Guide to Istanbul Museums & Exhibitions
from Istanbul Holiday Apartments

Pera Museum
Meşrutiyet Caddesi No 141, Tepebaşı (within walking distance)
Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10-19 and 10-18 on Sundays.
Closed Mondays.

May 4 - July 18
Fernando Botero
An exhibition  of 64 works of the Colombian artist.

A privately owned museum with an impressive 19th  century facade, the Pera
also houses a collection of Turkish and Orientalist paintings, ceramics and weights & measures.
Tearoom without windows that serves sandwiches, salads & pasta dishes on the weekends.
Close by the Istanbul Culinary Institute serves tasty, reasonably priced breakfasts & lunches.

Sabanci Museum
Atlı Köşk – Emirgan

Until September 4
City of Emperors – the Legendary Istanbul: 8000 Years of A Capital
The exhibition sheds light on the glorious history of a city that has served as the capital city for
the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, bringing together treasures from a total of 58 museums,
39 of which are located abroad and 19 in Turkey.

April 15-June 27
Transcending Borders: The Art of Brush and Pen
A disjointed calligraphy show with examples from China, Japan & the Ottoman Empire
with a few Latin pieces as well.

Out along the Bosphorus in a beautiful setting, the former mansion of one of Turkey’s richest
industrialists has been transformed into a fine art museum with a good permanent collection
of Turkish paintings and calligraphy and an active special exhibition program.
Go by ferry or bus to Emirgan.
In the museum, MuzeChanga, one of the best restaurants in Istanbul
serves inventive, original dishes in a very appealing setting with a terrace
looking over the gardens to the Bosphorus. Expensive.
Open everyday (except Mondays) 10 - 19; Sundays 12-18

Topkapı Palace Museum
Easiest to walk up from Gulhane tramway stop.

Until June 17th
Treasures from the Kremlin
Dazzling exhibit of a variety of bejewelled objects & textiles from
the Czars, some of Ottoman origin. Well worth seeing.

Sacred Trusts
A beautiful and moving exhibit of a variety of religious relics and objects
in a stunning suite of tiled domed rooms with live religious music.

The newly reorganized and reinstalled Treasury section has excellent explanations
and labels for a collection of breathtaking objects & jewels.
The Harem exhibits, alas, have not been improved yet but at least
you don't have to be herded through with a guided group any more.

In the lower gardens, Konyali Restaurant serves traditional Turkish food.
Not a bargain though. Konyali also has a very upscale restaurant in Kanyon shopping center.
In the first courtyard next to Haghia Irini is the first-class Karakol
with tables outside on the lawn and pretty, high-ceiling rooms inside the restored 19th century
police station, serving inventive gourmet fare.
Be prepared to splurge though; a meal for two will run close to $100.

Istanbul Archeology Museums
Take the tramway to Gulhane, enter the park walls and walk up
Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu towards Topkapi Palace.

In the Light of Day: 8000 Years of Istanbul
Fascinating exhibit of recent finds from as early as 6000 BC through the Ottoman era,
including the fabulous discovery of the lost Byzantine harbor at Yenikapı
and numerous wooden boats dating from 1000 AD.

The grand 19th century Archeology Museums are arranged around a
beautiful courtyard with a simple cafe.
A lovely place to sit and ponder antiquity.
Open 9-5 but last entrance is at 4. Closed on Mondays

Istanbul Modern Museum
Tophane/Salıpazarı along the Bosphorus (within walking distance)
Privately owned museum devoted to modern Turkish painting and photography.
Permanent painting exhibition is worth a look.

February 17-June 20
From Traditional to Contemporary: Cultural Memory in Modern Turkish Art
A look at how several Turkish artists use traditional themes.
A self-important exhibit that is really not particularly insightful.

The Modern has an excellent albeit rather expensive café/restaurant with terrace
and super view (unless a cruise ship blocks it) that can be accessed from its own staircase.
Recommended.
Open 10 am -12 midnight Monday-Saturdays & 10 am- 6 pm Sundays.

Yapi Kredi Cultural Center
Istiklal Caddesi at Galatasaray (within walking distance)
Open 10-7 weekdays, 10-6 Saturdays and 1-6 Sundays.

Sadberk Hanim Museum
Piyasa Cad. No: 27- 29 Büyükdere

Valuable  archaeological and ethnographic collections
housed in 19th century wooden mansions on the Bosphorus.
Elitist in approach, the museum is usually empty. Special exhibits are not publicized
which is a pity. Open 10-5. Closed Wednesdays.
Try going by ferryboat from Eminönü to Sariyer
to escape heavy traffic on the coastal road.

Rahmi Koç Museum
Sütlüce on the Golden Horn
Eclectic, well-displayed collections related to industry and technology
with many hands-on activities for children. Lots of fun!
The Museum has a wonderful setting on the Golden Horn and two good
although rather pricey restaurants: the cozy Café du Levent for a Parisian feel and
Halat for a superb terrace on the Golden Horn.  
10-5 Tuesdays-Friday; 10-7 Weekends. Closed Mondays.
Can be reached by taxi or Sishane-Alibeykoy minibus.

Santralistanbul
The Golden Horn-Beyoglu shore
The first Ottoman power plant complex has been refurbished as an art & cultural center.
Kids will have a blast at the Energy Museum,
walking around the giant turbines and playing with the cool-looking retro gauges.
Two cafe/restaurants --Otto and Tamirhane serving prosaic, sometime overly ambitious food
with live music programs. Extensive gardens make it a good place for lively children.

Open 10-10 Tuesday through Sunday.

Shuttles leave every 20 minutes from Ataturk Cultural Center at Taksim.
Located beyond the Rahmi Koc Museum & Miniaturk so don't go through Eyup.


Rezan Has Museum
Kadir Has University  , Cibali on the Golden Horn
Open 9-6 everyday


Directly across the Ataturk Bridge from Galata on the road to Eyup.
The Rezan Has Museum is built over an 11th century Byzantine Cistern
now used to house a collection of small archeological objects.