ISTANBUL MUSEUMS Entry Fees & Hours [Updated 2023]

Entry fees and visiting hours of Istanbul Museums change every year. For this reason, the article needs to be updated frequently. Even the statuses of some museums have changed since 2018, when I first wrote this article.

For example, Hagia Sophia and Kariye (Chora) are no longer museums. Both of them started serving as mosques and are now possible to visit for free. On the other hand, Istanbul Museum Pass is valid in some museums on the list and not in others.

For all these reasons, I have updated this article, which includes the ticket prices and opening hours of Istanbul Museums, for the year 2023. I hope it will be useful to those who will visit the city.

Istanbul Museums Entry Fees and Hours 2023

In this article, I would like to introduce you to the 10 best museums of Istanbul. Most of these museums are located in Sultanahmet, the heart of Istanbul Old City. However, there are also museums located in popular districts such as Beyoglu and Besiktas. One of the museums on our list is located on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Under the main titles named after the museums, I first shared brief information about the history of the museums. Then, you can find the entry fees and opening hours of Istanbul museums in the subtitles.

For some museums, it is possible to buy tickets online and join guided group tours. Skip-the-line tickets with a guided tour cost a little more than standard museum tickets.

However, it saves you time and allows you to get information by traveling with a licensed guide. You can make reservations for these tours by clicking the links I marked in blue under the relevant title.

1. Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is located in Sultanahmet, which is considered the old city of Istanbul. Hagia Sophia is the most important tourist attraction in Istanbul and welcomes approximately 3 million visitors a year.

The Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was completed in only 5 years and 10 months. Given the technology of the 6th century, it is difficult to believe how it was finished so quickly.

Hagia Sophia Guided Tour Tickets

Since it will be difficult to grasp the history of Hagia Sophia on a single visit, it is recommended to take a guided tour. You can buy guided tour tickets for Hagia Sophia by clicking this link.

Hagia Sophia Opening Hours

Hagia Sophia opening hours are from 10:00 to 23:00. Normally, mosques in Istanbul are closed to tourist visits during prayer time. However, this practice is a little more flexible in Hagia Sophia.

If you come across the prayer time, you may not be allowed to go beyond the barriers in the middle of the main place of Hagia Sophia. However, you still have the chance to observe the magnificent dome of the building.

Although your experience of visiting Hagia Sophia during prayer times is limited, you can at least have a chance to go inside and have a look. The Blue Mosque and other Istanbul mosques are completely closed during worship.

The information presented here about Hagia Sophia was updated on January 1, 2023.

Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee

Hagia Sophia entrance fee was 100 Turkish Liras before it was converted into a mosque. Tickets are no longer sold at the entrance and Ayasofya can be visited free of charge like other mosques in Istanbul.

2. Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is located in Sultanahmet and very close to Hagia Sophia. Topkapi Palace was the place where Ottoman sultans lived between 1461 and 1856. 25 Ottoman sultans lived here with their families.

Ottoman sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace located on the Bosphorus after 1856. Although Topkapi Palace was not used after this date, it was well preserved and turned into a museum during the republican period.

Topkapi Palace is a complex consisting of many buildings. A standard visit to the Topkapi Palace does not include other museums within the same complex as the Harem and Istanbul Archeology Museums. separate tickets are required for each of these sections.

Topkapi Palace Guided Tour Tickets

There may be long lines at the entrance of the palace in high tourist season. If you purchase skip-the-line tickets, you will get the fast track advantage. You can buy guided tour tickets for Topkapi Palace by clicking this link.

Topkapı Palace Opening Hours

Topkapi Palace opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:00. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. Topkapi Palace is closed to visitors on Tuesdays.

Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee

Topkapi Palace entrance fee is 320 Turkish Lira. Hagia Irene Church is included in this price. An extra 150 TL must be paid for the Harem visit. The Istanbul Museum Pass is valid for all these sections in the palace.

The price of the combined ticket, which includes all sections of Topkapi Palace (Palace, Harem and Hagia Irene), is 420 Turkish Liras. If you want to see the Harem for sure, this ticket offers you the most reasonable price.

Ticket prices and visiting hours for Topkapi Palace were last updated on January 1, 2023.

3. Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is the largest of the Byzantine underground cisterns in Istanbul. Built in the same period as Hagia Sophia, the cistern has a history of 1500 years. Apart from the Basilica Cistern, there are two other important cisterns in the vicinity, such as Cistern of Philoxenos and Theodosius Cistern.

Theodosius Cistern, which is only a few blocks away, has recently been opened to visitors and is free for now. Apart from these two, the Sarnic Restaurant, which has emerged with the transformation of a 1500-year-old cistern into a restaurant, also has a beautiful ambience.

Basilica Cistern Opening Hours

Basilica Cistern opening hours are from 9 am to 6:00 pm. The cistern is open to visitors every day of the week throughout the year.

Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee

Basilica Cistern entrance fee is 190 Turkish lira. Museum Pass Istanbul is NOT valid for Basilica Cistern. Please note that you can pay by cash and credit card at the box office, but foreign currency is not accepted.

Ticket prices and visiting hours for Basilica Cistern were last updated on January 1, 2023.

4. Galata Tower

Galata Tower is a very suitable place to take photos of Istanbul. Galata Tower, which offers a 360-degree view, is located in Beyoglu district. Galata Tower was built by the Genoese trade colony during the Byzantine period.

Genoese and Venetians, who were Italian trade colonies, had a presence in the city for many years. Goods from the Silk Road were transported to Europe by these maritime colonies in both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Galata Tower Opening Hours

Galata Tower opening hours are between 08:30 and 23:00. Galata Tower is open to visitors every day throughout the year. It is recommended to visit Galata Tower early in the morning. Especially on weekends, there are long queues at the entrance in the afternoon.

