Museums in Istanbul

Gokce Nacar

Feb 28 1224 read

Istanbul is one of the most important cities in the world in terms of history and cultural and religious heritage, as it is the cradle of many previous civilizations that lived on its land, and perhaps the two most important civilizations are the Ottoman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. All these factors led to the cultural enrichment of this country and made it one of the most attractive cities in the world for tourists and those wishing to reside on its lands.

Istanbul alone contains more than 80 museums, all of which are distinguished by their artistic, historical, and cultural differences from each other. Some of these museums in Istanbul are palaces, churches, or mosques, in addition to museums related to history, classical artists, contemporary or modern art, photography, or temporary and permanent exhibitions.

1. Hagia Sophia In Istanbul

This museum is located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the world’s greatest architectural works and accepted as the 8th wonder of the world and one of the most impressive buildings in Istanbul, and is a magnet for a huge number of tourists who want to stroll through its corridors and get the most beautiful pictures of memorials in it. The history of this museum goes back to the days of the Byzantine Empire, where this building was established as a church, and upon the Ottoman invasion of Constantinople under the leadership of the famous Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, this building was converted into a mosque and in 1935 this building was converted into a museum. This building continued to function as a museum until 2020 when part of the building was restored as a mosque. Inside, visitors will find giant tablets with Islamic inscriptions hanging next to dazzling Christian mosaics built into domes and walls.

2. Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace Museum is located in the historical peninsula overlooking both the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus from Sultanahmet. In this palace lived the Ottoman sultans and their wives, as well as the courtiers, officials, and their families. This palace was built in 1453 by the famous Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. This museum narrates an important part of the history of the Ottoman Empire and provides visitors with a glimpse of royal life in the Ottoman era. Decorated with magnificent Iznik tiles, this museum displays a huge collection of artifacts including empire jewels, weapons and weapons of Umayyad and Ottoman origin, and even relics attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.

3. Basilica Cistern Museum in Istanbul

Right next to the Hagia Sophia is one of the most charming buildings in all of Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern is a large groundwater reservoir. The cistern has 336 columns, two of which are shaped like Medusa heads. As the legend says, Medusa is one of the Gorgons of Greek mythology and was used to protect this great building.

4. Istanbul Archaeology Museums In Istanbul

Located in the Sultanahmet district and one of the world's richest museums in terms of the quantity and diversity of antiquities and artifacts in it. It consists of three museums (the Museum of Antiquities, the Ancient East, and the Tiled Pavilion), all of them in one location. In these museums, you will see a huge collection of artifacts and relics dating back to the oldest civilizations, including prehistoric, Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman sculptures, as well as countless carvings and sarcophagi.

5. Dolmabahce Palace Museum In Istanbul

This breathtaking, magnificent palace is located on the banks of the Bosphorus, in the Besiktas district. This palace contains more than fifty thousand rare artifacts in its countless rooms. In addition, the interior design of this palace reflects the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, which simulates the grandeur of the most luxurious European palaces.

6. Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts In Istanbul

Located in Sultanahmet district inside the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, it shows illuminated Qurans, miniatures, antique carpets that date back to the Ottoman era.

7. Istanbul Modern Art Museum In Istanbul

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is located in Beyoglu and is a museum specializing in modern and contemporary art and includes permanent and temporary galleries and a photography exhibition. It also contains a cinema, restaurant, and library.

Tips and Advice While Visiting Istanbul

When you visit Istanbul museums, you may be surprised by some things that you didn't know about previously, so here there are some useful tips that may make it easier for you to visit museums and enter them easily:

• Most Istanbul museums open six days a week and close on Mondays.

• Some museums that are not roofed may close during the winter seasons and open their doors to receive visitors in the spring, summer, and fall periods. Therefore, it is preferable to review the museum’s website before visiting it to ensure its readiness to receive visitors.

• Getting tickets to skip the lines is very useful to avoid long waiting lines, especially when visiting Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and Dolmabahce Palace.