Top 10 Museums in Istanbul

Istanbul is a heaven for history lovers undoubtedly. With its amazing historical background and breathtaking atmosphere, Istanbul hosts more than 80 museums today. Being a world city, Istanbul is also an important city of culture and arts. In addition to museums of historical importance, exhibitions and conferences are held throughout the year in Istanbul, where you can see the most unique examples of contemporary art. We can say that Istanbul is very rich in terms of museums. Let’s discover the Top 10 Museums in Istanbul.

1- Kariye Museum

The Kariye Museum, which dates back to the 500s, was first built as a monastery. The museum, where restoration works were carried out several times later, took its present form with the renovation work by Teodor Metokhites. The church, where we can see the best examples of Byzantine painting art, continued to be used as a church for a long time after the Conquest of Istanbul. You can visit the Kariye Museum, which is open to visitors every day of the week, between 09:00 and 19:00 in summer and between 09:00 and 16:30 in winter.

2- Istanbul Archeology Museum

One of the most enjoyable and beautiful museums that you can see and explore every time you go to Istanbul is the Archeology Museum. Istanbul Archeology Museum sheds light on the history, culture, architecture and way of life of the geography we live in, with its history dating back to Fatih Sultan Mehmet and its historical artifacts. You can visit the museum, which is open to visitors every day except Mondays, between 09:00 and 19:00 in summer and between 09:00 and 17:00 in winter.

3- Hagia Irene Museum

Hagia Irene Museum is known as one of the biggest churchs from Byzantines period. The important museum is located in the borders of Topkapı Palace. It is said to have been built with the remains of Artemis, Apollo and Aphrodite structures from Roman times. Hagia Eirene was heavily damaged due to severe earthquakes in the region in the 700s and 800s. You can go to Hagia Eirene Museum, which is open to visitors every day of the week except Tuesdays, between 09:00 and 19:00 in winter and between 09:00 and 19:00 in summer. Only in winter, ticket sale ends at 16:00.

4- Istanbul Modern Art Museum

One of the museums in Istanbul is the Istanbul Modern Art Museum. opened in 2004, and Turkey’s first modern art museum with special initiatives through Istanbul lies in the fact that the title established a close working 20 years behind the Museum of Modern Art. Ticket prices for the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, which opens its doors to its visitors every day of the week, are very affordable.

5- Pera Museum

Pera Museum, located in one of the most beautiful places in Istanbul, is a private museum opened in 2005. There are separate exhibitions on each floor of the five-storey museum, these exhibitions change from time to time and take place in new exhibitions. At the same time, there is a cafe on the ground floor. Located in the most vibrant area of the city, the museum operates with a contemporary museology approach. The Orientalist Painting Collection, which includes more than 300 works, is on display at the Pera Museum. You can go to the Pera Museum, which is closed on Mondays, between 10:00 and 19:00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and between 12:00 and 18:00 on Sundays.

6- Panoroma 1453 Historical Museum

The subject’s name, in Istanbul Fethiye As understood from the Panorama 1453 History Museum, Turkey’s first panoramic museum, as well as being implicitly carries the world’s only museum to have a panoramic title. On the first floor of the museum, the Conquest of Istanbul is exhibiting with decors.  You can visit the museum, which is open every day of the year, between 08:00 and 17:00.

7- Naval Museum of Istanbul

Istanbul Naval Museum, affiliated to the Naval Forces Command, was first opened in 1897 in a small building in Kasımpaşa. The works sent to Anatolia during the Second World War in order to protect the works better are brought back to Istanbul after the war. Turkey’s first and largest maritime museum is the title of the work is taking place in Istanbul Naval Museum more than 20 thousand holding. You can visit the Istanbul Naval Museum, which is closed on Mondays, New Year’s Eve and religious holidays, between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and between 10:00 and 18:00 on weekends.

8- Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum

The Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum, which includes the Mausoleums of Şeyh Galip and Halet Efendi, Semahane, Mahfiller, Dervish Rooms, instruments used in whirling dervishes and many works of art, gained its current appearance thanks to the renovation works carried out between 2007 and 2011. You can visit the Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum, which is always open except Mondays and the first days of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, between 09:00 and 16:30 in winter and between 09:00 and 19:00 in summer.

9- Rahmi Koç Museum

The Rahmi Koç Museum, which consists of three main sections, the historical Lengerhane building, the historical Hasköy shipyard and the open air exhibition area, was opened in 1994 with the support of Rahmi Koç. Many works, from classic cars, libertors, airplanes to the huge Turgut Alp Vinci, are in the open air exhibition area. The Rahmi Koç Museum is open to visitors between 10:00 – 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the winter season, and opens its doors between 10:00 – 18:00 on the same days in the summer season. In addition, it can be visited on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10:00 – 17:00.

10- Hagia Sophia Museum

The Hagia Sophia Museum is an important symbol for Istanbul’s history. Hagia Sophia has an important place in the art world in terms of its architecture, splendor, size and functionality. It witnessed a great love inside. The initials of Justinian and Theodora are written on the columns of Hagia Sophia. Today, a part of the museum is providing services as a mosque. You can visit there everyday of a week.