilimveteknolojimuz@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period April 1 – October 31 Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00
Winter Period October 31 – April 1 Opening Hour: 09.00 Closing Hour: 16.45
Box Office Summer / Winter Closing Hours Summer Period: 16.00 Winter Period: 16.15

Days Closed: Monday

ISTANBUL ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM

Istanbul Archaeology Museums is a museums complex consisting of three main sections. Archaeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum, and Tiled Kiosk Museum. Almost a million artifacts belonging to various cultures and brought from the empire lands are found within the collections of the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, the first museum of Turkey. The Archaeology Museum attracts the attention by being one of the rare buildings across the world that were constructed as a museum building. It is one of the most beautiful and gorgeous examples of the Neo-Classical architecture in Istanbul. “Asar-i Atika Muzesi” (Old Artifacts Museum) is written on the Ottoman text inscribed on the pediment. The signature (tughra) found on the text belongs to Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

Address: Alemdar Caddesi Osman Hamdi Bey yokusu, Posta Kodu: 34122 – Fatih/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 520 77 40

Email: istanbularkeolojimuzesi@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period April 1 – October 31 Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00
Winter Period October 31 – April 1 Opening Hour: 09.00 Closing Hour: 18.00
Box Office Summer / Winter Closing Hours Summer Period: 16.00 Winter Period: 17.30

Days Closed: Monday

ISTANBUL JAZARI MUSEUM

Istanbul Jazari Museum is a museology initiative that is planning to carry out travelling exhibitions at the current moment. The artifacts created by Istanbul Jazari Museum are first brought to the attention of visitors in UNIQ ISTANBUL, at The Extraordinary Machines of Jazari Exhibition. Even though the exhibition area is UNIQ ISTANBUL, the headquarters of the museum is at Altunizade – Uskudar. Not the artifacts, but the management is located at this address.

Address: Huzur Mah. Maslak Ayazaga Cad. No:4 Sariyer Istanbul / TURKEY

Phone: +90 545 415 15 15

Email: iletisim@cezerimuzesi.com

ISTANBUL RAILWAY MUSEUM

Istanbul Railway Museum was opened on 23.09.2005, at Sirkeci Railway Station. Operating in a 45.50 square meters wide area, the museum displays 300 cultural assets.

Address: Hocapasa Mah. 34110 Fatih – Eminonu/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 527 12 01, +90 212 520 65 75

Email: istanbuldemiryolumuzesi@tcdd.gov.tr

Visitor Information: The museum is open every day excluding Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

ISTANBUL AIR FORCE MUSEUM

Address: Eski Havalimani Caddesi Hava Kuvvetleri Muzesi 34149 Yesilkoy – Bakirkoy/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 663 24 90-2268

Email: havacilikmuzesi@hho.edu.tr

Visitor Information: The museum is closed on new year’s day (January 1), the first days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and on Mondays.

On other days, the museum is open between 09.00-17.00 on weekdays, and between 09.00-17.00 on weekends and national holidays.

ISTANBUL MODERN ART MUSEUM

Established in 2004 as the first modern and contemporary art museum of our nation to share the artistic creativity and cultural identity of Turkey with national and international world of art, Istanbul Modern hosts interdisciplinary events.

Istanbul Modern collects, preserves, displays and documents modern and contemporary works of art, photographs, designs, architecture, and new productions in the areas of new media and cinema in its collection with an international approach. It acts as a mediator for sharing Turkey’s cultural identity with the international world of art. It helps the artists in their efforts of production and making international collaborations. Making it easier for the masses to access art its own mission, Istanbul Modern provides training programs for art observers of every age on this purpose.

The collections, exhibitions and training programs of the museum aims to endear art to visitors from all backgrounds and allow them to actively engage in art. Istanbul Modern, established in a 8,000 square meters wide area at the coast of Istanbul, Karakoy, and operating in this building for 14 years, is now welcoming its guests at a temporary building in Beyoglu for 3 years as of May 2018, until the construction of its new building is completed. It continues its cultural activities with periodical and permanent exhibition halls, photo galleries, training and social programs, a library, café, and a shop.

Address: Asmalimescit Mahallesi, Mesrutiyet Caddesi, No: 99 34430, Beyoglu, Istanbul Turkiye

Phone: +90 212 334 73 00

Email: info@istanbulmodern.org

Visitor Information: It may be visited between Tuesdays – Sundays at 11.00-17.00.
Istanbul Modern Art Museum is closed on January 1 of every year, the first days of religious holidays and on Mondays.

