begüm Istanbul has hosted countless civilizations for centuries and, with its historic texture and cultural richness, is like an open-air museum. With the Istanbul Museum Pass, you can explore a wide range of collections and unique stories that take you back thousands of years. The museums you should see in Istanbul are endless—once you start visiting, you’ll want to see even more!
In this article, I have compiled the museums in Istanbul that are a must-visit and those where the Museum Pass is valid, based on my own visits.
Now, let’s get to the main point! In this guide, you will find the museums in Istanbul you must see, along with their entrance fees and visiting hours.
List of Istanbul Museums
- 1Pera Museum
- 2Hagia Sophia Museum
- 3Rahmi Koç Museum
- 4Dolmabahçe Palace Museum
- 5Topkapı Palace Museum
- 6National Palaces Painting Museum
- 7Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum
- 8Aşiyan Museum
- 9Archaeology Museum
- 10Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
- 11Atatürk Marine Mansion Museum
- 12Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
- 13Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum
- 14Panorama 1453 Museum
- 15Türkiye İş Bankası Museum
Istanbul Museums Map
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Museums in Istanbul That Can Be Visited for Free
Salt Beyoğlu ve Salt Galata
Salt Galata is a historic building that served as the headquarters of the Ottoman Bank between 1892 and 1999 and today houses the Ottoman Bank Museum (OBM). Established in 2002 within the Ottoman Bank Archive and Research Centre, it was the first museum in Turkey founded by a private bank. Exhibits are displayed in the building’s vaults and on its floors.
The museum is free to enter in 2025 and can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00–19:00, and on Sundays, 11:00–18:00.
Türkiye İş Bankası Museums
The Türkiye İş Bankası Museum is located in Eminönü, Istanbul and represents Turkey’s first national bank. It opened in 2007 in the historic Yenicami Branch building to celebrate the bank’s 85th anniversary. This building has hosted important activities of Türkiye İş Bankası since 1924 and carries traces of banking history.
Inside the museum, visitors can see early accounting machines, safes, antique banknotes, various advertising posters, and old documents from the bank’s first years. Entrance Fee (2025): Free.
Sakıp Sabancı Museum
The Sakıp Sabancı Museum hosts temporary exhibitions, bringing the works of many artists to art lovers. Located in Emirgan, Istanbul, the museum can be visited for free on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 18:00. On other days, 2025 entrance fees are 300 TL for adults and 210 TL for discounted tickets. During December and January, full-price tickets are 30% off every Friday. A perfect chance for a day full of art!
Istanbul Modern Museum
Istanbul Modern Museum
Located in Karaköy – Galataport, Istanbul Modern offers a great opportunity for young people eager to explore art. On Thursdays and Tuesdays from 10:00 to 14:00, it is free for residents of Turkey aged 18–25. On other days, 2025 ticket prices are 400 TL for a full ticket and 220 TL for a discounted ticket. If you want a creative and artistic break, don’t miss this opportunity! CLICK HERE for tickets!
Pera Museums
Located in the heart of Beyoğlu, the Pera Museum offers a fantastic opportunity for art lovers! If you are a student, you can visit the museum for free every Wednesday or attend Pera Film screenings at no cost. Additionally, on Fridays after 18:00, the museum opens its doors to everyone for free.
On other days of the week, the 2025 entrance fees are 300 TL for a full ticket and 150 TL for a discounted ticket. If you want to explore this enchanting museum for free, make sure to plan your visit on Wednesday or Friday!
Istanbul Museums and Entrance Fees
Hagia Sophia Museum
Hagia Sophia is one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul and has served both as a church and a mosque throughout history. Perhaps it is one of the Eight Wonders of the World, who knows? 🙂 Built as a church in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it became one of the most important religious buildings of its time due to its architecture and mosaics.
After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, it was converted into a mosque and served as an important place of worship in the Islamic world for nearly 500 years. In 1935, it opened as a museum. The Museum Pass is no longer valid.
