Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Besides its importance as the first Turkish museum, it remains one of the world's largest museums with over one million works. Opened to the public in 1891, it houses a collection of Greek, Roman and Byzantine artifacts.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Sultanahmet
With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.
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  • Hannah R
    Melbourne, Australia202 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum
    This is a great museum. The exhibits are spaced very well and have great labelling. Unfortunately, the section I wanted to see was closed. Thus was not indicated anywhere (I usually check websites before I go) and I had to track down an attendant. The Roman and Greek collections are well worth a visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 25 October 2023
  • Michael K
    London, United Kingdom542 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Some impressive relics of ancient civilisations
    With so much history under your feet in this city, you now there's going to be plenty to see in the Archaeological Museum. Access is either from Gulhane Park, or from within one of the courtyards of the Topkapi Palace – though this entrance is not signposted. This museum (340TL = app £9.50) boasts a number of significant finds from the Ancient World, though not all are currently on view, as the two smaller collections on the site – The Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Pavilion – are currently closed for restoration. This means that we did not get to see the Ishtar Gate (from the time of Nebuchadnezzar, 575 BC) or the Treaty of Kadesh. But we did see many exhibits from excavations in Sidon and Troy, including the Alexander sarcophagus, one of the outstanding archaeological finds. The museum presents documentary evidence about how the finds were excavated and restored, and credit is given to the Museum’s founder (in 1891), Osman Hamdy. One cannot help but be impressed, both by the skill of craftsmen several hundred years BC in fashioning such high-quality works, and also the skill of the excavators and restorers. We particularly liked the wall that has been constructed to show the different levels of civilisation in Troy over the centuries. There is a gift shop and small cafe.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 December 2023
  • Caroline LP
    London, United Kingdom1,812 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    History & Artefacts from everywhere!
    Within the past month we have been privileged to have visited the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the British Museum in London and now here. This is a world class museum on par with the size of the Acropolis museum and containing many historical statues and artefacts from the Ottoman exploits. We spent a few hours here and they were very well spent. We would recommend a visit here if you’re coming to Istanbul.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 March 2024
  • Susan C
    Melbourne, Australia1,539 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very good despite ancillary museums not open
    When we went to the Istanbul Archeology Museums only the Archeological Museum (housed in the main building) was open. The Ancient Orient Museum and Tiled Kiosk Museum were closed for renovation. These museums are centrally located near Gülhane Park and Topkapı Palace. Despite missing out on seeing the other two museums I quite enjoyed this visit. The Archeological Museum is the biggest with displays primarily from the Greek and Roman times and they come not just from Turkey but also other countries once under Ottoman rule. Highlights for me were the sarcophagi from the Royal Necropolis of Ayaa in Sidon on the ground floor and the exhibition on the layers of Troy on the second floor. The treasure collection rooms on the second floor with their golden jewellery was also magnificent. We saw statues, friezes, pottery, tiny figurines, cuneiform tablets, and many other ancient artifacts. There is good explanatory signage and, interestingly, some depict items relevant to the topic but held in other museums.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 April 2024
  • happykoabug
    Honolulu, Hawaii600 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great museum even though 2 of the 3 buildings are closed
    Even though 2 of the 3 building are closed I really enjoyed the main museum. Yes, you still pay the full price which is 15 euros and yes, you can see Roman, Greek and Byzantine artifacts at other countries and locations but the ones that this museum had were gorgeous. We were there in mid-April and it wasn't too busy so you could take your time at each collections. They have a cafe in the gardens to relax and enjoy the statues outside.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 29 May 2024
  • İrem Demirbaş
    Istanbul, Türkiye65 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing museum, 100% recommended
    I visited this museum with my brother yesterday and we were so fascinated to see all the masterpieces from the archaic times. The main building of the museum is so big that you need to spare minumim 2 hours to see each piece in detail and take pictures. Some parts are still being renovated so you may not be able to enter there, but if you plan to visit later and the renovation is already over, I think you should spare at least 3 hours to see the whole museum. It also has a small cafe in the garden so you can get some coffee or tea and rest for a while. Entry is free if you're a Turkish citizen and have Müzekart (museum pass card) or under 18. For tourists, entry fee might change but under 10 can enter for free. Please mind that they only accept Turkish lira and cash. They also provide museum pass card for foreigners and audioguide so you might also consider that. Bonus: Check the religious and national holidays before your visit to Turkey because most of the museums are closed during holiday periods.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 June 2024
  • militarybratSG
    30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don't overlook it while in Istanbul. One of my favorite places to visit in the city.
    Amazing museum. There is lot of construction around it now but it can be navigated. Its garden area would be the envy of most museum's collections. Everything from Greece to Egypt to Rome and well presented. It is on par with the British Museum.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 July 2024
  • Andres R.
    Cali, Colombia306 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just amazing!!!
    The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is a treasure trove of historical artifacts and cultural heritage, offering an immersive journey through time. With its extensive collection ranging from ancient Greek and Roman relics to stunning Byzantine artifacts, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the rich history of the region. The well-curated exhibits are complemented by informative displays, making it both educational and engaging. Housed in a beautiful historic building, the museum’s serene atmosphere and knowledgeable staff enhance the overall experience, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 August 2024
  • Sibylles C
    Stuttgart, Germany3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth seeing
    It was a very interesting museum. it doesn't look very big from the outside but there is a whole history inside. It is very similar to the museums in Berlin. It is amazing that historical artifacts can be preserved so well. I especially fell in love with the sarcophagus of Alexander!
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 15 September 2024
  • Paul H
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania200 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great museum
    A very nice museum, well curated. I particularly enjoyed the exhibit on Troy. They had good signage explaining the historical background around each set of artifacts, although the objects themselves carried somewhat less in the way of explanation.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 24 September 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,541 reviews
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Tajwar S
Windsor, UK66 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
My brothers and I are huge fans of Byzantine and Roman history, ofcourse this would be one of our go to locations while in such a Historical city.

