Museums in Turkey

The Archaeological Museum in Ephesus displays archaeological findings from the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO world heritage site. It houses statues of goddesses Artemis, Aphrodite, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, and other Roman emperors. Some of the oldest coins and utensils in history are also part of the exhibit. Visitors can view a dynamic 3D videography of ancient Ephesus.

Located in the Atpazarı area of Ankara, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is based in two Ottoman buildings near the Ankara Castle. The museum houses artefacts, handicrafts, tools, and furniture, among more pieces of history from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze ages.

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts occupies Ibrahim Pasha's 16th-century palace on the west side of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, and holds one of the finest carpet collections anywhere, some pieces going back to the Seljuks, alongside Qur'an manuscripts and calligraphy. Where Ephesus and Antalya on this list are archaeological, this is the museum of the Islamic centuries.

Istanbul Modern Art Museum, commonly known as just Istanbul Museum, It is an artist’s escape and Turkey's first modern and contemporary art museum.The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art focuses on collecting, preserving, and showcasing modern and contemporary art, including photography, design, architecture, new media, and cinema.

One of the largest archaeological museums in the city, the Antalya museum is located just 3 km west of Kalekapisi in Konyaalti. It consists of 13 large exhibition halls and one open-air exhibit. Ancient sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses, Hercules marble statue, pottery, sarcophagi and the Ottoman collection of weapons, apparel, and artefacts from the Old Stone Age are showcased here.

Topkapi was the Ottoman court for nearly four centuries and is less one building than a walled quarter of courtyards, kitchens and pavilions above the Golden Horn. The treasury holds the Spoonmaker's Diamond and the Topkapi dagger, and the Harem is ticketed separately. Of the museums in this country it takes the longest, and half a day is not generous.

The Mevlana Museum in Konya is the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Rumi, the 13th-century Sufi poet known as Mevlana, and of the dervish lodge that grew up around his tomb. His sarcophagus lies beneath a fluted green-tiled dome that has become the emblem of the city. Unlike the rest of this list it is still an active pilgrimage site, so dress is modest and many of those around you will be there to pray.

Hagia Sophia was built as a cathedral in 537, became a mosque after the conquest of 1453, and served as a museum from 1935 until 2020, when it was reconverted to a working mosque. The Byzantine mosaics and the vast dome are still the reason to come, but visitors are now routed to the upper gallery and prayer times govern access, which is true of nothing else on this list.

Chora, also known as Kariye, stands in the Edirnekapi neighbourhood of Istanbul. The present church dates from the 11th century, and the mosaics and frescoes added in the early 14th century run through the interior in sequence, so the lives of Christ and Mary can be followed almost like a graphic novel. It was a museum from 1948 and reopened as a working mosque in 2024.

Dolmabahce replaced Topkapi as the sultans' residence in 1856, a European palace of 285 rooms strung along the Bosphorus shore, with a ceremonial hall that hangs a four-and-a-half tonne chandelier beneath a 36-metre dome. Ataturk died here in 1938 and its clocks are still stopped at the hour. Visits are guided and timed, so unlike the rest of this list you cannot wander at your own pace.

The Mersin Naval Museum is dedicated to the Turkish Navy and the country's history. It features a collection of ancient artifacts and exhibits like weapons, navigation instruments, uniforms, medals, and photographs. Home to a unique collection, including the oldest anchor in the world, and a 17th-century Ottoman warship, the museum is a cultural pride!

The world's largest mosaic museum, located near Gaziantep, showcases an impressive collection of mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma. These Roman and Late Antique mosaics are renowned as some of the world's finest. Among them, "The Gypsy Girl," a small yet mosaic, stands out as the museum's most famous piece.