The price and the rules
€17 for foreign visitors; the ticket office closes at 5:30pm. The MüzeKart is for Turkish citizens only; foreigners can use the Museum Pass Istanbul (€105, valid 5 days, one entry per museum). An audio guide is available on site. Buy online at muze.gov.tr to skip the desk queue.
Official ticket or fast-track?
| Ministry ticket | GetYourGuide fast-track | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €17 | see the listing |
| Skip the line | no | yes, per the listing |
| Audio guide | to hire | per the listing |
| Museum Pass | accepted | check |
This museum is very quiet; the desk queue is not the problem. The fast-track offer mainly makes sense if you like to book everything ahead and pay in euros or dollars: compare the final price with €17.
What is worth the visit
The carpets: 13th-century Seljuk pieces and large Ottoman carpets, the main reason to come. Then the ethnographic section (19th-century Istanbul interiors), manuscripts, Qurans and ceramics. The building is Ibrahim Pasha's palace (1520), on Sultanahmet Square, opposite the Blue Mosque. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Our page: Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
Do you need the Museum Pass?
If you also see the Archaeological Museums (€15), the Galata Tower (€30) and the Maiden's Tower (€27), add it up before buying the €105 pass: see the museum pass and foreigner fees. The museum pairs well with the Basilica Cistern and the Sultanahmet district.
Frequently asked questions
When is it open? Daily, 9am to 6:30pm.
How long does it take? About an hour and a half to two hours.
The Istanbul Authority editorial team, 30 October 2026.