Entrance Fees (2025):
- Mosque area: Free
- Upper floor: 25 Euros for foreign visitors, 850 TL for Turkish citizens
Visiting Hours:
- November–15 April: 09:00–17:00
- 15 April–31 October: 09:00–19:00
For tickets to the Hagia Sophia Museum, CLICK HERE!
Rahmi Koç Müzesi
The Rahmi Koç Museum is located on the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Opened in 1994, it is Turkey’s first and most comprehensive industrial museum. The museum displays a wide range of exhibits, from steam trains to classic cars, submarines, and historic airplanes. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a vast exhibition space. It is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of technology and industry.
The Rahmi Koç Museum is closed on Mondays. Visiting Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 09:30–17:00, Saturday–Sunday: 10:00–18:00.
Entrance Fees (2025):
Student Groups: 130 TL
Adults: 350 TL
Students: 180 TL
Dolmabahçe Palace Museums
Dolmabahçe Palace, with its magnificent Ottoman architecture, is located on the Bosphorus in Istanbul. It was built in 1856 by Sultan Abdülmecid. The palace is also known as the place where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, spent his last days. Today, it continues to operate as a museum.
Inside Dolmabahçe Palace, there is the room where Atatürk passed away, which is highly recommended to visit. The palace is divided into three sections: Selamlık, Harem, and the Painting Museum. For those wishing to visit Selamlık, Harem, and the Painting Museum together, the 2025 entrance fee is 200 TL for local visitors and 1,500 TL for foreign visitors.
The Museum Pass is valid, but not in the Selamlık section of Dolmabahçe Palace. To avoid queues and for an audio guide, CLICK HERE!
Topkapı Palace Museums
Topkapı Palace is located on Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula and is a captivating palace that served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. Built by Sultan Mehmed II (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) in the 15th century, Topkapı Palace was the political, cultural, and administrative heart of the empire. Today, it operates as a museum, displaying valuable collections from the Ottoman period.
Visiting Topkapı Palace is divided into three sections: Topkapı Palace, Aya İrini, and the Harem. However, the Museum Pass is not valid in the Harem and Aya İrini sections.
Topkapı Palace 2025 Entrance Fees:
Combined Ticket (Topkapı Palace + Aya İrini + Harem)
- Local Visitors: 350 TL
- Foreign Visitors: 2,000 TL
- Discounted Ticket: 150 TL
Harem
- Local Visitors: 200 TL
- Foreign Visitors: 750 TL
- Discounted Ticket: 100 TL
Aya İrini
- Local Visitors: 150 TL
- Foreign Visitors: 750 TL
- Discounted Ticket: 75 TL
School Student Groups
- Discounted Ticket: 60 TL
National Palaces Painting Museum
The National Palaces Painting Museum is located within Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. It is one of the city’s museums showcasing some of the most valuable examples of Turkish painting art. The museum holds a wide collection of paintings from the Ottoman and early Republican periods. Its collection includes works by renowned painters such as Osman Hamdi Bey, Şeker Ahmet Paşa, Halil Paşa, and Zonaro.
Visiting Hours: Closed on Mondays, open 09:00–17:00.
Entrance Fees (2025):
- Local Visitors: 125 TL
- Foreign Visitors: 450 TL
To avoid queues and for an audio guide, CLICK HERE!
Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture
The Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, established in 1937 under the directives of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is Turkey’s first fine arts museum and an important cultural centre showcasing the country’s artistic heritage. The museum exhibits significant works by pioneering Turkish artists such as Osman Hamdi Bey, İbrahim Çallı, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, and Fikret Mualla. Visiting Hours: Tuesday 10:00–20:00, other days 10:00–17:00, closed on Mondays. Entrance Fees (2025): Full ticket: 120 TL, Discounted ticket: 60 TL, Non-Turkish citizens: 300 TL.
