blog – Page 2 – Istanbul Insider TV

Istiklal Avenue

18/09/202106/01/2022Posted in PlacesTagged beyoglu, blog, galata, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istiklal, istiklal avenue, istiklal street, museum of illusions istanbul, taksim, tram, turkey

Istiklal Avenue is one of the best places to see and feel the spirit of İstanbul. It is a pedestrian street located in Beyoğlu district; between Taksim Square and Galata and a great attraction for tourists and a favourite meeting spot for locals. That is why it is almost always filled with crowds.

With its modern shops located in 19th century Neo Classical and Art Nouveau buildings and nostalgic trams actively carrying passengers up and down the street all day; Istiklal is a spot where you can witness the fusion of old and new in İstanbul.

Here are some spots you shouldn’t miss:

Museum of Illusions, Madame Tussauds, Historical Çiçek (Flower) Passage, Saint-Antoine Church, Church of the Holy Trinity, Pera Museum, historic Atlas and Beyoğlu Cinemas. A ride on the Nostalgic Tram is also highly recommended. From art galleries, historical buildings and churches to lively cafes, restaurants, shops and cinemas İstiklal Avenue has it all. So make sure you make a visit and enjoy both the culture and liveliness of the city.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar & Old Local Markets

26/08/202106/01/2022Posted in Life, PlacesTagged blog, covered bazaar, eminonu, grand bazaar, istanbul, istanbul bazaar, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul old market, istanbul shops, kapalicarsi, mahmutpasa bazaar, spice bazaar, turkey

The Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

Mahmutpaşa Bazaar

Mahmutpasa Bazaar is a shopping street in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the area between The Grand Bazaar and Eminönü. This market area, with copious small shops on both sides of the main street, is a symbol of cheap shopping in Istanbul. The bazaar hosts 256 shops.

The Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

The Spice Bazaar is one of the largest bazaars in the city. It is the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. Spice Bazaar has a total of 85 shops selling spices, Turkish delight and other sweets, jewelry, souvenirs, and dried fruits and nuts.

Eminönü

This is the heart of the walled city, the focus of a history of incredible richness. Eminönü covers roughly the area on which the ancient Byzantium was built. The Galata Bridge crosses the Golden Horn into Eminönü and the mouth of the Bosphorus opens into the Marmara Sea.

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Asian Side Museums (UPDATED: January 2026)

05/08/202115/01/2026Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged anatolian side, asian side, beykoz, beykoz museums, beylerbeyi, beylerbeyi palace, blog, camlica tower, istanbul, istanbul asian side museums, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museum fees, istanbul museums, istanbul museums entrance fees, istanbul museums information, istanbul museums location, istanbul museums maps, istanbul museums visiting days, istanbul museums visiting hours, kucuksı palace, kucuksı pavilion, kızkulesi, maidens tower, mecidiye palace, mecidiye pavilion, museum, museum pass card, turkey, uskudar, uskudar museums

1- Beylerbeyi Palace
Location:	Beylerbeyi, Üsküdar
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	800 TL

2- Küçüksu Pavilion
Location:	Göksu, Beykoz
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	300 TL

3- Beykoz Mecidiye Pavilion
Location:	Beykoz
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	300 TL

4- Maiden’s Tower
Location:	Salacak, Üsküdar
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:00
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	35 Euro

5- Çamlıca Tower
Location:	Çamlıca
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	10:00 – 22:00 (10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	900 TL

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Beyoglu, Taksim Museums (UPDATED: January 2026)

05/08/202115/01/2026Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged beyoglu, beyoglu museums, blog, galata, galata mevlevi house, galata museums, galata tower, galata tower istanbul, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museum fees, istanbul museums, istanbul museums entrance fees, istanbul museums information, istanbul museums location, istanbul museums maps, istanbul museums visiting days, istanbul museums visiting hours, istiklal avenue, istiklal street, madame tussauds, madame tussauds istanbul, museum, museum of illusions, museum of illusions istanbul, museum pass card, taksim, taksim museums, turkey1 Comment

1- Galata Mevlevi House Museum
Location:	Şişhane
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:30
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	7 Euro

2- Museum of Illusions
Location:	Istiklal Avenue
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	11:00 – 21:00 (11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	840 TL

3- Galata Tower
Location:	Galata, Beyoğlu
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	08:30 – 23:00 (8:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	30 Euro

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Golden Horn Museums (UPDATED: January 2026)

01/08/202115/01/2026Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged aynalikavak palace, blog, chora church, fethiye mosque, golden horn museums, halic, halic museums, haskoy, haskoy museum, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul fatih museums, istanbul golden horn museums, istanbul insider, istanbul museum fees, istanbul museums, istanbul museums entrance fees, istanbul museums information, istanbul museums location, istanbul museums maps, istanbul museums visiting days, istanbul museums visiting hours, kariye mosque, maslak pavilions, miniaturk, miniaturk museum, museum, museum pass card, pammakaristos church, panorama 1453, panorama 1453 museum, rahmi koç museum, sutluce, sutluce museums, tekfur palace, topkapı, turkeyLeave a comment

1- Rahmi Koç Museum
Location:	Hasköy, Golden Horn
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:30 – 17:00 (09:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	950 TL

