İstanbul Archaeological Museum

The complex, which consists of three main units, namely the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Ancient Oriental Art and the Tiled Pavilion Museum, is among the largest museums in the world with more than one million artefacts.

The museum exhibits artefacts from North Africa, the Balkans, Mesopotamia, Anatolia and the Arabian Peninsula within the Ottoman territory.

In the museum, which attracts the attention of visitors after the recent decoration, the Alexander Sarcophagus, which takes its name from the reliefs of Alexander on it, and the Kadesh Treaty, which was made in the 13th century BC and is the world's first international written treaty, are also exhibited. 

Museum of Turkish and İslamic Art 

The magnificent Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, which collects works of Islamic and Turkish art together, was opened in 1913.

Full of handicrafts revealing the aesthetics of the Seljuk period, artefacts such as manuscript books, coats of arms, glass objects, textiles and rare carpets made by the hands of young girls 800 years ago await visitors. 

Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum

Hagia Sophia, one of the most important monuments of world architectural history that has survived to the present day, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, splendour, size and functionality.

Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, which was opened to visitors in the Defter-i Hakani Nezareti building, tells the 1700-year history of this magnificent building Hagia Sophia. 

Topkapı Palace

Covering an area of approximately 350,000 square metres, excluding Gülhane Park, Topkapı Palace, the centre of the Ottoman Empire, is one of the largest museum-palaces in the world with its buildings, architecture, collections and approximately 300,000 archive documents.

There are many things waiting for your visit in Topkapı Palace, from the personal belongings of the Sultans to the priceless Kaşıkçı diamond, from the Holy Relics to the intriguing Harem Apartment.

For more detailed information about Topkapı Palace, you can read our Topkapı Palace news. 

İstanbul Naval Museum

With its nearly 20 thousand collections, the İstanbul Naval Museum, which sheds light on Turkish maritime history, was established in 1897.

The 15th century Historic Galley, Atatürk's records, sultanate boats and many other artefacts are exhibited in the museum, which is Türkiye's largest maritime museum. 

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace, built by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I in 1843, stands out with its Baroque style architecture.

During the Republican period, the palace was used as a residence during Atatürk's visits to İstanbul.

Dolmabahçe Palace was opened to tourism on 25 June 1979 with the order of the President of the National Assembly No. 554. 

Harbiye Military Museum

The Harbiye Military Museum, located in the building built in 1862 as the Mekteb-i Harbiye building, exhibits military technology artefacts from the establishment of the Turkish Army to the Ottoman Empire, from the First World War to the present day.

In addition, you can watch the mehter concert between 15.00-16.00 every day when the museum is open in the museum, where artefacts such as the chain with which Byzantium closed the Golden Horn during the conquest of Istanbul, cannon and bomber aircraft used in the Çanakkale War are exhibited. 

Kariye Museum

Located in Edirnekapı, it was the centre of the Khoara Monastery, a large building ensemble during the Eastern Roman Empire. It continued to function as a church for fifty-eight years after the Conquest of İstanbul. The church, famous for its mosaics, was converted into a mosque in 1511.

Declared a national monument in 1945, the building was turned into a museum under the Museums Administration in 1948 with the decision of the Council of Ministers. Kariye, one of the most visited museums in Türkiye, was transferred to the Presidency of Religious Affairs in 2019.

Kariye Museum, known worldwide for its mosaics and frescoes, has colourful and patterned marble decorations as well as mosaics. 

Rahmi Koç Museum

The Rahmi Koç Museum, opened in 1994 with the support of businessman Rahmi Koç on the shores of the Golden Horn, presents the progress of industry, transport, industry and communication in Türkiye from the beginning to the present day.

The museum, which exhibits many artefacts such as the TCG Uluç Ali Reis Submarine, the Fenerbahçe Ferry built in 1952, fighter planes used in World War II and classic cars, is waiting for its visitors in Hasköy. 

Sakıp Sabancı Museum

The Sakıp Sabancı Museum, which opened in 2002 in the Atlı Köşk, stands out with its collection of 14th-20th century Korans, copies of calligraphy and a rich collection of paintings from Tanzimat to the Republic.