The five museums to do first
1. Topkapı Palace
The palace of the sultans for nearly four centuries holds the treasury, the relics, the kitchens and the harem. It is the longest and most expensive visit in the city (2,750 TL for the combined palace + harem + Hagia Irene ticket), and it is closed on Tuesdays. Everything is detailed on the Topkapı Palace page.
2. The archaeological museums
Three buildings, including the so-called Alexander Sarcophagus and the finds from Sidon, for €15: the best value of the big museums. See the archaeological museums page; they are open every day.
3. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
In the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, facing the Blue Mosque: carpets, calligraphy, objects of Ottoman daily life (€17, every day). It is detailed on the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts page.
4. The Chora Church (Saint Saviour in Chora)
The Byzantine church of Chora (Kariye Mosque) holds the finest 14th-century mosaics and frescoes in the city. Entry is €20 for foreign visitors, and it is closed on Fridays: see Saint Saviour in Chora.
5. Istanbul Modern
The modern and contemporary art museum in Karaköy, with a café on the Bosphorus (1,000 TL, closed Mondays). See Istanbul Modern.
Palaces and history
| Museum | What you see | Closing day | Foreign adult price (Oct. 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolmabahçe Palace | The European-style palace of the 19th century | Monday | 2,000 TL |
| Beylerbeyi Palace | Summer palace on the Asian shore | Monday | 800 TL |
| Hagia Sophia History Museum | 1,700 years of history in 13 rooms | None | €25 |
| Panorama 1453 Museum | The fall of Constantinople in 360° | Monday | 900 TL |
| Naval Museum | Imperial caïques | Monday | 750 TL (check on site) |
| Military Museum | Weapons, tents, mehter band | Closed for restoration since 1 June 2026 | — |
| Galata Tower | 360° view over the city | None | €30 |
Art, collections and more intimate places
- Pera Museum: Osman Hamdi Bey's "The Tortoise Trainer", Orientalism, weights and measures; 450 TL, free on Fridays from 6pm to 10pm.
- Sakıp Sabancı Museum: calligraphy and major exhibitions in Emirgan; 450 TL, free on Tuesdays.
- Rahmi M. Koç Museum: trains, aircraft, a submarine and machines on the Golden Horn; 1,000 TL, closed Mondays. A good choice with children.
- Museum of Innocence: the museum imagined by Orhan Pamuk; 800 TL, closed Mondays.
- Arter and SALT Galata: contemporary art and archives, in our guide to contemporary art.
- Jewish Museum of Turkey: five centuries of Sephardic history, in the Neve Shalom synagogue.
- Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam: reconstructions of instruments, in Gülhane Park.
- Carpet Museum: Uşak carpets and prayer carpets near Hagia Sophia; opening hours to be confirmed by phone.
Which to choose for your stay?
- One day only: Hagia Sophia, then the archaeological museums or Topkapı, never all three. See Istanbul in one day.
- With children: Rahmi M. Koç, Panorama 1453, the science museum in Gülhane; more ideas in Istanbul with children.
- Rainy day: all the museums above, see what to do when it rains.
- Small budget: Friday evening at the Pera Museum, Tuesday at Sakıp Sabancı, and the free exhibitions in the free Istanbul guide.
Saving on tickets
Four big Ministry sites in the same week make the Museum Pass worthwhile: read our guide to the Museum Pass and Müzekart. To avoid turning up on your museum's closing day, check the list of museums open on Monday.
Prices seen in October 2026 on the museums' and the Ministry of Culture's websites.
