Istanbul Photography Museum

Capture Culture at The Istanbul Photography Museum

Art is a very real thing in Istanbul; it’s literally everywhere you turn. From the opulence of the archeology, to the history of the city itself, everything is a true work of art. In-keeping with this cultural vibe, the Istanbul Photography Museum aims to bring attention and celebration to the art of photography, showcasing local and international artists and the work.

The Istanbul Photography Museum opened in November 2011, and despite its relative newness, when you consider the age of some of the nearby attractions, it still pulls in many visitors every single day. Located in Kadirga, which is close to Sultanahmet and its many historic sites, as well as not being too far away from the stunning Golden Horn itself, you can easily visit the Istanbul Photography Museum as part of a full on sightseeing day. If it’s raining, all the better!

About The Istanbul Photography Museum

Run by the Friends of Photography Association, the Istanbul Photography Museum was granted permission by the Fatih Municipality, who wanted to bring a sense of modern art to  an area so steeped in historical value. Inside the museum you can see countless exhibitions, archives, educational projects and exhibits, publications, collections from all over the world, as well as photographs from old Istanbul itself. The hope is that by the end of your visit, you will have new found respect and love of photography yourself, and you’ll want to embark on a little of your own

Visiting The Istanbul Photography Museum

The Istanbul Photography Museum is open every day, apart from Mondays, and public holidays, including Ramazan and Kurban Bayram celebrations, and 1 January every year.  Opening hours are 10am until 6pm, and the good news is that it never gets completely crowded, so you should be able to wander around and take in the beauty and culture of the exhibits without being pushed and shoved.

The entrance fee is just 4TL per adult, and children under 14 years are allowed inside for free. If you are a group of ten or more people, your admission reduces down to 3TL per person, and students are allowed inside for just 2TL. It’s certainly worth the low entrance fee for the experience!

Currently, the Istanbul Photography Museum isn’t included in the Museum Card’s list of free entry museums, but the low cost shouldn’t really break the bank, and you can easily leave your Museum Card for the more expensive museums in and around the city.

What is Around The Istanbul Photography Museum?

As we have already mentioned, the Istanbul Photography Museum is located within the heart of the most historic part of Istanbul, and that means you can easily make a day of it. The museum should take you a couple of hours to explore at most, and that leaves you with plenty of time left to check out the sights around Fatih and Sultanahmet. Be sure to head to one of the many traditional Turkish restaurants for a spot of lunch, and then perhaps head over to the huge Grand Bazaar for some shopping, before visiting the stunningly beautiful Blue Mosque. You could forgo the shopping for one day, and instead head to Hagia Sofia, leaving your bazaar experience for another day. The choice is yours! Remember, the opulent Topkapi Palace is a stone’s throw away, as well as beautiful Gulhane Park, and the amazing views to be had over the entire Golden Horn.

Put simply, this is more than a full day out, there’s enough here to fill a week! Planning out your time is probably the best bet, to make sure you don’t miss anything.

It is best to get to the museum early in this case, as it leaves you with plenty of time to explore the other attractions to your heart’s content. Remember, the museum doesn’t close until 6pm, so you could also leave it until later afternoon too, but don’t allow time to tick on too much!

This part of Istanbul has a habit of getting right int your soul and leaving time dissolving down to literally nothing. A visit to the Istanbul Photography Museum should not be forgotten for foregone, especially for anyone who lives contemporary art, and the city itself.  This museum is also a slice of calmness in the midst of a very busy and packed city, so it is a great spot to head to for a breather, and a cup of coffee in the museum’s cafe too!