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Istanbul Modern by the Bosphorus

29 of the best · Istanbul, Türkiye

Arts & Culture in Istanbul

Ancient treasures, Ottoman arts, modern galleries and the music of the dervishes.

Our 29 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

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Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Istanbul.

  1. Three museums below Topkapı

    Istanbul Archaeology Museums

    Sultanahmet·Museum·€€

    Three museums founded by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1891, with the Alexander Sarcophagus, ancient Istanbul and the Tiled Kiosk.

    Cankurtaran, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, FatihExplore View on map

  2. Renzo Piano on the Bosphorus

    Istanbul Modern

    Karaköy·Museum of modern art·€€€

    Turkey’s leading museum of modern and contemporary art, in a Renzo Piano building on the Bosphorus at Galataport, opened in 2023.

    Kılıçali Paşa, Tophane İskele Caddesi No:1/1, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  3. The Tortoise Trainer and Orientalist art

    Pera Museum

    Beyoğlu·Museum·€€

    A private museum in a 19th-century building in Tepebaşı, with Orientalist paintings, Kütahya ceramics and major exhibitions.

    Asmalı Mescit, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:141, BeyoğluExplore View on map

The full list: Arts & Culture, A–Z

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Neighbourhood

The back story 2

In-depth stories behind the list.

  1. The back story

    Istanbul Art, Architecture & Culture: the back story

    Istanbul·In depth: art & architecture

    From Justinian's dome and Sinan's mosques to a Renzo Piano museum on the Bosphorus and a bank turned research library: the story of Istanbul's art and architecture, and where to see it now.

    Explore View on map

  2. The back story

    Sinan, İznik and the Ottoman arts: the back story

    Istanbul·In depth: art

    Domes that float, tiles that bloom with tulips, calligraphy as sacred art and paper marbled like water: the arts of Ottoman Istanbul are all around you.

    Explore View on map

Visual arts

Museums 10

Great collections.

  1. Where the dervishes whirl

    Galata Mevlevi Lodge

    Beyoğlu·Museum & lodge·€

    The Mevlevi lodge of 1491 at the top of Galip Dede Caddesi, with its octagonal hall for the sema ceremony.

    Şahkulu, Galip Dede Caddesi, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  2. Mosaics from the emperors’ palace

    Great Palace Mosaic Museum

    Sultanahmet·Museum·€€

    Floor mosaics from the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors, displayed where they were found behind the Blue Mosque.

    Torun Sokak, Sultanahmet, FatihExplore View on map

  3. Three museums below Topkapı

    Istanbul Archaeology Museums

    Sultanahmet·Museum·€€

    Three museums founded by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1891, with the Alexander Sarcophagus, ancient Istanbul and the Tiled Kiosk.

    Cankurtaran, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, FatihExplore View on map

  4. Orhan Pamuk’s museum of a novel

    Museum of Innocence

    Çukurcuma·Museum·€€

    Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk’s museum built around his novel of the same name, in a house in Çukurcuma.

    Firuzağa, Dalgıç Çıkmazı, Çukurcuma, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  5. Astrolabes in Gülhane Park

    Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

    Gülhane·Museum·€

    Models of astronomical, medical and mechanical inventions from the Islamic world, in Gülhane Park.

    Gülhane Parkı, FatihExplore View on map

  6. Carpets in a vizier’s palace

    Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

    Sultanahmet·Museum·€€

    Carpets, manuscripts and treasures from across the Islamic world, in the 16th-century palace of İbrahim Pasha on the Hippodrome.

    Binbirdirek, Atmeydanı Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map

  7. The Tortoise Trainer and Orientalist art

    Pera Museum

    Beyoğlu·Museum·€€

    A private museum in a 19th-century building in Tepebaşı, with Orientalist paintings, Kütahya ceramics and major exhibitions.

    Asmalı Mescit, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:141, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  8. Trains, planes and a submarine

    Rahmi M. Koç Museum

    Hasköy·Museum·€€

    A big museum of transport, industry and communications on the Golden Horn, much loved by children.

    Hasköy Caddesi, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  9. Calligraphy on the Bosphorus

    Sakıp Sabancı Museum

    Emirgan·Museum·€€

    A museum in a Bosphorus mansion at Emirgan, with Ottoman calligraphy, paintings and major international exhibitions.

    Emirgan, Sakıp Sabancı Caddesi No:42, SarıyerExplore View on map

  10. An Ottoman bank turned cultural centre

    SALT Galata

    Karaköy·Cultural centre

    Exhibitions, a research library and archives in the grand 19th-century Ottoman Bank building on Bankalar Caddesi.

    Bankalar Caddesi No:11, Karaköy, BeyoğluExplore View on map

Galleries 3

Painting, sculpture and photography.

  1. Contemporary art in Dolapdere

    Arter

    Dolapdere·Contemporary art·€€

    A major contemporary art space opened in 2019 in Dolapdere, with exhibitions and performances.

