GeziBilen · Digital Guide
From Pera Museum to Topkapi Palace, from Istanbul Modern, which bears the traces of modern art, to the Archaeological Museum, each museum invites you to a journey through time. This cultural heritage, which is spread in every corner of the city, offers travelers an unforgettable learning and discovery experience.
1. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, opened in 1914, is located in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace. The museum, which contains works from many civilizations from the Ottoman to the Seljuk, is world-famous for its carpet collection.
2. Istanbul Archaeological Museum
The Istanbul Archaeological Museum displays hundreds of thousands of artifacts brought from the vast lands of the Ottoman Empire. The Neo-Classical architecture was founded under the leadership of Osman Hamdi Bey and consists of three different buildings.
3. Maritime Museum
Founded in 1897, the Maritime Museum is the largest maritime museum in Turkey and is located in Beşiktaş. It exhibits maritime history with more than 20 thousand artifacts, imperial barges and objects belonging to Atatürk.
4. Pera Museum
Pera Museum, opened in Beyoğlu in 2005, contains many works such as Osman Hamdi Bey's famous work The Tortoise Trainer. The museum is a center of culture and art with its exhibitions and events.
5. Ottoman Bank Museum
The Ottoman Bank Museum in Beyoğlu displays objects and banking history from the late Ottoman and early Republican periods. The restored building offers a modern ambiance.
6. Galata Mevlevi Lodge Museum
Galata Mevlevi Lodge, built in the 15th century in Istanbul, has been serving as a museum since 1975. The museum exhibits manuscripts and Ottoman-era memorabilia.
7. Hagia Irene Church Museum
Built in the 330s, the Hagia Irene Church is the largest Byzantine church in Istanbul that has not been converted into a mosque. The historic building can only be visited with permission from the Hagia Sophia Museum.
8. Museum of Ancient Orient
Founded in 1883, the Museum of Ancient Oriental Works contains works from the pre-Islamic period in Mesopotamia and Anatolia. It became a museum thanks to the efforts of Osman Hamdi Bey.
9. The 500th Year Foundation Turkish Jewish Museum
Opened in 2001, the Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews displays the history and culture of Turkish Jews. It is located close to the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul.
10. Great Palace Mosaics Museum
The Great Palace Mosaics Museum in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, exhibits mosaics dating back to 450-550. The mosaics are inspired by daily life and nature.
11. Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum
The Glass and Billur Museum in Beykoz exhibits rare examples of Ottoman and European glass art. Its garden is a botanical museum with 117 species of trees.
12. Turkish Is Bank Museum
The Türkiye İş Bankası Museum, opened in 2007, displays the bank's history from 1924 to the present. Banking instruments, promotional materials and documents can be seen in the museum.
13. Sakıp Sabancı Museum (Horse Mansion)
Sakıp Sabancı Museum in Emirgan houses collections of paintings and calligraphy from the Ottoman and early Republican periods. The mansion stands out with its location overlooking the Bosphorus.
