Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Explore History at The Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Who doesn’t love travelling back in time and learning about ancient history? Who doesn’t love picturing themselves back in the day, understanding more about the way of life, and how things came to be the way they are nowadays?

History is fascinating, and Istanbul is full of it! As there are many rainy days during the winter months of Istanbul, one of the best places to head to shelter from the elements, whilst also getting your dose of real-time history, is the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.

Fearing more than one million different objects, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum is a must visit for any history buffs visiting the city.

What is Inside The Istanbul Archaeology Museum?

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is made up of three separate museums, all under one roof; you’re basically getting a three for one deal here! The museums are the Archaeology Museum, Ancient Orient Museum, and Islamic Art Museum.

Inside all of the museums you’ll find artefacts and art dating back to various important points in time, including the roman Empire, Byzantine and Ottoman Eras, as well as artefacts from Ancient Egypt and Greece.

Inside the Ancient Orient Museum, one of the most notable pieces to check out is the Treaty of Kadesh. This is a peace treaty which is the oldest on the planet, and it was signed way back in 1274, in Hattusa. You can also find the oldest poem of love too, dating back to the 8th century.

The Archaeology Museum itself is packed with ancient finds, including the Lycian Sarcophagus, the Alexander Sarcophagus, and the fantastic Istanbul Troy Museum section, which tells the story of Troy and exactly what happened there. You can also head to the Istanbul Through The Ages Exhibition, which will tell you the story of the city, as it has passed hands from conquest to conquest, before arriving as it is in the current day. You can also see remnants of the chains used to block the waters of the Golden Horn, used during the Byzantine Era, to stop unwanted ships from heading into the historic natural port.

Finally, the Islamic Art Museum has the beautiful Foundation of Youth, belonging to Sultan Murat III, and dating back to 1590, as well as the Tile Mihrab from 1432. Some beautiful works of art and architecture are on display within this section of the museum, and it’s well worth a visit.

Visiting the Istanbul Archaeology Museum

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is a very popular spot, so be sure to head there early to avoid major crowds, especially during weekends and public holidays. The museum is open  everyday, apart from Mondays, and from 9am until 7pm. If you hold an Istanbul Museum Card, entry is free, but if not, it’s just 20TL to visit the museum, and that grants you access to all three areas inside the building itself.

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is located in Sultanahmet, so it’s very easy to combine your visit with some other top attractions in the area. Let’s face it, Sultanahmet has more places to visit than some other entire cities do! You can easily combine your visit with the beautiful Blue Mosque or the Hagia Sofia, and Topkapi Palace and stunning Gulhane Park are just a short walk away too.

It is easy to get to Sultanahmet from any part of the city, either via tram, bus, or Metro connection. There is a tram stop just outside Gulhane Park, so that is the best place to get off, and then walk the very short distance to the Istanbul Archaeology Museum from there.

In terms of how long it will take you to explore really depends on how interested in history you are, so it could be anything from a couple of hours to an entire afternoon! Be sure to check out all three museums in detail, as there are some really fascinating pieces in there, and lots of exhibitions where you can learn about the history of the city you’re visiting. Istanbul has more history than some entire countries can lay claim to, and it would be a crying shame if you didn’t at least attempt to learn about the place you’re spending your time. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum will allow you to do that quite quickly, and the chances are that you’ll be so intoxicated by what you’re learning, you’ll want to continue your new historical education in some of the other museums around the city too!