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Things to See in Istanbul: Eight Places Worth a Visit

Istanbul spreads across both sides of the Bosphorus, and several of the places below sit within a short walk of one another in the Beyoğlu and Galata area. The selection here runs from contemporary and private art spaces on and around İstiklal Caddesi, to museums of Turkish and Islamic art, carpets and the Ottoman banking system, and a railway museum beside Sirkeci station.

Opening hours vary a good deal from one place to the next, and several close on different days, so it is worth checking each before you set out. The entries below give the details that were verified for each place.

Meşher

Meşher is at İstiklal Caddesi 211, postcode 34433, on the busy pedestrian street in Beyoğlu. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 19:00, and closed on Mondays. The venue is listed with limited wheelchair access. The website is mesher.org, and the phone number is +90 212 708 59 00.

SALT Galata

SALT Galata is at Bankalar Caddesi 11, postcode 34420, in Galata. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 19:00, and on Sundays from 11:00 to 18:00. The website is saltonline.org, and the phone number is +90 212 334 22 00. It shares its address and phone number with the Osmanlı Bankası Müzesi, listed further down.

Borusan Sanat

Borusan Sanat is at İstiklal Caddesi 160A, postcode 34433. It is open Monday to Friday, 09:30 to 18:00, so it is closed at weekends. The phone number is +90 212 705 87 00. Wheelchair access is not available.

Türk ve İslam Eserleri Müzesi

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is on Atmeydanı Caddesi and is open every day from 09:00 to 18:30. Its website is muze.gen.tr and its phone number is +90 212 518 18 05. The museum has limited wheelchair access and offers wireless internet (WLAN).

Osmanlı Bankası Müzesi

The Ottoman Bank Museum is at Bankalar Caddesi 11, postcode 34420, the same building address as SALT Galata. Its website is obmuze.com and the phone number is +90 212 334 22 00. Opening hours were not confirmed for this entry, so check the website before visiting.

Adam Mickiewicz Müzesi

The Adam Mickiewicz Museum is at Tatlı Badem Sokağı 17 and is open every day from 09:00 to 19:00. The website is on muze.gov.tr, and the phone number is +90 212 518 18 05, the same as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.

Halı Müzesi

The Carpet Museum is on Soğukçeşme Sokak, number 14, postcode 34122. Its website is halimuzesi.com and the phone number is +90 212 512 69 93. No opening hours are listed for this entry.

İstanbul Demiryolu Müzesi

The Istanbul Railway Museum is on Sirkeci İstasyon Caddesi, postcode 34110, close to Sirkeci station. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 17:00. The phone number is +90 212 520 65 75. The museum is step-free and listed as wheelchair accessible.

Practical Notes

Check opening days before you go: several venues are closed on Mondays, and Borusan Sanat does not open at weekends. SALT Galata and the Ottoman Bank Museum share a building address and phone line, so one visit to Bankalar Caddesi can cover both. Most of the venues on İstiklal Caddesi and in Galata are within walking distance of each other, and wheelchair access varies, with the railway museum listed as the most accessible.

The places on this page

Guides to Istanbul