ISTANBUL TOY MUSEUM

Istanbul Toy Museum was founded on 23 April 2005 by poet/writer Sunay Akin. The museum where the best examples of the history of toys from 1700’s to present is displayed is located at a historical mansion.
Founded with the toys bought by Sunay Akin from antiquarians and auctions across more than 40 countries over 20 years, Istanbul Toy Museum presents world history to its visitors in a more entertaining and catchy method of learning. For instance, the race to the Moon in the section for space toys and the industrial revolution in the section for train toys is told using the language of toys. The decoration of the museum was also designed by the stage design artist Ayhan Dogan under this context. The museum represents a breakthrough in the world for the reason that it was opened by a poet and designed by a stage design artist.

Address: Omerpasa Cad. Dr. Zeki Zeren Sok. No:15 Goztepe/ Istanbul

Phone: +90 216 359 45 50-51

Email: info@istanbuloyuncakmuzesi.com

Visitor Information: The museum is open every day excluding Monday between 09.30-18.00.

ISTANBUL STATE ART AND SCULPTURE MUSEUM

Istanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum was opened in 1937 in order to preserve the major works of Turkish modern art and share them with the public. The efforts to transform the No. 5 Warehouse building, where the 9th Istanbul Biennial in 2005 and 12th Istanbul Biennial in 2011 were also conducted, continued for eight years.

Address: Meclis-I Mebusan Caddesi, No: 2, Tophane, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkiye

Phone: +90 212 261 42 98-99

Visitor Information: The museum is open to visitors between Tuesdays-Mondays at 10.00-18.00. The museum is closed on Mondays.

PERA MUSEUM

Opening its doors on the early June of 2005, Pera Museum is the first step of the extensive cultural initiative taken by Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation to provide culture and art service in this popular part of the city. The historical building constructed at Istanbul’s popular district, Tepebasi in 1893 by the architect Achille Manoussos has been completely revised by the architect Sinan Genim and transformed into a modern museum for Pera Museum, which undertook the function of a “museum and cultural center” in this project.

Address: Asmalimescit, Mesrutiyet Caddesi No.65 34430 Tepebasi – Beyoglu / Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 334 99 00

Email: info@peramuzesi.org.tr

Visitor Information: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 – 18:00; Sunday, 12:00 – 18:00

RAHMI M. KOC MUSEUM

Historic Haskoy Shipyard, Mustafa Vehbi Koc Building. Rahmi M. Koc Museum is an industrial museum at the coast of the Golden Horn, in Haskoy district of Istanbul. Opened with the help of entrepreneur Rahmi Koc in 1994, the museum is the first important museum dedicated to the industry, transportation, and communication. Various organizations, concerts and special exhibitions are frequently held at the museum. Spanning over a 27 thousand square meters wide area, the museum consists of three main parts.

Address: Haskoy Cad. No: 5 Haskoy, Beyoglu/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 369 66 00

Email: info@rmk-museum.org.tr

Visitor Information: Tuesday – Monday 09:30 – 17:00 (October 1 – March 31), 09:30-19:00 (April 1 – September 30)
The museum is closed on holidays, eves and first days of religious holidays, and December 31 and January 1 of every year.

PAINTING MUSEUM

National Palaces Painting Museum, opened on 22 April 2014, is located at Dolmabahce Palace, the architectural symbol of the westernization process of the Ottoman Empire. The museum, which has been established in the living quarters of the heirs to the throne (“Veliahd Residence”) at Dolmabahce, is also important with regards to being the first painting collection in a Western context besides reflecting the developing and transforming love of art in the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. Hosting more than 200 works, the Painting Museum consists of 11 sections in which the works are classified according to their dates and characteristics. Each one of these sections have a specific atmosphere and significance with the works that they hold.

Address: Visnezade Mah. 34357 Besiktas/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 236 90 00

Visitor Information: The museum can be visited every day excluding Monday, between 09:00-17:00. Recording visual material indoors via cameras and/or mobile phones is not allowed. The museum is monitored with a central alarm system. Reservations are required for group visits.

RUMELIHISAR MUSEUM

The Fortresses Museum incorporates Rumeli, Yedikule and Anadolu fortresses. Rumelihisar (Rumeli Fortress) is the one that stands out among all. Covering a 30-acre area in Sariyer, the Fortress also gives the location its name. It was built in a short duration of four months in 1452 by Mehmed the Conqueror (Mehmed II), in order to disrupt the potential assistance and attacks from the North of the Bosporus, prior to the conquest of Istanbul. This fortress is located right across the Anadoluhisar (Anatolian Fortress) constructed in 1394 by Sultan Bayezid I, in the narrowest part of the Bosporus with the highest current. There are four main gates named as “Mountain Gate”, “Dizdar Gate”, “Hisarpece Gate” and “Sel Gate”, and one secondary gate named as “Mezarlik Gate”. There are also a total of 17 towers with varying heights, with four of the larger towers named “Saruca Pasha”, “Halil Pasha”, “Great Zaganos Pasha” and “Young Zaganos Pasha”. There are no exhibition halls or a warehouse in the museum, thus the artifacts consisting of cannons, cannonballs, and a piece of a chain believed to be used in the blockade of the Golden Horn are displayed in the garden.

