Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Tansu Elias★★★★★★★★★★5.02 weeks ago

An incredible collection of Islamic art in a beautiful historic place. While the Blue Mosque nearby is crowded, this museum housed in the 16th century Ibrahim Pasha Palace is incredibly peaceful. Plan for about 2 hours for a very relaxing and educational visit. , a lot to see. The carpet collection is world class and don't miss the view of the Blue Mosque from the upper floor (same floor). After all or in between grab a coffee/tea in the lovely courtyard cafe or just have seat and enjoy the peace.

Thomas Defise★★★★★★★★★★5.02 months ago

Tips/Infos: • Time: 2 hours at a slow pace (can go up to 3 hours if you explore everything in detail). • Best time: Morning or early afternoon; it’s a large museum, so better not rush it (and it closes at 17:30) • Ticket: 17€ which is a fairly price compared to most attractions in Istanbul (Included in the Istanbul E-Pass). • Audio guide: With E-Pass, you get a room-by-room audio guide (2–3 minutes per room, requires internet). There is also a more detailed version covering 50+ pieces, if you use that one, plan extra time. • Pacing: Take your time, it’s one of the more content-rich museums in the city. It’s probably one of the most complete museums to understand Islamic and Ottoman culture, and it’s definitely worth visiting if you have time. The museum focuses a lot on the diversity of Islamic civilizations and ethnicities, rather than giving a simple, structured “introduction” to Islam. So if you’re looking for the basics of Islamic history or religion, it might feel like something is missing. Instead, it dives deeper into cultural variations, lifestyles, and artistic expressions across different regions. The museum covers a wide range of themes beyond just art. It explains aspects of daily and cultural life such as: • the history of Hammams (bathhouses) • Ottoman mansions and domestic life • Karagöz shadow play • coffee culture within the Islamic world On the art side, the collection is very diverse and rich, including: • carpets (one of the highlights) • calligraphy • jewellery • religious relics • costumes • household objects It really depends on how deep you want to go. We spent about 2 hours at a relaxed pace without reading everything, but if you’re interested in Islamic history in detail and use the extended audio guide, you could easily spend 3 hours here. Another nice bonus is that you can also see some remains of the ancient Hippodrome nearby, adding an extra historical layer to the visit. Overall, it offers excellent value for money, especially compared to other attractions in Istanbul. It’s not the most “famous” stop, but it’s one of the most informative and culturally rich.

Are We There Yet?★★★★★★★★★★4.07 months ago

Excellent museum, wonderfully presented, good lighting, space and English explanations. Open daily 9-5.30pm €17/ 825TL, can use Museum pass. Visited at 9.30am, weekday - very peaceful. If you are in the mood, easy 1.5-2hrs, or go the “express” route 1-1.5hrs. Clean toilets, small gift shop (ground floor). Nice terrace area with views (1st level and outdoors) overlooking the people and the crazy hustle of the square below (Sultanahmet Meydani). Staff friendly and helpful.

Alessia Dahl★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

One of the must-see museums in Istanbul, especially for history lovers😍 After the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, I would consider this museum an absolute must-visit. It is located in a historically significant building — the former palace of Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, the Grand Vizier during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. Because of this, visiting the museum feels like experiencing two historical layers at once: the fascinating exhibitions and the atmosphere of an important Ottoman palace. The museum exceeded my expectations. The collection is very rich, with a large number of impressive historical artifacts. What I especially appreciated is how well the exhibitions are organized and structured by different historical periods of the Islamic world, particularly within the regions connected to the Ottoman Empire. The displays are informative, and there is plenty of material to read and learn from. This museum offers a lot of knowledge both for people who deeply love history and for visitors who simply want to understand the cultural heritage of the region better. In my opinion, it is one of the museums that should definitely be visited while in Istanbul. I spent about three hours there, but honestly it was so interesting that I could easily have spent five. If you are short on time, you may want to focus on the sections that interest you most. Otherwise, I would recommend planning at least 2–3 hours for the visit, as the museum is quite large and contains many valuable artifacts and informative displays. There is also a café and restrooms on the museum grounds. Since the museum is located in a former palace, it also has a beautiful inner courtyard and a small terrace with a view of the Blue Mosque. Highly recommended — a very enriching experience ☺️

Ibrahim Hussein★★★★★★★★★★5.03 months ago

The visit to the Islamic museum was a very enriching cultural experiense. It gives a reflection in the history of the art and craftship in the Islamic civilization. The most impressive representation for me was the several manuscripts of the Holy Quran written in beautiful Arabic calligraphical art during many centuries. But the special room of the Prophetic legacy is so exciting and brilliant.