Galata Tower Entrance Fee

Galata Tower entrance fee is 175 Turkish Liras. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid here. Ticket prices and visiting hours for Galata Tower were last updated on January 1, 2023.

5. Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace is a magnificent palace built on the shores of the Bosphorus. Representing the late Ottoman architecture, the palace was built in the 19th century.

Sultans lived in the classical Topkapi Palace in the Historical Peninsula for 400 years. However, they moved to the modern Dolmabahce Palace in 1850. This period was also the times of Westernization in the Ottoman Empire.

Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour Tickets

The palace is crowded during high tourist season. There is no way to bypass the ticket lines as the Museum Pass is not valid here. If you want to take advantage of the fast track, you can buy guided tour tickets for Dolmabahce Palace by clicking this link.

Dolmabahce Palace Opening Hours

Dolmabahce Palace opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:00. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. Dolmabahce Palace is closed to visitors on Mondays.

Dolmabahce Palace Entrance Fee

Dolmabahce Palace entrance fee is 300 Turkish Lira. This combined ticket includes 3 different sections of the palace. These are main section, Harem rooms and the painting collection. Museum Pass Istanbul is NOT valid in this museum.

Ticket prices and visiting hours for Dolmabahce Palace were last updated on January 1, 2023.

6. Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archeological Museum is located within the walls of Topkapi Palace. The Neo-Classical building of the museum was built in the 19th century by Alexander Vallaury, a famous architect.

There are many historical artifacts related to the civilizations that lived in Anatolia and Mesopotamia in the Istanbul Archeological Museum. The museum also houses an important heritage related to Greco-Roman and Byzantine history.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum Opening Hours 2023

Istanbul Archeological Museum opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:30. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. Istanbul Archeology Museum is open to visitors everyday.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum Entrance Fee 2023

Istanbul Archeological Museum entrance fee is 100 Turkish Liras as of 2023. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid at this museum. Ticket prices and visiting hours for Istanbul Archaeological Museum were last updated on January 1, 2023.

7. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is located next to the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. The building was originally the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, one of the most important grand viziers (prime minister) in Ottoman history.

There are many important works on Islamic history in the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. The museum hosts a heritage dating back to the caliphate period.

In the section about Turkish history, there are works from the Seljuk and Ottoman empires. Those who are interested in Turkish rugs are recommended to visit this museum. Because there are hundreds of years old hand-woven carpets in the museum collection.

Turkish and Islamic Art Museum Opening Hours 2023

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum opening hours are from 9:00 to 18:30. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. The museum is open to visitors every day of the week throughout the year.

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Entrance Fee 2023

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum entrance fee is 100 Turkish Liras as of 2023. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid at this museum. Ticket prices and visiting hours for Turkish and Islamic Art Museum were last updated on January 1, 2023.

8. Yildiz Palace

Yildiz Palace is located in Besiktas district of Istanbul. It is located within walking distance of hotels such as Four Seasons, Conrad Bosphorus and Ciragan Palace Kempinski.

The palace, which also includes a large walking area called Yildiz Park, is a 19th century building. The most interesting part of Yildiz Palace is the main building called Shale Pavillion.

Yildiz Palace Opening Hours 2023

Yildiz Palace opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:00. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. Yildiz Palace is closed to visitors on Mondays. It should be noted that as of January 2023, Yildiz Palace is still under restoration. For this reason, it cannot be visited temporarily.

Yildiz Palace Entrance Fee 2023

Yildiz Palace entrance fee is 20 Turkish Liras. If you want to visit Yıldız Tile and Porcelain Factory, you need to pay 30 TL extra fee. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid here. Ticket prices and visiting hours for Yildiz Palace were last updated on January 1, 2023.

9. Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi Palace is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. Built in the 19th century, the palace is located in a very beautiful spot on the shores of the Bosphorus. Since this palace is not well known by tourists, it is usually noticed during a cruise on the Bosphorus.

Beylerbeyi Palace was used as a summer palace by the Ottoman sultans for a while. It later became a guest house for high profile visitors. Among the celebrities who stayed in the palace is French Empress Eugénie de Montijo.

Beylerbeyi Palace Opening Hours 2023

Beylerbeyi Palace opening hours is are from 09:00 to 18:00. Please note that the ticket office will be closed 60 minutes prior to closing times. Beylerbeyi Palace is closed to visitors on Mondays.

Beylerbeyi Palace Entrance Fee 2023

Beylerbeyi Palace entrance fee is 90 Turkish Lira. You can visit all palace sections with a single ticket. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid here. Ticket prices and visiting hours for Beylerbeyi Palace were last updated on January 1, 2023.

10. Kariye Mosque (Chora Church)

Kariye Mosque was a monastery church known as Chora Church during the Byzantine period. The church, which was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period, served as a museum for 85 years in the republic period.

Kariye Museum, like Hagia Sophia, has been converted back into a mosque since 2020. The most important feature of this building is that the best preserved mosaics from the Byzantine period are here.

The mosaics inside Kariye describe the life of Virgin Mary and Jesus. The mosaics are from the 14th century and depict biblical scenes.

Kariye Mosque (Chora Church) Opening Hours 2023

Kariye Mosque (aka Chora Church) opening hours are from 09:00 to 18:30. The Mosque will be open to visitors except for prayer hours. It should be noted that as of January 2023, Kariye Mosque is still under restoration. For this reason, it cannot be visited temporarily.

Kariye Mosque (Chora Church) Entrance Fee 2023

Kariye Mosque (aka Chora Church) entrance fee is no longer charged. Like other mosques in Istanbul, it can be visited free of charge. The information presented here about Kariye Mosque was updated on January 1, 2023.

10 best museums in Istanbul by Serhat Engul