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Museums & Cultural Centres in Istanbul

Istanbul holds a dense cluster of museums and cultural centres along a few central streets. Several of the places below sit on or near İstiklal Caddesi and Bankalar Caddesi in the Beyoğlu and Galata area, while others are in the old city around Sultanahmet and Sirkeci, close to the railway station.

The entries range from contemporary art and exhibition spaces to a museum of Turkish and Islamic works, a carpet museum, a Polish poet's house, and a railway museum. Opening days and hours differ between them, so check before setting out.

Meşher

Meşher is at İstiklal Caddesi 211, Istanbul 34433, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 19:00. Wheelchair access is limited. The website is mesher.org and the telephone number is +90 212 708 59 00.

SALT Galata

SALT Galata is at Bankalar Caddesi 11, Istanbul 34420. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 19:00 and on Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00. You can reach it on +90 212 334 22 00 or through saltonline.org.

Borusan Sanat

Borusan Sanat is on İstiklal Caddesi at number 160A, postcode 34433. It opens Monday to Friday, 09:30 to 18:00, and is not wheelchair accessible. The telephone number is +90 212 705 87 00.

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. Wheelchair access is limited, and the museum offers wireless internet access. Contact by phone on +90 212 518 18 05, or see muze.gen.tr.

Osmanlı Bankası Müzesi

The Ottoman Bank Museum shares its building address with SALT Galata at Bankalar Caddesi 11, Istanbul 34420. Its website is obmuze.com, and it can be reached on +90 212 334 22 00.

Adam Mickiewicz Müzesi

Adam Mickiewicz Müzesi is at Tatlı Badem Sokağı 17 and is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00. Information is available at muze.gov.tr, and the telephone number is +90 212 518 18 05.

Halı Müzesi

Halı Müzesi, the carpet museum, is at Soğukçeşme Sokak 14, Istanbul 34122. It has a website at halimuzesi.com and can be called on +90 212 512 69 93.

İstanbul Demiryolu Müzesi

The Istanbul Railway Museum is on Sirkeci İstasyon Caddesi, postcode 34110. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:30 to 17:00. The building is wheelchair accessible. Call +90 212 520 65 75 to check details.

Practical notes

Most entries here are open during the day, but several close on different days, so check each opening pattern before you plan a route. Telephone numbers are listed for each museum above, and the Sirkeci railway museum and Meşher are the two places with the most specific access information. Several museums are within walking distance of one another on İstiklal Caddesi and Bankalar Caddesi.

The places on this page

Guides to Istanbul