The Ancient Greek and Egyptian exhibits were quite underwhelming in all honesty, not much on collection, something you could find almost anywhere. And when we went onto the Islamic and more Ottamon parts of the Museum, we find all of it closed.

We had paid full price for no one to tell us most of the museum was inaccessible, we had merely been there for thirty minutes and left dissapointed, I reccomend checking beforehand if it's fully open as the staff did not make this clear at all.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alexey
Moscow, Russia2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
There are three floors in the main building. Only the first floor is open and you get to know it when you are inside and paid for full museum visit. So effectively you are programmed to miss the 2/3 of the main collection and they don't tell you that beforehand. Total disappointment. The headset is sold with an upgrade for 40 liras. However no item in the main buildings is marked with a headset sign so you have to navigate the map and to find the items for which the Audio is provided. Hard work And waste of time. The audio content is extremely basic sometimes as short as 2-3 sentences. You are way better of trying Wikipedia.
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ramadama
New Providence, NJ2,918 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022 • Couples
Excellent archeological museum with 2 large floors of artifacts. The museum has been renovated. The pieces show beautifilly.. However I didn't like my pictures with some of the modern backgrounds and various angles where you capture their various lights in your pictures. It takes about 2 hours or more to walk through the museum and costs 100 turkish lira. The lines to purchase pickets can be long especially in the afternoon.
Written 4 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tjjjbel
Chester, UK25 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Totally spoilt by the extremely rude, unhelpful and downright disrespectful ticket office staff ( lady with long ginger (coloured) hair) who virtually shouted at us . She didn’t say the credit card was refused , just gave us receipt, let us go through to the ticket entry where another member of staff refused entry and told us that she had told us to go back! We asked about guides in English & she shouted (inside, inside & waved us away dismissively). Once inside we asked again & were sent back to the entrance ! This time she refused audio guides in the basis we needed 3 passports (driving licences not admissible). So unnecessarily aggressive & not at all welcoming: a function of the number of tourists visiting Istanbul but she certainly gives the Turkish people a bad name. We asked to speak to a manager , which she professed to be ! Highly unlikely. If the manager/director reads this she really needs some training.
Such a shame as she spoilt an otherwise excellently curated display. Note that only parts of the main museum are open - the tile house, orient house & Istanbul timeline are closed for renovation. The ticket office only displays Museum pass prices - it was c. 340 lira but you have to ask!
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Russell S
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
Ripoff merchants. Tickets are clearly marked as costing 15 euros, both on the sign and the ticket itself. We waited for about half an hour in a very slow queue, wondering why the single window was taking so long to serve each customer. Turns out they charge 25 euro, causing each person to argue for a while before either accepting the ripoff or walking away in disgust. We chose the latter. Would give zero stars if I could.
Written 26 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JLB010
Hartford, CT164 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
Turkey is on the the crossroads of Europe and Asia and as such has more Roman artifacts and ruins than Italy, and more Greek artifacts than Greece AND they are in better condition. This in-tact condition is probably due to having a long Byzantine rule followed by the Ottomans….no marauding groups destroying stuff. We visited twice. The sarcophagi are stunning. The ancient orient stuff is in a run down building and laying around for everyone to touch as they pass by! Hopefully they will renovate that building like they have renovated the sarcophagi building.