2- Aynalıkavak Pavilion
Location:	Hasköy, Golden Horn
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	280 TL

3- Miniatürk (Miniature Turkey Museum)
Location:	Sütlüce, Golden Horn
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 19:00 (9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	900 TL

4- Panorama 1453 History Museum
Location:	Topkapı
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	10:00 – 18:00 (10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	900 TL

5- Kariye Mosque / Chora Church
Location:	Edirnekapı, Fatih
Closed Days:	Fridays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:00 (09:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not valid
Entrance Fee:	20 Euro

6- Tekfur Palace
Location:	Ayvansaray
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours (Winter):	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	570 TL

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Bosphorus Museums (UPDATED: January 2026)

22/07/202115/01/2026Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged blog, dolmabahçe museum, dolmabahçe palace museum, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul maritime museum, istanbul military museum, istanbul museum fees, istanbul museums, istanbul museums beşiktaş, istanbul museums bosphorus, istanbul museums entrance fees, istanbul museums information, istanbul museums location, istanbul museums maps, istanbul museums visiting days, istanbul museums visiting hours, istanbul museums şişli, istanbul naval museum, maritime museum, maslak pavilions, museum, museum pass card, museum pass card istanbul, national palaces painting museum, naval museum, painting museum, palace collection museum, rumeli fortress, rumelian castle, turkey, yıldız museum, yıldız palace, yıldız parkLeave a comment

1- Dolmabahçe Palace Museum
Location:	Dolmabahçe
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:
Dolmabahçe Palace Selamlık + Harem + Painting Museum (Combined Ticket)	2000 TL

2- National Palaces Painting Museum
Location:	Beşiktaş
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	600 TL

3- Palace Collections Museum
Location:	Beşiktaş
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	280 TL

4- Naval Museum
Location:	Beşiktaş
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	750 TL

5- Yıldız Palace
Location:	Beşiktaş, Yıldız Park
Closed Days:	Wednesdays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Museum card partially valid
Entrance Fee:	900 TL

6- Ihlamur Pavilions
Location:	Teşvikiye, Şişli
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	280 TL

7- Military Museum
Location:	Harbiye, Şişli
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 16:00 (9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	750 TL

8- Rumeli Fortress Museum
Location:	Rumelihisarı, Bosphorus
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	6 Euro

9- Maslak Pavilions
Location:	Maslak
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	280 TL

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Old Town Museums (UPDATED: January 2026)

15/07/202111/01/2026Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged basilica cistern, blog, Carpet Museum, hagia irene museum, istanbul, istanbul Archaeology Museums, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museum fees, istanbul museums, istanbul museums entrance fees, istanbul museums information, istanbul museums location, istanbul museums maps, istanbul museums old city, istanbul museums old town, istanbul museums sultanahmet, istanbul museums visiting days, istanbul museums visiting hours, museum, museum pass card, museum pass card istanbul, The Museum of Great Palace Mosaics, Theodosius Cistern, topkapi palace, turkey, Turkish and Islamic Arts MuseumLeave a comment

1- Topkapı Palace Museum
Location:	Sultanahmet
Closed Days:	Tuesdays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid (Except Harem section)
Entrance Fees:
Topkapı Palace & Hagia Irene & Harem (Combined Ticket)	2750 TL

2- Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Location:	Sultanahmet, Gülhane Park
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:30 (9:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	15 Euro

3- Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
Location:	Sultanahmet, Gülhane Park
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 19:00 (9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	10 Euro

4- Basilica Cistern
Location:	Sultanahmet
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 22:00 (9:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	1650 TL

5- Şerefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern)
Location:	Sultanahmet
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	10:00 – 18:00 (10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	990 TL

6- Museum Of Turkish And Islamic Arts
Location:	Sultanahmet Square
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:30 (9:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	17 Euro

7- Great Palace Mosaics Museum
Location:	Sultanahmet, Arasta Bazaar
Closed Days:	Museum is closed for restoration
Visiting Hours:	*
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	*

8- Hagia Sophia
Location:	Sultanahmet
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:30 – 19:30 (9:00 A.M. – 7:30 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	25 Euro

Istanbul Bosphorus Tour – Timetables and Prices (UPDATED: January 2026)

12/07/202111/01/2026Posted in TransportationTagged beşiktaş, beşiktaş pier, blog, bosphorus, bosphorus boats, bosphorus ferries, bosphorus tour, eminönü, eminönü pier, ferry Line, full bosphorus tour, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul bosphorus, istanbul bosphorus line, istanbul ferry line, istanbul ferry lines, istanbul insider, istanbul transportation, public transportation, Transportation, turkey, turyolLeave a comment

Bosphorus Tour by Public Boat. Ticket Price is 300TL. Tour duration is 90 minutes.

TURYOL Boat Company Timetable:

Weekdays	Saturday	Sunday
10:00	10:00	10:00
11:00	11:00	11:00
12:00	12:00	12:00
13:00	13:00	13:00
14:00	14:00	14:00
15:00	15:00	15:00
16:00	16:00	16:00
17:00	17:00	17:00
18:00	18:00	18:00
19:00	19:00	19:00