Aşiyan Museum
The Aşiyan Museum is a historic house overlooking the Bosphorus, where the famous Turkish poet Tevfik Fikret lived and wrote his works. Converted into a museum in 1945, Aşiyan was established to preserve Tevfik Fikret’s memories and to convey the legacy of important figures in Turkish literature to future generations. The rooms display Fikret’s personal belongings, original manuscripts, and drawings, as well as items from other contemporary literary figures like Abdülhak Hamid Tarhan and Cenap Şahabettin. I believe it should be included in any Istanbul museum list just for the view! Visiting Hours (2025): 09:00–16:00, free entry without a Museum Pass.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is one of the most important museums in Turkey and the world, and also one of our favourites! It was established in 1891 by Osman Hamdi Bey and was the first museum opened during the Ottoman Empire. The Archaeology Museum consists of three main sections: the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum.
The museum exhibits sculptures, sarcophagi, tablets, and everyday items from various civilizations. Entrance Fee (2025): 15 EUR. Museum Pass holders can enter for free. Opening Hours: 09:00, with the last entry at 17:30.r.
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum opened in 1914 and showcases some of the finest examples of Turkish-Islamic art. It is located in Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul. Originally opened in the imaret building of the Süleymaniye Mosque complex, one of Mimar Sinan’s most important works, it moved in 1983 to the İbrahim Pasha Palace on the west side of Sultanahmet Square.
The collection includes handwritten Qur’ans, calligraphy works, ceramics, carpets, wood and stone carvings, and many rare pieces. Museum Pass is valid for Turkish citizens. Entrance Fee (2025): 17 EUR. Opening Hours: 09:00–18:30. To avoid queues and for an audio guide, CLICK HERE!
Atatürk Marine Mansion Museum
The Atatürk Marine Mansion Museum, located in the Şenlikköy neighbourhood of Bakırköy in Istanbul, is a historic mansion. Built in 1929, it served as an important place for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to rest and work during his stays in Istanbul.
The museum displays items, photographs, clothing, and personal belongings related to Atatürk’s life in the mansion. It also preserves memories from the period when he held private meetings, went on yacht trips, and conducted marine excursions. The Museum Pass is not valid here.
Entrance Fees (2025):
- Adults: 10 TL
- Students: 5 TL
Visiting Hours: Closed on Mondays. Visits are by appointment on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and on national holidays from 13:00 to 17:00.
Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
The Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, located in Gülhane Park in Istanbul, is Turkey’s first museum dedicated to showcasing the contributions of the Islamic world to science and technology. Opened in 2008, the museum was established through the work of Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin to highlight scientific studies and inventions in the medieval Islamic world.
Inside the museum, visitors can see devices, maps, tools, and models developed in various fields of science, including astronomy, medicine, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and geography.
Visiting Hours: Opening at 09:00 and closing at 18:30.
Entrance Fee (2025): 10 EUR. Turkish citizens can enter free of charge with the Museum Pass.
Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museums
The Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum is designed to present Hagia Sophia and its history to visitors through an interactive experience. The museum covers the journey of Hagia Sophia from its construction during the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman period, including information about its architecture, mosaics, and religious significance.
Through digital presentations and simulations, visitors can witness the past of Hagia Sophia more closely and explore details about life during that period.
Entrance Fees (2025):
Foreign Visitors: 25 Euros
Museum Pass is not valid here. To avoid queues and for an audio guide, CLICK HERE!
Turkish Citizens: 425 TL
Panorama 1453 Museums
The Panorama 1453 Museum is an impressive history museum in Istanbul that presents the city’s conquest through a visual and auditory experience. It showcases the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmed II (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) in 1453 in a panoramic setting.
The museum features a massive 360-degree panoramic show, where the moments when the walls were breached and Ottoman soldiers overcame the Byzantine defence are brought to life with realistic sound effects and detailed illustrations.
Visiting Hours: The Panorama 1453 Museum is open daily from 08:00 to 18:30. Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.
Entrance Fees (2025):
Students/Teachers: 55 TL
Foreign Visitors: 715 TL
Turkish Visitors: 165 TL
This concludes our article on Istanbul Museums. See you in the next article.
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