5 Best Museums in Istanbul
The first thing that visitors do in Istanbul is usually to visit the museums in the city. Especially if you have a limited vacation time, it is very difficult to visit all the museum in Istanbul. In this post, you will see the 5 best museums in Istanbul that will help you to manage your time in the city more efficiently.
Topkapı Palace Museum
We have a specific post about Topkapı Palace that you can reach from here. Topkapı Palace had been the administrative center of the Ottomans for about 400 years. You will see and feel the history when you visit the palace. Today the palace is not being used as an administrative center but as a museum where the belongings of the Ottoman sultans, kaftans, weapons and many other gifts are exhibited for the visitors. It is a must-see museum that should be in your travel plan.
The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
The Basilica Cistern is one of the most interesting and living monuments of Byzantine left in today’s modern Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern is known to be built by Emperor Justiniaus I. The number of columns in the cistern is 336 that let the area to have a huge area for about 100.000 tons of water. Ottomans started to use the cistern as an area to provide water to Topkapı Palace.
Istanbul Modern
Istanbul Modern is the museum where the modern Turkish art collections are exhibited. It is also known as the first private museum in Turkey. The museum is located in Beyoğlu that also offers superb views of the Bosphorus.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace is considered to be the second new home of Ottoman Sultans after Topkapı Palace since it was built by Sultan Abdulmecit in 1856 for the purpose of being the new administration center of the government. You will see how Ottoman architecture is presented using a European style. The last resident of the palace was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkey.
Istanbul Archeological Museum
What makes Istanbul Archeological Museum special is the building itself. This is the first building in Turkey that was built specifically to be a museum in 1891. If you want to see sculptures from the Ancient Age, Archaic Era or Roman Era, you should definitely visit Istanbul Archeological Museum.
