Arts & Culture · 29 of the best in Istanbul
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Three museums below Topkapı
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Istanbul Archaeology Museums
The Istanbul Archaeology Museums, on the slope between Topkapı and Gülhane Park, bring together the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Kiosk, built in 1472. The painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey founded the museum in 1891; its treasures include the so-called Alexander Sarcophagus and finds from ancient Byzantium. Some halls have been closed for long renovation works, so check what is open.
Why it's on our list
- The Alexander Sarcophagus
- Tiled Kiosk of 1472
- Check which halls are open
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Istanbul Archaeology Museums before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Istanbul Archaeology Museums are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- GülhaneT1250 m3 min walk
- SirkeciT1600 m7 min walk
- SultanahmetT1600 m8 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Ishakpaşa Caddesi550 m7 min walk
- Taxi rank, Çayıroğlu Sokağı1.1 km14 min walk
Key sights
- Topkapı Palace150 mWalk 2 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Hagia Sophia350 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Basilica Cistern450 mWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Blue Mosque800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Spice Bazaar1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Grand Bazaar1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Galata Bridge1.1 kmWalk 14 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Galata Tower1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
- İstiklal Avenue2.5 kmWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 10 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)30 kmCar or taxi 94 min
- Istanbul Airport (IST)35 kmCar or taxi 108 min