Address: Yahyakemal Cad. No.42 34470 Rumelihisari – Sariyer / ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 263 53 05

Email: hisarlarmuzesi@kultur.gov.tr

Visitor Information: Summer Period April 1 – October 31 Opening Hour: 10.00 Closing Hour: 17.00
Winter Period October 31 – April 1 Opening Hour: 09.00 Closing Hour: 17.00

Days Closed: Monday

MUSEUM OF PALACE COLLECTIONS

The main purpose of the Museum of Palace Collections is to reveal the daily objects used in the 19th century Ottoman palaces, especially the Dolmabahce Palace, and the objects which are included in the inventory of the National Palaces, and open them to visitors. With the objects displayed in the Museum of Palace Collections, it is aimed to provide clues that may detail the 19th century daily life in the palaces to the visitors. The entirety of the artifacts found in the museum are genuine samples from the period in which the Ottoman royalty closely followed the developments of the world. The collection does not only includes the items used in Dolmabahce Palace, but also includes artifacts that witnessed the last 70 years of the Ottoman Empire found in the pavilions of Aynalikavak, Kucuksu, Ihlamur, Maslak and the palaces of Beylerbeyi and Yildiz. A collection with a quite wide range consisting of clothes used by princes and princesses, toys, and handcrafts; writing sets, seals, and literary composition tools used by sultans; examples of writing sets used in the Meclis-i Mebusan (Chamber of Deputies) and the first Parliament, medicines, dental units, silver shaving sets of sultans, cleaning and care tools of royal mothers, crystal, porcelain and silverware, handwritten copies of the Quran, Hereke carpets, Yildiz porcelain items, clocks, china stoves, books from the palace library, painting tools and instruments of Caliph Abdulmejid II, oil paintings, lighting fixtures and decorative items is found among the objects put in exhibition.

Address: Visnezade Mah., Dolmabahce Cad. 34357 Besiktas/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 236 90 00

Visitor Information: The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays.
It may be visited on other days, between 09.00-16.30.

TOPKAPI HAREM MUSEUM

Harem Residence, where the sultans have spent their personal time and lived with their families, was the living quarters for the Ottoman Dynasty and the upper class women of the Harem for centuries. At the same time, it also served as a school that was subject to the rules and the hierarchy. Harem section of the Topkapi Palace holds great architectural importance for it represents the styles of the period from the 16th century to early 19th century. It was the forbidden area where nobody could enter other than the sultan, royal mother, kadin (consort), haseki sultan, royal favorites, princes, cariyes (wives), and the chief black eunuchs. The intense hierarchy and organization in this section that was hidden from the selamlik and other courts of the Palace started with Suleiman I moving into the Harem of Topkapi Palace with Haseki Hurrem Sultan and her family. Built within the Second Courtyard and on the back gardens, the ever-expanding Harem Residence took its final form after a long period of renovations and additions.

Address: Sultanahmet, Posta Kodu:34122 – Fatih/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 512 04 80

Visitor Information: Topkapi Palace is closed to visitors on Tuesdays.
It may be visited on other days, between 09.00-16.30.

TOPKAPI TURKISH WORLD CULTURAL HOUSES

Address: Maltepe Mahallesi Topkapi Kultur Parki Osmanli evleri Topkapi -Zeytinburnu/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 467 07 00

Email: info@topkapiturkdunyasi.com

Visitor Information: The museum is open to visitors every day between 08.00 – 17.00.

YEDIKULEHISAR MUSEUM

The museum is closed to visitors because of ongoing restoration process.

Address: Imrahor Mahallesi Kule Meydan No:4 – Fatih/ISTANBUL

Phone: +90 212 584 89 33

Email: yedikulezindanlarimuzesi@kultur.gov.tr

MADAME TUSSAUDS ISTANBUL

With a history of 250 years, the Madame Tussauds brand is now in Istanbul! At Madame Tussauds Istanbul, where about 60 notable people among historic and cultural heroes, and recognized people within arts, sports, and politics from the past to present will take place, you can embark on a journey of history of the Ottoman and Republic periods, and meet with several international musicians, sportspeople and movie stars besides many well-known celebrities from Turkey.

Address: Huseyinaga Mahallesi, Istiklal Cad. No:56, 34435 Beyoglu/Istanbul

Phone: +90 212 444 3 253

Email: kurumsal@merlinentertainments.biz

Visitor Information: Final hour of entrance to the museum is 19.00, Closing Hour: 20.00