Explore the 3 best museums of Istanbul in 1 day

M

ORNING: The Istanbul Archaeology Museum

The most important archaeological museum of Türkiye is the first of its kind during the Ottoman Empire which features more than 1 million historical ancient relics and works of art. Each and every display being exhibited will represent every era and ancient civilization of the world.

The three major sections as follows:

The Archaeology Museum features a distinct Neo-classic architecture that houses a priceless compilation of iconic sculptures and ancient sarcophagus such as the Anthropoid Sarcophagi from Sidon, the Alexander Sarcophagus and the Mourning Women Sarcophagus – all displaying an abundance of amazing details dating back millennia.

The Museum of the Ancient Orient is housed in a 140-year-old building and features a plethora of Pre-Islamic Arabian art which was collected during the Ottoman Empire.

Important works of art include the enameled tiles which make up the polychrome relief of the Ishtar Gate of Babylon, and the Treaty of Kadesh (also known as the Eternal Treaty) signed by the Egyptians and the Hittites, the first agreement of its kind in the history of mankind.

The Tiled Kiosk Museum is the oldest building amongst all three museums, as it was built in 1472. Inside this historical building are the stunning Iznik tiles from the 14th-17th centuries and ceramic artworks dating back to the empires of Seljuk, Anatolian and Ottoman.

Tips

• Museum is located next to the Topkapi Palace Museum. If visitors have time constraints, it is recommended to explore the Palace in the morning and return to visit the museum during the afternoon.
• The Museum Pass Istanbul covers visitation for more than 10 Palaces and museums all over Istanbul, the Topkapi Palace and this Archaeological Museum as well.

AT NOON: The Museum of Innocence

Recordings of mankind through world class literature

The Orhan Pamuk namesake adorns the museum as it validated its importance by virtue of the Nobel laureate Orhan who enjoys global popularity and is published worldwide in more than 60 languages.

Orhan’s work focuses on the forbidden love between Kemal, a Pan aristocratic businessman of high birth, and Fusun, a woman commoner distantly related to the former.

The objective of this museum is to display items and memories related to this forbidden relationship between a man and a woman, clothes, handbags, brooch, even cigarettes.

Orhan Pamuk longed to construct this museum since he penned this literary work which was published in 2008, while four years later the Museum of Innocence was opened to the general public.

What makes this museum so special apart from the narrative of this tragic love story, the writer infused a rare glimpse of the social and political conditions of Istanbul in the 70s, in a most interesting manner. That said, the Museum of Innocence is regarded as a literary record of a time long gone tat is worthy of a visit.

AFTERNOON: Istanbul Modern

Contemporary art that blends in with the city of the old

The new age and contemporary art museum is the first of its kind in Turkey and was built in 2004. A go-down previously used to store old marine merchandise was miraculously transformed into the iconic Istanbul Modern by the water.

Access was previously challenging but that did not stop the facility from transforming itself into a cultural central hub of prosperity, blending effortlessly into the city’s infrastructure – whereby featuring amenities such as an exhibition room, cinema room, library, restaurants and retail shops selling decorative items of sorts.

In 2018, the Istanbul Modern expanded by building a new structure not too far from the original property which opened to the general public in May 2023.

World-renowned architect Renzo Piano from Italy was commissioned to design the Istanbul Modern. The Italian architect is known for his rendition of the famous Centre George’s-Pompidou located in the heart of Paris.

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