Istanbul is an ancient city. One of the oldest in the world. In fact, there has been a city in one form or another in this place since the 7^th century BC. So, it’s no wonder that there is a lot of history here.

In many parts of the city, you can see history just by looking around, but there are also some mysterious museums of Istanbul that deserve to be on your travel itinerary. Many of these museums tell the story of Istanbul itself, and very often, they display and share some of the world’s most priceless historical treasures.

Here are some of the best places to see the long and fascinating Istanbul history up close.

Mystical Museums of Istanbul

Many Istanbul museums started out as something very different. Which means when you visit them, you’re not just looking at history – you’re walking on it and through it. This gives many iconic and mysterious museums of Istanbul an extra dimension that you won’t find elsewhere.

There are very few places in the world where you can get this close to such a long and interesting history. We are highlighting a few of the most interesting museums that showcase Istanbul history, but there are over 80 museums in Istanbul and many more nearby. So, if you are a history buff who wants o to learn more about the fascinating history of Istanbul and Turkey, you will find plenty to keep you busy.

Galata Tower Museum

The Galata Tower Museum is a former watchtower that was built in the mid 14^th century by Genoese colonists in Istanbul. It was once part of the city wall of Galata, which was a settlement in the then Constantinople area.

The tower itself is over 9 stories high, but has eleven floors including the basement, and it’s quite remarkable that it has survived mostly intact for such a long time. Particularly since it was part of the early defence systems of the people of Istanbul. There have been several repairs and renovations over the years, but it’s generally accepted that the current tower is mostly the one that was built centuries ago.

Today, it houses many fascinating artifacts as well as a restaurant and café where you can enjoy a meal in a centuries old tower with a view over the Bosphorus.

While the building might be very old, the exhibits in the tower are decidedly modern, and incorporate a variety of multimedia elements. There is also a scale model of old Istanbul that you can view on the 7^th floor, and a viewing platform on the 8^th.

Pera Museum

The Pera Museum is actually one of the newer buildings on this list. It was built in the 1890s, designed by the famous architect Achille Manoussos, and was originally the Bristol Hotel.

The building was revamped in the early 2000s, after which it became one of the best art museums in Istanbul.

The museum regularly hosts travelling exabits, as well as one of the biggest and finest collections of Ottoman and Orientalist paintings in the world. It is also home to functional art and history exhibits like the Anatolian weights and measures collection and the Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics Collection, which is dedicated to preserving over 800 pieces of historic ceramics.

Topkapi Palace Museum

The Topkapi Palace Museum was once the residence of the ottoman sultans who ruled Istanbul and Turkey from the Middle Ages until the early 20^th century.

The palace itself was built in the 15^th and 16^th centuries, and parts of the building are now open to the public. In fact, there are several different courtyards, and areas of the original palace that you can visit today.

Here you can see treasures like the Spoonmakers Diamond and the Topkapi Dagger. There are also displays of clothing, weapons, and other artifacts from the long history of the Ottomans.

Basilica Cistern Museum

When you think about the mysterious museums of Istanbul, an ancient water storage system might not be the firs thing that springs to mind. But the Basilica Cistern Museum is not your average water storage area. It’s a remarkably well preserved, fantastically well designed, and beautiful example of ancient engineering.

Some accounts state that it took thousands of slaves to build the cistern, and when you see the sheer scale and grandeur of the space, it’s easy to see why.

In fact, it’s called the Subterranean Palace, and it was built in the 6^th century, by the famous Byzantine emperor, Justinian. The Cistern is absolutely enormous and was built to hold 2.8 million cubic feet of water – although there is very little in the space now.

Visitors can see all the remarkable carved stone columns and enjoy a meal in the on-site café. Aside from all the fascinating history, James Bond fans will also appreciate this space – it was featured in the movie “From Russia with Love.”

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is another mysterious museum of Istanbul that owes its existence to Justinian.

Although it is a mosque today, it didn’t start out that way. In fact, when it was built in 537 AD, it was the largest Christian church in the Byzantine empire. But it wasn’t the first church on the site. In fact, it was built on top of another, older Theodosian church that you can still see remnants of today.

The building still carries marks of its early Christian history, overlaid with Islamic symbols and artwork. In fact, in some ways, it’s a visual record of the long and contentious history of Constantinople and Istanbul.

Here you can see remarkable mosaics, fantastic carvings, and soaring domes, and, while it is certainly still a museum with a rich history, since 2018, it has also been a working mosque. Visitors are still welcome to visit, however.

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

As you might imagine from a city that measures its history in millennia, there’s a lot of history to see when you visit Istanbul, and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum is one of the best places to see that history.

There are actually three museums on the same premises: the Archaeological Museum, which is housed in the main building, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Museum of Islamic Art which is in the Tiled Kiosk area.

The buildings themselves are also historical monuments, dating back to the 15^th and 19^th centuries, and here you will find relics from ancient temples, ornate sarcophagi, tiled artwork from Babylon and many other priceless historical artifacts. Many of the exhibits in the Istanbul Archeology Museum are fantastically preserved, considering that they are hundreds or even thousands of years old!

If you are interested in the history of Istanbul and the middle eastern and Greek dynasties of the past, this is a fantastic place to learn more about them.

Dolmabahce Palace Museum

The Dolmabahce Palace Museum is actually one of the newer attractions on this list of Istanbul museums, but it’s no less important to Istanbul history.

This building was once the administrative centre of the ottoman empire and was built between 1843 and 1856 by the 31^st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, who reigned from 1839 to 1861.

It was built right on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which allowed the empire’s ships to anchor nearby, and is a monument to the wealth, power, and opulence of the Ottoman sultans. There is over 45,000 square meters of building to explore, as well as some imperial gardens around the palace.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is housed in a building that was constructed in the 15^th century and was once a palace – so like many of Istanbul’s museums, it is in itself a historical attraction.

Today, the museum houses over 40,000 pieces of Islamic art from various periods of Turkish history, and from many of the people’s and tribes that have lived in Turkey over the years.

The collection includes carvings, carpets and weaving, sculptures and more, and it is located right across from another famous landmark – the Blue Mosque. It is a fascinating collection of art and crafts from throughout the long history of Islam and is well worth a visit for anyone who wants to know more about this part of Istanbul’s history.

Tips for Visiting Turkish Museums

If you are planning to visit some of the Istanbul museums on this list (or other historic and cultural attractions) be sure to check what is required of visitors. Many of the museums that display Istanbul history and culture are also religiously significant sites and may require visitors to dress and behave a certain way.

It’s a good idea to book a guided tour of many of the historical attractions and museums of Istanbul. There is just so much to see and such a vast history spanning so many centuries that you really do want an expert to walk you through it all.

Some attractions, like the Hagia Sophia, might also not be accessible on certain days when they are used for religious purposes. So be sure to check before you plan a visit.