Istanbul: Culture- Kültür
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You will find in this page information about:
Museum Pass
Tour Operators, Agents and Guides
Museums and places to visit organized by area
Culture Centers, Performance and Convention Centers 
Theaters, Cinemas, Hamams

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Museum Pass Istanbul E-card:

The Museum Pass İstanbul costs 105 €uro (October 2024) for five days, both beginning with your first museum visit. You can visit 13 museums that belong to Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. You can buy the card online at: https://muze.gov.tr/MuseumPass

With this card, you will be able to visit the Chora, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace Museum and Harem Apartments, İstanbul Archaeological Museums,the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts,  Galata Tower Museum and some others without having to queue.
The advantages offered to holders of the Museum Pass İstanbul aren’t just limited to this; attractive discounts await at the city’s elite private museums, together with arts and entertainment venues.

Museums card (Müzekart):

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Müzekart provides free access to museums and archaeological sites run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
TL 60: over a period of one year
Müzekart can be used by Turkish citizens, citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Tour operators, Agents & private tourist guides:
  • Plan Tours: +90 212 234 77 77. They offer Chauffeur driven cars, yacht rentals, helicopter tours, Istanbul tours and tours around Turkey. 
  • 1001 Istanbul: Emekli Subaylar Sitesi 39/10 Esentepe. Tel: (0212) 272 7772. They organize very interesting Tours through Istanbul in Turkish, but all guides speak also French.
  • Zoe Yacht Cruises: Tel: (0212) 225 7670. They organize private cruises in the Bosphorus Strait, Golden Horn, Princes’ Islands, Marmara or Black Sea.
  • BTO Travel: Etiler Kültür Mahallesi Adnan Saygun Caddesi Gündeş Apartmanı No:4/2 Beşiktaş. Talk to the Owner, Osman: (0532) 323 6180. They organize tours  all over Turkey, plane and train tickets, hotel reservations, rent-a-car, airport transfers and much more. very well known. They also have agencies in Ankara and Izmir.
  • Istanbul Sightseeing Tours: Tel: +90 212 638 66 01. They can organize city tours, Bosphorus tours and much more.
  • UTS (United Travel Services): Cumhuriyet Street. No: 137 /6 Harbiye. Tel: (0212) 230 4909. They organize Tours in Istanbul, but also in other cities and special Tours.
  • Fatih K. Copuroğlu: licensed professional private guide since 1995. Istanbul specialist, but can also guide outside Istanbul. He speaks perfect English and has already guided several celebrities.
  • Huseyin Avni: licensed professional guide who speaks perfect French. He also works at 1001Istanbul (mentioned above) where he does very interesting Istanbul walking tours. Cell: (0532) 425 0426

Sultanahmet & Eminönü Area

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This area is the historical peninsula of Istanbul where most of the historical sights are located. 

Don't miss seeing:

  • Topkapi Museum: Tel: (0212) 512 0480 From 09:00am to 05:00pm. (closed on Tuesdays). The Topkapi is the biggest and the most popular sites of Istanbul. Built in the 15th century, this palace was the political center of the Ottoman Empire, until they built Dolmabahce Palace by the waterside.
  • Hagia Sophia: Tel: (0212) 522 1750 (closed on Mondays). A former Byzantine church, now one of the most important museums of Istanbul considered as a World Heritage by UNESCO.
  • Sultanahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) 
  • Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Tel: (0212) 518 1805 From 09:00am to 05:00pm.(closed on Mondays)
  • Hippodrome
  • Yerebatan Cisterns: Open from 09:00am to 05:30pm. Tel: (0212) 522 1259
  • Grand Bazaar ('Kapalı Çarşı'): Open from 08:30am to 07:00pm (closed on Sundays)
  • Mosaic Museum Tel: (0212) 518 1205. From 09:00am to 06:30pm (closed on Mondays)
  • Archaeological Museum: Tel: (0212) 520 7740. From 09:00-07:00pm (closed on Mondays)
  • Spice Market ('Mısır Çarşısı' or Egyptian Bazaar). At the entrance of the Golden Horn. Open from 09:00-19:00. Over 80 shops inside
  • Rüstem Paşa Mosque, next to the Spice market. Built in the 16th century. The Rüstem Paşa Mosque is well known for its beautiful Iznik.

