In this article, you can find the best museums in Istanbul and their entrance fees and visiting hours, up to date in 2024. I have listed the most popular museums in Istanbul from the eyes of a professional tourist guide.
Ticket prices and opening hours of museums in Istanbul may change several times throughout the year. For this reason, although I update it frequently, it is not possible to keep this article 100% up to date.
For this reason, before visiting the museums, I recommend you to check this information one last time on their official websites. You can also find skip-the-line tickets for some museums of Istanbul in related topics.
Table of Contents
1. Hagia Sophia
Although Hagia Sophia serves as a mosque today, as of 2024 its upper floor will still function as a museum that can be visited with a ticket. On the upper floor of Hagia Sophia you can see magnificent Byzantine mosaics and take a panoramic photo of the unique structure.
Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee 2024
Hagia Sophia entrance fee is 25 Euros in 2024. The ticketed section is the upper floor galleries that are open to touristic visits. The lower floor is reserved for Muslim visitors to pray during prayer hours. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Hagia Sophia Opening Hours 2024
Hagia Sophia opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 19:30 in the evening. It should be noted that these hours are for the upper floor galleries that are open to tourist visits. Muslim visitors can enter the ground floor throughout the day during all prayer times. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
2. Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was the place where Ottoman sultans lived between 1461 and 1856. 25 Ottoman sultans lived here with their families. Topkapi Palace spreads over a huge area and has 4 huge courtyards. You can see the exhibition rooms, treasures and Harem rooms spread across the courtyards of the palace.
Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee 2024
Topkapi Palace entrance fee is 1500 Turkish Liras as of 2024. This combined ticket includes all courtyards of the palace, Harem rooms and Hagia Irene Church. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Topkapı Palace Opening Hours 2024
Topkapi Palace opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please also note that the museum is closed on Tuesdays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
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. Basilica Cistern underwent a major restoration between 2015 and 2022, and with its new lighting, it looks more beautiful than ever.
Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee 2024
Basilica Cistern entrance fee is 600 Turkish Lira per person as of 2024. Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid in the museum. You can pay by credit card or Turkish lira at the box office. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Basilica Cistern Opening Hours 2024
Basilica Cistern opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening. The cistern is open to visitors every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
4. Galata Tower
Galata Tower is a very suitable place to take photos of Istanbul. Built during the Byzantine period in the 14th century, Galata Tower is a great place to watch the magnificent panoramic view of Istanbul.
Galata Tower Entrance Fee 2024
Galata Tower entrance fee is 30 Euros as of 2024. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid in this museum. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Galata Tower Opening Hours 2024
Galata Tower opening hours are between 08:30 in the morning and 23:00 in the evening. Please note that the ticket office closes at 22:00. This museum is open every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Galata Tower is temporarily closed for restoration as of March 2024.
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. Dolmabahce Palace is one of the best museums in Istanbul with its magnificent chandeliers, furniture and giant hand-woven carpets.
Dolmabahce Palace Entrance Fee 2024
Dolmabahce Palace entrance fee is 1050 Turkish Liras as of 2024. The combined ticket covers the Main Building, the Harem Rooms and the Palace Collections sections of the palace. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Dolmabahce Palace Opening Hours 2024
Dolmabahce Palace opening hours are between 9:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please note that Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
6. Istanbul Archaeology Museum
There are many historical artifacts related to the civilizations that lived in Anatolia and Mesopotamia in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. The museum also houses an important heritage related to Greco-Roman and Byzantine history.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Entry Fee 2024
Istanbul Archaeology Museum entrance fee is 15 Euros as of 2024. Istanbul Museum Pass is valid in this museum. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum Hours 2024
Istanbul Archaeological Museums opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening. Please note that the ticket office closes at 17:30. This museum is open every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
7. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum hosts a collection dating back to the Caliphates in Islamic history. The legacy of the Seljuk and Ottoman empires regarding Turkish history can also be seen in the museum. This museum is among the best museums in Istanbul with its collection of antique Turkish rugs.
Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum Entry Fee 2024
Turkish and Islamic Art Museum entrance fee is 17 Euros as of 2024. Istanbul Museum Pass is valid in this museum. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Turkish & Islamic Art Museum Hours 2024
Turkish and Islamic Art Museum opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening. Please note that the ticket office closes at 17:30. This museum is open every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
8. Yildiz Palace
Yildiz Palace, near Ortakoy, the most beautiful district of the Bosphorus, consists of mansions spread over a large forest area and dates back to the 19th century. Yildiz Palace is one of the rare museums that brings people together with nature in a megacity like Istanbul.
Yildiz Palace Entrance Fee 2024
Yildiz Palace entrance fee is 20 Turkish Liras as of 2024. Extra ticket for Yıldız Tile and Porcelain Museum is 30 TL. Museum Pass Istanbul is valid in this place. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Yildiz Palace Opening Hours 2024
Yildiz Palace opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please also note that the museum is closed on Monday. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Yildiz Palace is temporarily closed for restoration as of March 2024.