The lines to get in are crazy because the museum hasn’t got its act together to move people through efficiently. If you don’t want to wait over an hour go early.
Written 4 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrey jackson
Surrey, UK15 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
It was very badly signed posted and we had to ask 4 people where the toilet was. They had some great stuff in there but the descriptions were things like statue from Egypt and the top floor with the chain of the Golden Horn was closed. They had many sarcophagi in the part that was open but it was underwhelming.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike X
Chicago, IL3,902 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020 • Couples
Enter from Gulhane park or courtyard 1 of Topkapi. Some exhibits are closed but if you have the museum pass and 2 hours, definitely come here if only to see the the Alexander sarcophagus. It's worth the price of admission. The detail and traces of color left behind is dope. Also just FYI it's not his sarcophagus. It just depicts him but it's excellent none the less.
Written 5 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heather A
Watford, UK375 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2023 • Family
We ended up at this museum by accident! On a wander around the city I thought we were heading towards the palace and we ended up here. However we decided to go in and see what we thought.

The entry is relatively cheap (200 lira per person with no audio guide) and once inside the museum is well laid out with lots of information to read in both English and Turkish.

The downside for us is that this is an archaeological museum and my sons (aged 18 and 16) thought it was the most boring place in the world!

We saw lots of well preserved artifacts and it was quiet to walk around, however I would just say not to bring children here (of any age), they just don't find it interesting.

Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Полина Т
18 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
I love historical and archaeological museums very much, I have seen many of them, but this is the first time I have encountered such a disgrace as in Istanbul.
1. The price is in euros everywhere. When you wait in line for the checkout, you learn that you have to pay in liras at a very strange rate, besides, there is an audio guide (totally useless) in addition, which we did not intend to take, but no one asked us. In the end, instead of the planned 30 euros for two, we gave 50. And the company of Italian students had to leave altogether, they had no cash lira.
2. All that money was given away for a third of the collection. Two of the three buildings are under renovation.
3. The collection is rich, even part of it is impressive, there is no dispute. But.
4. The museum does not even mark the beginning of the exhibition. For some reason, everything is counterclockwise.
5. The signs under the exhibits are not informative. The English text is typed in brown letters on a black background, making it unreadable when many display cases lack lighting. The audio guide doesn't fix it. Sold inexpensively (in a literal sense, I nuggeted the prices) Chinese headphones are uncomfortable.
6. Some lighting displays don't have any, even bad lighting. Broke, but no one fixed it. Some people's lights flash.
7. Instead of running a museum properly, the money was spent on idiotic installations, of which only Troy stratigraphy is good.
8. We were also "lucky" to coincide with the Turkish primary schoolchildren who ran around the hall uncontrollably, yelling, taking selfies by the exhibits in the crowd, preventing them from approaching.
I do not recommend a visit at least until the other two parts of the museum open.
Automatically translated
Written 3 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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ISTANBUL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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