Other areas:

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Don't miss seeing while in Istanbul:

  • - Galata Tower: Şişhane. From 09:00am to 08:00pm.Tel: (0212) 293 8180    
  • - Istanbul Modern Arts Museum .Kılıç Ali Paşa Mahallesi, Tophane Iskele Caddesi, No:1/1. Beyoğlu.
  • Tel: (212) 334 7300. Open from 10:00-18:00, Fridays until 20:00. (closed on Mondays)
  • - Dolmabahçe Palace ( closed on Mondays and Thursdays). You need a reservation! Tel: (0212) 236 9000
  • - Museum of Innocence, Çukurcuma cad. Dalgiç Çikmazi No.2, Beyoğlu .Tel: (0212) 252 9738 (closed on Mondays)
  • - Ara Güler Museum: Inside the Bomontiada, Merkez Mah., Silahşör Cad., Birahane Sok. Tarihi  Bomonti Bira Fabrikası No:1, Şişli. Tel: (0212) 230 2162. The Museum opened in August 2018, the day of Ara Güler's 90th Birthday. Güler is a very well known photographer, also known as "The Eye of Istanbul". A must visit for photography lovers. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00-20:00, Sundays 12:00-18:00. Closed on Mondays and holidays. entrance free.
  • Madame Tussauds wax Museum: Hüseyinağa Mahallesi, Istiklal Cd No:56, Beyoğlu. Tel: (0212) 372 0800. Open from 10:00 - 19:00. Book your tickets online better in advance.
  • The Roman City Walls
  • Sülemaniye Mosque. in Beyazit. Built in the 16th century by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient. It stands on top of the Hill dominating the Golden Horn. The mosque is the largest mosque of Istanbul.
  • Kariye (Chora) Museum. Kariye Camii Sokak Edirnekapi. Tel: (0212) 631 9241
  • Pera Museum, Meşrutiyet Cad. No.141. Tepebaşi. Tel: (0212) 334 9900. (closed on Mondays). 
  • Rahmi Koç Transport Museum: Hasköy Cad. No: 5, Hasköy, Tel: (0212) 369 6600-01-02. Open from Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 to 17:00. There is also a Submarine that you can visit. Note: You need to book in advance and children under 8 years are not allowed to get in.
  • Naval Museum Command: Near the Kadiköy Pier. Tel: (0212) 327 4345. Open from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays
  • Chocolate Museum: Koza Mahallesi 1678 Sk. No:19 (Sanayi Mahallesi Evren Sanayi Sitesi Akbatı A.V.M. Arkası) Esenyurt. Tel: (0212) 411 13 00. Open from 10:00-16:00. Closed on Sundays.
  • Miniatürk: Örnektepe Mahallesi, İmrahor Caddesi, No: 7/1 Beyoğlu. Tel: (0212) 222 2882. A miniatur park of Turkey. There is also the Crystal Museum inside. Open from 09:00 to 19:00 every day. 15 TL entrance fee.

Bosphorus

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Don’t miss :

Do a Boat tour on the Bosphorus, there are some that start and end from the piers at the entrance of the Golden Horn and the piers near Dolmabahçe palace.
Smaller tours can be done from Ortaköy. The Tour takes one hour, cost in October 2017: 15 TL. For more information call: Ortur: Tel: (0212) 327 2495.

Information about tourist Tours or private Tours on the Bosphorus, click HERE

If you have one spare day, take a boat and visit the princess islands (Büyük Ada)
Culture Centers, Performance and Convention Centers :

Tickets and other spectacles in general:  
You can purchase the entrance tickets on the following website:
If you don't want to buy a ticket through the Internet, Biletix has also lots of sales points around Istanbul Check their website to get the nearest retail outlet to you.

Theaters:

  • BKM-Beşiktaş Culture Center: Has Fırın Sokak No:75, Beşiktaş. Tel: (0212) 327 2427.
  • Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Sahnesi: Harbiye Mahallesi Gümüs Caddesi No: 3, Şişli. Tel: (0212) 455 3919
  • Taksim Sahnesi: Taksim Square. Tel: (0212) 249 6944
  • Tiyatro Istanbul: Profolio Shopping Mall. Tel: (0212) 216 4070

Acuarium:
  • Istanbul Aquarium: Şenlikköy Mahallesi Yeşilköy Halkalı Cad. No:93 Florya. Tel: 444 9744. A great place for kids.

Cinemas:
There are many Cinemas in istanbul, but the biggest ones are:
Turkish Baths (Hamams) :

Turkey is famous for its Hamams !  If you want to go to one in Istanbul , try one of them:



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