9. Beylerbeyi Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. It 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 Entrance Fee 2024
Beylerbeyi Palace entrance fee is 350 Turkish Liras as of 2024. Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid in this museum. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Beylerbeyi Palace Opening Hours 2024
Beylerbeyi Palace opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please note that the palace is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
10. Galata Mevlevi Museum
Galata Mevlevi Museum is a place where you can trace the philosophy of the world-famous Rumi. A whirling dervish show is also organized here at some times of the year. This is one of the museums where you can go on a spiritual journey in Istanbul.
Galata Mevlevi Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Galata Mevlevi House Museum entrance fee is 7 Euros as of 2024. The Museum Pass Istanbul is valid at the entrance. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Galata Mevlevi Museum Opening Hours 2024
Galata Mevlevi House Museum opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening. Please also note that the Museum is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Galata Mevlevi House Museum is temporarily closed for restoration as of March 2024.
11. Panorama 1453 Museum
Panorama 1453 Museum is a digital painting museum depicting how the Ottomans broke through the world’s strongest walls at the time (Theodosian Walls) and captured Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Panorama 1453 Entrance Fee 2024
Panorama 1453 Museum entrance fee is 500 Turkish Liras as of 2024. Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid at the entrance to the museum. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Panorama 1453 Opening Hours 2024
Panorama 1453 Museum opening hours are between 08:00 in the morning and 18:30 in the evening. The museum can be visited every day of the week. Information on visiting hours was last updated on March 27, 2024.
12. Fethiye Museum
Fethiye Museum introduces the heritage of Pammakaristos Church, one of the important Byzantine buildings in Istanbul. The building actually serves as the Fethiye Mosque today, but the burial chapel of the monastery church is used as a museum.
Fethiye Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Fethiye Museum entrance fee is 3 Euros as of 2024. You can use Istanbul Museum Pass to enter former Pammakaristos Church. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Fethiye Museum Opening Hours 2024
Fethiye Museum opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please also note that the Fethiye Museum is closed on weekends. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Fethiye Museum is temporarily closed for restoration as of March 2024.
13. Miniaturk Museum
Miniaturk Museum is a large open-air museum containing small models of all historical artifacts from across Turkey. In this sense, it is among the best things to do in Istanbul for families with children.
Miniaturk Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Miniaturk Museum entrance fee is 350 Turkish Liras as of 2024. The Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid in this particular museum. Information on ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Miniaturk Museum Opening Hours 2024
Miniaturk Museum opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 18:00 in the evening. The musuem is open every day, including weekends and public holidays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
14. Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress is a 15th-century structure built by the Ottomans on the European side of the Bosphorus. Rumeli Fortress is among the best museums in Istanbul in terms of the view it offers.
Rumeli Fortress Entrance Fee 2024
Rumeli Fortress entrance fee is 6 Euros as of 2024. The Museum Pass Istanbul is valid at the entrance to the Rumeli Fortress. The information on the ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Rumeli Fortress Opening Hours 2024
Rumeli Fortress opening hours are between 09:00 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. Please also note that ticket sales at the box office end at 16:00. The museum is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
15. Rahmi Koc Museum
Rahmi Koc Museum is a museum located on the shores of the Golden Horn in Istanbul and is about the history of industry in the world. In the museum you can see old planes, ships, cars and even a submarine.
Rahmi Koc Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Rahmi Koc Museum entrance fee is 500 Turkish Lira for adults as of 2024. Discounted tickets for children and students are 250 Turkish Liras. The museum also sells tickets for the Submarine tour, but this section is currently out of service. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Rahmi Koc Museum Opening Hours 2024
Rahmi Koc Museum opening hours are between 09:30 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening. On weekends, the museum can be visited between 10:00 and 18:00. The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
16. Sakip Sabanci Museum
Sakip Sabanci Museum is an art museum located in Emirgan, one of the most beautiful districts of the Bosphorus. The museum has previously introduced Salvador Dali and Picasso to Istanbulites with temporary exhibitions and is definitely among the best museums in Istanbul.
Sakip Sabanci Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Sakip Sabanci Museum entrance fee is 170 Turkish Liras as of 2024. Discounted ticket price for visitors over 65, students over 18 and teachers is 120 TL. Student ticket price is 85 TL. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Sakip Sabanci Museum Opening Hours 2024
Sakip Sabanci Museum opening hours are between 10:00 in the morning and 18:00 in the evening. The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays. Tuesdays are public day at the museum and admission is free. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
17. Istanbul Modern Art Museum
Istanbul Modern Art Museum is a place where you can watch the history of modern art in the city since the beginning of the 20th century. The museum’s recently opened building was designed by world-famous architect Renzo Piano.