    Irmak Caddesi No:13, Dolapdere, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  2. Renzo Piano on the Bosphorus

    Istanbul Modern

    Karaköy·Museum of modern art·€€€

    Turkey’s leading museum of modern and contemporary art, in a Renzo Piano building on the Bosphorus at Galataport, opened in 2023.

    Kılıçali Paşa, Tophane İskele Caddesi No:1/1, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  3. Turkish painting at Galataport

    Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture

    Karaköy·Museum·€

    Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s collection of Turkish painting and sculpture, in a waterfront building at Galataport since 2021.

    Galataport, Tophane, BeyoğluExplore View on map

Architecture & landmarks 8

Great buildings, old and new.

  1. The finest Byzantine mosaics

    Chora (Kariye Mosque)

    Edirnekapı·Mosque (former church)·€€

    A former Byzantine monastery church near the land walls, with early 14th-century mosaics and frescoes; a mosque since 2024.

    Derviş Ali, Kariye Camii Sokağı, FatihExplore View on map

  2. The sultans’ 19th-century palace

    Dolmabahçe Palace

    Beşiktaş·Palace museum·€€€

    The vast waterfront palace completed in 1856, with a crystal staircase and a 4.5-tonne chandelier. Closed on Mondays.

    Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Caddesi, BeşiktaşExplore View on map

  3. Fifteen centuries under one dome

    Hagia Sophia

    Sultanahmet·Mosque (former cathedral)·€€€

    Justinian’s great church of 537, an Ottoman imperial mosque from 1453, a museum from 1934 and a mosque again since 2020: the building that defines Istanbul.

    Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, FatihExplore View on map

  4. Justinian’s jewel

    Little Hagia Sophia

    Kadırga·Mosque (former church)

    The 6th-century Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, now the Küçük Ayasofya Mosque, near the sea walls.

    Küçük Ayasofya Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map

  5. The most beautiful tiles in Istanbul

    Rüstem Pasha Mosque

    Eminönü·Mosque

    A small mosque by Sinan above the shops of Eminönü, its interior covered in the finest İznik tiles.

    Hasırcılar Caddesi No:62, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map

  6. Sinan’s masterpiece in Istanbul

    Süleymaniye Mosque

    Süleymaniye·Mosque

    Sinan’s great mosque for Süleyman the Magnificent, completed in 1557 on the third hill, with views over the Golden Horn.

    Süleymaniye, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map

  7. Six minarets and 20,000 tiles

    Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

    Sultanahmet·Mosque

    The great mosque of Sultan Ahmed I, built 1609–1616, with six minarets and an interior of blue İznik tiles.

    Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map

  8. The sultans’ palace

    Topkapı Palace

    Sultanahmet·Palace museum·€€€

    The palace of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries: courtyards, the Harem, the Treasury and views over the Bosphorus. Closed on Tuesdays.

    Cankurtaran, Babıhümayun Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map

Performing arts

Concert halls & music 3

Where to hear music.

  1. Concerts in a former brewery

    Babylon Bomonti

    Bomonti·Live music venue·€€

    One of Istanbul’s main concert venues, in the Bomontiada complex in a former brewery.

    Bomontiada, Birahane Sokak, ŞişliExplore View on map

  2. Concerts in Harbiye

    Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall

    Harbiye·Concert hall·€€

    The city’s concert hall in Harbiye, with classical, jazz and world music.

    Harbiye, ŞişliExplore View on map

  3. Jazz by the Galata Tower

    Nardis Jazz Club

    Galata·Jazz club·€€

    Istanbul’s best-known jazz club, a few steps from the Galata Tower.

    Galata, BeyoğluExplore View on map

Opera, ballet & dance 3

The opera houses, and the whirling dervish ceremony.

  1. Opera and ballet on Taksim Square

    Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM)

    Taksim·Opera house & arts centre·€€

    The rebuilt arts centre on Taksim Square, reopened in 2021, home of opera, ballet, concerts and theatre.

    Taksim Meydanı, İnönü Caddesi No:2, BeyoğluExplore View on map

  2. Whirling dervishes in an old hammam

    Hodjapasha Culture Center

    Sirkeci·Performance venue·€€€

    A performance venue in a restored 15th-century hammam near Sirkeci, with whirling dervish ceremonies and Turkish dance shows.

    Hocapaşa Hamamı Sokak No:3B, Sirkeci, FatihExplore View on map

  3. The Asian side’s jewel

    Süreyya Opera House

    Kadıköy·Opera house·€€

    An elegant opera and theatre house of 1927 on Bahariye Caddesi in Kadıköy.

    General Asım Gündüz Caddesi No:29, KadıköyExplore View on map

Explore more of Istanbul

33 of the best Restaurants15 of the best Cafés16 of the best Bars & meyhanes13 of the best Nightlife25 of the best Hotels33 of the best Sights7 of the best Hammams & spas6 of the best Parks & nature18 of the best ShoppingGetting around Getting around

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