Embark on a time travel adventure at Turkey's Istanbul Archaeological Museums. As the first official museum in both the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, this complex boasts almost a million artefacts on display. Here, you can take a tour of the Tiled Kiosk Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Archaeology Museum. You can also explore collections of objects from many civilizations that Osman Hamdi Bey assembled in the late 1800s.
Enter Istanbul's top archaeological museum complex, which is tucked away next to Topkapi Palace. Here, you can discover the wonders of the Museum of the Ancient Orient, which has artefacts from all around the Ottoman Empire. Some of the highlights are fascinating panels of glazed brick from ancient Babylon and a Hittite relief from the eighth century BC.
Through the courtyard, you can reach the Archaeology Museum, which is currently being renovated. Here, you can spot classical statues and sarcophagi ( a coffin to bury leaders), besides information about Istanbul's long and interesting history.
After discovering the Archaeology Museum, you can explore the magnificent Tiled Pavilion. This was built in 1472 and features a collection of exquisite Seljuk, Anatolian, and Ottoman tiles and pottery. It is embellished with marble columns and lets you admire the vivid colours of İznik tiles, which encapsulate the spirit of a bygone age.
• Discover over a million antiques spread across three buildings as you visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
• Explore a diverse range of artefacts from Byzantine, Hittite, Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Ottoman Treasures.
• Admire the elaborate portrayals of legendary animals like griffons, centaurs, and sphinxes as well as scenes from Greek mythology.
• View fascinating portraits of Alexander the Great on this tomb, which is thought to have contained the ruler of Sidon, Abdalonymus.
• Explore artefacts from the famous sites of Troy, including the copper replica of the Treaty of Kadesh, the world's oldest peace treaty.
Located centrally in Cankurtaran, in İstanbul’s Türkiye, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums are conveniently accessible via various modes of transportation.
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums offer a captivating journey through history that can be enjoyed year-round.
1. Set aside at least two hours to wander around to get a feel for the museum's vast collections.
2. Wear comfortable shoes as the museum covers a large area.
3. Start your tour early to get enough time to explore all three museums.
4. Consider hiring a guide for a more enriching experience.
5. Don't miss the highlights like the Alexander Sarcophagus and the Tiled Kiosk.
6. Appreciate the artefacts and abide by the museum's regulations.
7. Take advantage of audio guides or informational pamphlets for context.
8. Please note that only the main building Archaeological Museum is wheelchair accessible.
9. Respect rules on photography inside the museum.
10. Consider purchasing a museum pass for access to multiple sites.