Istanbul Modern Art Museum Entry Fee 2024
Istanbul Modern Art Museum entrance fee is 350 Turkish Lira per person as of 2024. Museum tickets are sold at a discounted price of 230 Lira for students and visitors over the age of 65. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Istanbul Modern Art Museum Hours 2024
Istanbul Modern Art Museum opening hours are between 10:00 in the morning and 18:00 in the evening. On Fridays it is open until 20:00 in the late evening. The museum is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
18. Pera Museum
Pera Museum is within walking distance of Taksim Square and Galata Tower, the most important tourist centers of the city. You can see a magnificent collection of 19th century orientalist painters at Pera Museum.
Pera Museum Entrance Fee 2024
Pera Museum entrance fee is 100 Turkish Lira per person as of 2024. The price is reduced to 50 Turkish Liras for children under 12 years, for students and for adults over 60 years old. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Pera Museum Opening Hours 2024
Pera Museum opening hours are between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Sunday the opening time is 12:00 in the midday and the closing time is 6:00 in the evening. The museum is closed on Mondays. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
19. Istanbul Aquarium
Istanbul Aquarium is a wonderful museum that hosts sea creatures from all over the world. The museum is divided according to the names of the oceans and introduces children to sea creatures. The aquarium also has live diving sessions.
Istanbul Aquarium Entrance Fee 2024
Istanbul Aquarium entrance fee is 650 Turkish Liras as of 2024. The discounted ticket price for children aged 2-12, students, teachers and citizens over 65 is 600 TL. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Istanbul Aquarium Opening Hours 2024
Istanbul Aquarium opening hours are between 10:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening for the weekdays. On weekends, it is open until 20:00. The Aquarium in Florya is open to visitors every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
20. Vialand Theme Park
Vialand Theme Park serves as both a giant shopping and activity center and theme park in Istanbul. Especially families with children can have a great time at Vialand, the Disneyland of Istanbul.
Istanbul Vialand Entrance Fee 2024
Istanbul Vialand entrance fee is 1500 Turkish Lira (approximately 50 USD) as of 2024. Admission is free for babies between 0 and 3 years old. Information about ticket price was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Istanbul Vialand Opening Hours 2024
Istanbul Vialand opening hours are between 10:00 and 18:00 on the weekdays. On weekends, Vialand is open between 11:00 and 20:00. Vialand is open every day of the week. This was last updated on March 27, 2024.
Best Museums in Istanbul by Serhat Engul
Michael Opare says
Hello, I like your blog very much, nicely presented and very informative. I will be visiting Istanbul next week and want to visit most of the places you described . Is the new restrictions and curfew in Turkey particularly in Istanbul affecting the openings of all the places you wrote about in this blog and to tourists who just need a few places to see.
Serhat Engul says
Hi Michael, thank you for your nice review about my blog. The situation is critical right now. It was decided to close cafes and restaurants. Museums affiliated to Istanbul Municipality are also closed. Among them is the Basilica Cistern. Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are open to visitors for now. But if the spread of the virus increases further, there is a possibility of a full curfew.
Michael Opare says
Hello Serhat. Thank you so much for your quick reply and information. It’s very much appreciated. I guess we will have to make a final decision on whether to proceed with the trip, since we are expected to arrive in Istanbul on 11/24. And be there for 6days. A few of the people are fine with the the take out option for the restaurant and not planning on going out much. Just to walk around and see the city. If places are still open will follow the Covid prevention rules and visit and return to their country after 6days.
Serhat Engul says
I think you will be able to see most of the things. The latest Covid restrictions have just been announced and I don’t think there will be any major changes anytime soon.
Natalia says
Hi Serhat,
Could you please advise what museums/palaces are open for visitors, planning to visit Istanbul 03/12/2020.
You help much appreciated.
Serhat Engul says
Hi Natalia, majority of the museums are open to visitors. Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are open. Only Basilica Cistern is closed in the Sultanahmet area.
Carlos Banchik says
Hi Mr. Serhat,
I find your sight very informative. Thanks for doing this. We were planning to visit Istanbul with my wife between December 24 to January 1. Are museums open, and other cultural sites open during this time?
Kind regards,
Serhat Engul says
Dear Carlos Banchik,
Although I am a guide, I have not been going to museums for months. For this reason, I do not know about each museum. In addition, as museums are operated by three different authorities, the opening and closing situations are constantly changing.
As far as I know, museums affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are open between 09:00 in the morning and 5:30 in the evening. So Topkapı Palace is open. However, those affiliated to the Municipality of Istanbul are closed and the most important of them is Basilica Cistern.
Mosques such as Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are open. However, there is currently full curfew on the weekends. For this reason, everything about museums can change daily and it is very difficult to follow.
Kind regards
Jenny says
Thank you, found this site very helpful especially hours and costs. Thank you for this. We plan to visit son (in UK on a scholarship for 3 yrs) in early 2025 via Turkey so am just begining to look at the historical places – my favourite – and I see you are a history buff. This site now bookmarked for future reference. Thank you.
Serhat Engul says
Hello Jenny, thank you very much for your feedback. I hope you have a nice holiday in Istanbul. If you want to review even more detailed articles about the history of Istanbul and Turkey, you can also try the Istanbul Clues site.