10 Fascinating Museums to Explore in Istanbul

With centuries of historic remains scattered amid its modern streets, and more still continually being uncovered, Istanbul is undoubtedly a museum unto itself. Moreover, the city boasts astonishing museum collections – showcasing ancient relics, modern art, and craftsmanship both old and new – in a variety of institutions, ranging from the intimate to the grand.

Istanbul Archaeology Museums

Best museum for history buffs

Set in a lush part of the former palace grounds, the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (three buildings in one complex) exhibit an awe-inspiring array of relics spanning numerous civilizations, dating back thousands of years. Its collection features over one million objects, ranging from ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets to intricately carved Hellenistic stone sarcophagi, a snake’s head from the Hippodrome’s Serpentine Column, and a chunk of the massive chain that once blocked enemy ships from sailing into the Golden Horn.

Topkapı Palace

Best museum for decadent displays

Topkapı Palace, the grand former residence of the Ottoman sultans, dazzles with brilliantly colored tiles, gleaming marble, and gilded mirrors. It has been designated a museum in its entirety. Within its lavishly decorated spaces, visitors can explore an array of eye-popping collections. The Treasury houses jewel-encrusted daggers, an 86-carat diamond, and a throne inlaid with mother of pearl. Furthermore, the former Palace Kitchens showcase an impressive array of fine Chinese porcelain.

Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts

Best museum for craftsmanship

Masterful examples of calligraphy, carpets, ceramics, carved columns, illuminated manuscripts, and inlaid wood fill the rooms of this exquisite 16th-century palace, which formerly housed the high-ranking Ottoman official İbrahim Paşa. With a well-selected showcase from the 8th to the 19th centuries, the Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts is an excellent venue to witness the evolution of various Islamic art forms throughout the broader Middle East.

Pera Museum

Best museum for old Istanbul scenes

Just steps away from the bustling İstiklal Caddesi, you can discover a serene depiction of Istanbul in the rich collection of paintings from the 17th to early 20th centuries at the Pera Museum. This permanent exhibition features works by both European and Ottoman/Turkish artists, complemented by smaller exhibits of Kütahya tiles, ceramics, and Anatolian weights and measures, along with temporary displays of contemporary art.

Museum of Great Palace Mosaics

Best museum for imagining the Byzantine past

Much of Istanbul’s Sultanahmet neighborhood is built atop the ruins of the vast Byzantine palace erected by Constantine the Great. Hints of its former magnificence are best viewed in the Museum of Great Palace Mosaics, which rests above an expansive mosaic that depicts captivating hunting and mythological scenes. Interestingly, this mosaic is believed to represent less than a tenth of the decorative floor piece that once adorned the palace.

Carpet Museum

Best museum for textile aficionados

Showcasing an impressive collection of Anatolian carpets dating from the 14th to 20th centuries, representing various techniques, styles, and uses, the Carpet Museum occupies a former soup kitchen adjacent to the Aya Sofya. The craftsmanship of these carpets is further enhanced by informative panels explaining the significance of different motifs woven into the rugs.

Istanbul Modern

Best museum for contemporary art

Leap from the past into contemporary culture at Istanbul Modern, the country’s foremost museum for modern and contemporary art. This gallery is an ideal spot to discover the works of established and emerging Turkish artists. Currently located in a historic building near İstiklal Caddesi, the museum is anticipated to relocate to its new Renzo Piano-designed facility in Tophane in late 2021 or early 2022.

Rahmi M Koç Museum

Best museum for families

Planes, trains, and automobiles are just a fraction of the diverse exhibits you will find in this expansive museum on the Golden Horn dedicated to transport, industry, and communications. The wildly eclectic collection at the Rahmi M Koç Museum ranges from elaborate dollhouses to classic cars, ships in bottles, and even hats belonging to former Turkish leaders. Many exhibits are interactive, making it a perfect destination for families.

Galata Mevlevi House Museum

Best museum for Rumi fans

This dervish lodge located in the Galata neighborhood serves as a museum dedicated to the traditions of the Mevlevi, a Sufi religious order established by the followers of poet and mystic Celaleddin Rumi. Within the Galata Mevlevi House Museum, exhibits cover Sufism, the arts practiced in the lodge such as glassblowing and bookbinding, daily life within the lodge, musical instruments played by the dervishes, as well as calligraphy, ebru (paper marbling), and other classical arts. Moreover, Mevlevi ceremonies, including the renowned whirling dance, still occur in the octagonal wooden hall at the center of the museum complex.

Museum of Innocence

Best museum for literary types

This intriguing establishment might blur the lines between a museum and a narrative experience as it showcases a house in the Çukurcuma neighborhood that serves as a companion piece to Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk’s novel of the same name. Even if you haven’t read the book, the objects on display at the Museum of Innocence paint a captivating picture of daily life in mid- to late-20th century Istanbul.

Visiting Museums in Istanbul

Your trip to Istanbul may warrant consideration of the MuseumPass Istanbul, available for 360TL ($26), which grants access to 13 cultural institutions over a five-day span. However, it is wise to review the list of included museums and evaluate whether the pass aligns with your itinerary. Specifically, if your plans include visits to prominent sites like Topkapı Palace and Galata Tower, purchasing the pass could be advantageous. Additionally, the pass allows you to bypass ticket lines, which can be notably long during peak tourist seasons.