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Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan)

08/06/202308/06/2023Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged basilica cistern, blog, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museums, istanbul museums visiting days, museum, sultanahmet, türkiye, tourism, travel, travel blog, turkey, yerebatan

The Basilica Cistern is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. It is a large underground cistern that was built in the 6th century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. The cistern is located near the Hagia Sophia and the Sultanahmet Mosque, and it is open to the public for tours. The Basilica Cistern is a vast underground chamber that is supported by 336 marble columns.

The columns are arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns, and they are each about 9 meters high. The cistern is filled with water, and it is said to be able to hold up to 80,000 cubic meters of water.

The Basilica Cistern is a popular tourist destination because of its unique architecture and its historical significance. It is a great place to learn about the Byzantine Empire and to see one of the most impressive engineering feats of the Middle Ages.

The Basilica Cistern is a great place to visit if you are interested in Byzantine history, architecture, or simply want to see a unique and interesting place in Istanbul.

Basilica Cistern Location:

Dolmabahçe Palace

06/03/202306/03/2023Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged besiktas, blog, dolmabahçe museum, dolmabahçe palace, dolmabahçe palace museum, dolmabahce, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museums, museum, palace, türkiye, turkey

Dolmabahçe Palace is a historical palace located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul. It was built between 1843 and 1856 as a residence for the Ottoman sultans and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.

The palace is home to several important landmarks, including the Harem, a secluded section of the palace that was reserved for the sultan’s family and concubines. The palace also features a collection of European and Ottoman artwork and furniture, as well as a large collection of crystal chandeliers and clocks.

The palace was designed by the Ottoman architect Garabet Balyan and his sons. It has a total of 285 rooms, 43 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets. The palace was also home to several famous Ottoman sultans, including Abdülmecid I and Mehmed V.

Today, the palace is a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors annually. It is also a popular spot for locals, with many shops, restaurants, and cafes located nearby.

Galata Tower

02/02/202302/02/2023Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged beyoglu, beyoglu museums, blog, Constantinople, galata, galata tower, galata tower istanbul, Genoese, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museums, museum, taksim, turkey

The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower located in the Galata district of Istanbul. It was built in 1348 as part of the fortifications of the Genoese colony in Constantinople. The tower stands at a height of 63 meters and offers stunning views of the city.

The tower has been used for various purposes throughout history, including as a watchtower, a prison, and a fire lookout. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and features a restaurant and observation deck on its top floor.

Galata Tower has been a major tourist attraction in Istanbul and in recent years, the tower has undergone renovations and restoration work. In 2020, the tower was closed for restoration work and reopened in October 2020.It is an important cultural and historical landmark in Istanbul and is widely recognized as a symbol of the city. It is visited by millions of tourists every year.

Galata Tower Location

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Asian Side Museums (UPDATED: June 2025)

05/08/202111/06/2025Posted 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:	700 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:	250 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:	250 TL

4- Maiden’s Tower
Location:	Salacak, Üsküdar
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 21:00
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	32 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: June 2025)

05/08/202111/06/2025Posted 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 – 17:00
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	7 Euro

2- Museum of Illusions
Location:	Istiklal Avenue
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	11:00 – 20:00 (11:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	690 TL

3- Madame Tussauds
Location:	Istiklal Avenue
Closed Days:	CLOSED
Visiting Hours:	*
Museum Pass Card:	*
Entrance Fee:	*

4- Galata Tower
Location:	Galata, Beyoğlu
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	08:00 – 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: June 2025)

01/08/202111/06/2025Posted 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:	700 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:	250 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:	750 TL

4- Panorama 1453 History Museum
Location:	Topkapı
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	08:00 – 18:30 (08:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	700 TL

5- Pammakaristos Church / Fethiye Mosque
Location:	Fatih, Çarşamba
Closed Days:	Museum is closed for renovation
Visiting Hours:	*
Museum Pass Card:	Valid
Entrance Fee:	*

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

8- 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:	300 TL

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Bosphorus Museums (UPDATED: June 2025)

22/07/202111/06/2025Posted 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)	1800 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:	540 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:	250 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:	*

5- Yıldız Palace
Location:	Beşiktaş, Yıldız Park
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 17:00 (9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Museum card partially valid
Entrance Fee:	850 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:	250 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:	*

8- Rumeli Fortress Museum
Location:	Rumelihisarı, Bosphorus
Closed Days:	Mondays
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 19:00 (9:00 A.M. – 7:00P.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:	250 TL

Istanbul Museums – Entry Fees & Visiting Hours & Location Information – Old Town Museums (UPDATED: June 2025)

15/07/202111/06/2025Posted 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)	2400 TL

2- Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Location:	Sultanahmet, Gülhane Park
Closed Days:	Open everyday
Visiting Hours:	09:00 – 18:00 (9:00 A.M. – 6:00 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 – 18:30 (9:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.)
Museum Pass Card:	Not Valid
Entrance Fee:	1300 TL

5- Şerefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern)
Location:	Sultanahmet
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:	825 TL

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

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

Museum Pass Card Istanbul 2025

04/07/202112/01/2025Posted in Museums, PlacesTagged blog, istanbul, istanbul blog, istanbul insider, istanbul museums, ministry of culture and tourism, museum, museum pass card, museum pass card istanbul, turkeyLeave a comment

In Istanbul, 13 museums under the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Directorate of National Palaces can be visited for 5 days with MuseumPass Istanbul. The price of MuseumPass İstanbul, which is valid for 5 days from your first visit to the museum and the archaeological sites, is 105 Euro.

Please click for Museum Pass Istanbul sales points.