Atatürk Museum in Şişli: The Atatürk Family Home, Opening Hours and Visit
The Atatürk Museum (Atatürk Müzesi), in a large house on Halaskargazi Street in Şişli, was the home of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during his stays in Istanbul from December 1918 to May 1919, at the start of the War of Independence. He lived there as a tenant. Istanbul's municipality bought the house on 28 May 1928 and opened it to the public on 15 June 1942 as the Atatürk Revolution Museum. It is a small, quiet, free museum run by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, worth a visit if you are interested in the founding of modern Turkey. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Highlights
The house
The large town house gives an idea of the life of a well-off Istanbul family in the early 20th century. It burned in 1962, was restored in 1977 and in 1989-1991, then fully renovated in 2014-2015.
The personal belongings
Clothes, uniforms, photographs from his civilian and military life, handwritten documents, medals and memorabilia: pieces cited by the municipality include his marshal's uniform, the suit worn at the Sivas Congress and a radio-phonograph in a wooden cabinet given by US President Roosevelt.
The paintings and the library
The museum also shows oil paintings and watercolours about the Greek occupation of Izmir, and a library of books about Atatürk. Texts are mostly in Turkish and English panels are rare: an audio guide or a translation app helps.
The Şişli and Nişantaşı neighbourhood
Halaskargazi Street links Harbiye and Osmanbey, in the heart of an area of cafés, boutiques and early 20th-century buildings. Continue with a stroll through Nişantaşı.
Practical info
Tips
- Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm and closed on Monday; groups must book in advance. National holidays, for example 10 November (anniversary of Atatürk's death) and 29 October (Republic Day), can change the hours and draw crowds: check before you come. Security checks at the entrance are possible (open your bag) and photography may be restricted in some rooms. Information taken from public sources in October 2026, to be confirmed on site; the museum belongs to the Istanbul municipality (kutuphanemuzeler@ibb.gov.tr). To compare with other free entries, see our free museums in Istanbul.
How to get there
Halaskargazi Caddesi No. 140, Şişli, Istanbul. M2 metro, Osmanbey or Harbiye station, about 10 minutes' walk along Halaskargazi Street; many buses also stop in front. See our guide to getting around Istanbul.
Opening hours
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