Museum of Calligraphy
The Beyazid Medresesi (Educational Instituon), which was used as the municipality library since 1945 was evacuated, restored and rearranged as the Turkish Foundations Calligraphic Arts Museum where the objects previously were displayed in the Sultan Selim Medresesi on Vatan Street are exhibited today. The Korans, imperial seals, diplomas, Hilye-i serif (descriptions of the Prophet), equipment and apparatus for calligraphic writing, samples of bookbinding, holy relics, miniatures are some of the object displayed.
Open daily between 09:00-16:00 except Sundays and Mondays.
Bayezit Meydani
Tel: (0212) 527 5851

Miniaturk Museum
Miniaturk is also named as the "Showcase of Turkey", where you can find many important structures of Turkey in small scales, models of architectural masterpieces representing the Anatolian and Ottoman civilizations.
Models of 105 historical and architectural works, all made in the scale of 1/25, including the Library of Celsus at Ephesus, the Malabadi Bridge in Diyarbakir, Grand Mosque of Bursa, the Tomb of Mevlana in Konya, Dome of the Rock (Mescid-i Aksa), the Church of St. Antoine in Istanbul, the Ottoman galley, Savarona (Ataturk's boat), the Underground Cistern (Yerebatan), Stone houses of Mardin, Fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, Ataturk's Mausoleum in Ankara, Aspendos theater in Antalya, Hagia Sophia and the Maidens Tower of Istanbul, can all be seen in one single place. There is also a miniature railway network, a motorway with moving vehicles, an airport with moving airplanes, thousands of human figures, and ships sailing across the Bosphorus. These dynamic models make Miniaturk a living park.
Rebuilt in 2003 on a 60,000-square-meter site in the Golden Horn, it is the largest miniature city in the world and has attracted lots of interest and is located opposite the Pierre Loti Coffee House in Eyup district, a favorite with tourists.
Open daily between 09:00-17:00
Tel: (212) 222 28 82

Caricature Museum
This museum was opened in 1975 in Tepebasi by the Istanbul municipality through the efforts of the Caricaturists Association, then temporarily closed in 1980 for removal of the building and construction of a new one.
The Gazanferaga complex, which consists of a medrese (religious school in the Ottoman period), a shrine and a fountain in Sarachanebasi, was restored for use as the new structure.
Re-opened in 1989, the museum contains a rich collection of satirical works, written or drawn, and the exhibits are frequently changed.
Open every day.
Ataturk Bulvari, Kavacilar Street No. 12, 34230 Fatih
Tel: (0212) 521 1264

Carpet and Kilim Museum
This museum is located in the Hunkar Kasri (royal residence), which stands north of the mosque inside the Sultanahmet Mosque complex. Hunkar Kasri was the place where the Sultan used to rest before he would join the prayer in the mosque.
Courtyard of Sultanahmet Mosque,
34400 Sultanahmet
Tel: (0212) 518 133

Toy Museum
This is a private museum founded by Sunay Akin in a historical residence that belongs to his family, in Goztepe district of Istanbul. Approximately 2000 toys and miniatures are exhibited in the museum that occupies 500 square meters of land. Sunay Akin has collected some 4000 toys from Turkey and abroad. The oldest is a miniature violin manufactured in 1817 in France. A doll made in 1820 in United States, marbles from United States dating back to 1860 and German toys made from tin, and porcelain dolls are other items of the extensive collection.
The museum has a cafeteria and a very small theater as well.
Open daily between 09:30-18:00 except Mondays.
Tel: (216) 359 45 50 and 51

Fine Arts Museum
On order of Ataturk, this museum was opened in 1937 in the crown prince suites of Dolmabahce Palace.
It was the first art museum in Turkey and is still the only one in Istanbul.
The permanent collection presents a panoramic view of the Turkish plastic arts and also includes works of world famous artists, an impressionist collection, sculptures and works of military painters.
Open daily between 10:00-17:00 except Mondays.
Dolmabahce Caddesi, 80680 Besiktas
Tel: 0212) 261 4298 / 261 429

Fire Brigade Museum
This museum presents a chronological history of fire fighting in Istanbul starting with the water pumpers (tulumbaci) of Ottoman times. All kinds of fire brigade equipment, from the first motorized fire engines to firemen's clothing and tools, are displayed. The museum in its present restored state opened in 1992 after many years of collecting and repairing the objects.
Open daily between 09:00-17:00 except Sundays and Mondays.
Itfaiye Caddesi No. 9, 34230 Fatih
Tel: (0212) 524 11 25

Mosaic Museum
Located behind Sultanahmet Mosque, this museum displays what are believed to be Byzantine palace mosaics from the 4th and 6th centuries.
They show scenes with human figures, daily life in Byzantium, hunting incidents, landscapes and animal figures.
Open daily between 09:00-16:30 except Mondays.
Arasta carsisi, 34400 Sultanahmet
Tel: (0212) 518 12 05

Press Museum
A building on the Yeniceri Caddesi in Cemberlitas, originally built as a university by Safvet Pasha and having served different purposes from then on, now houses the Press Museum. Its architect is believed to be Fossati. The museum displays documents on the history of the Turkish press and old printing machinery.
Closed Sunday.
Divanyolu Caddesi No. 84 34410 Cemberlitas
Tel: (0212) 513 8457- 513 8458

Istanbul Modern
Istanbul Modern seeks to integrate the experience of Turkeys artistic past, the dynamism of its present, and the cultivation of its cultural future. Istanbul Modern, the first private museum devoted to modern and contemporary art in Turkey, was founded in 2004 in order to promote wider enjoyment and understanding of modern art among the public. Located beside the Bosphorus, the straight separating Europe from Asia, the museum brings together the Ystanbul cityscape with the production of arts ranging from painting, sculpture, and photography to video and new media. The museum aims to collect, preserve, and exhibit modern and contemporary art and to provide a venue fostering the integration of the visual arts with the rich cultural spectrum of Turkey. Istanbul Moderns collections, exhibits, and educational programs aim to foster active engagement in and love for the arts among an audience of all ages and segments of society. Relying on the principles of inclusion and harmony, and supporting the development of knowledgeable visitors through its emphasis on communication and education, it takes on the function of a mirror for society. As it strengthens the creative exchange between the art of Turkey and the West, it presents the artistic and cultural experience of our country to the world.
Free: Museum members, Children under 12, disabled visitors
Free Admission every Thursday
3 YTL: Students, Teachers, Groups over 20, Seniors over 65
7 YTL: Adults
All museum facilities are wheelchair accessible. Smoking, photography, food and drink are prohibited in the galleries.
Open daily between 10:00-18:00 except Mondays.
Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Thursday: 10:00-20:00
Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Liman Isletmeleri
Sahasy Antrepo No:4 Karakoy –ISTANBUL
Tel: 0212 334 73 00
Fax:0212 243 43 19

Rahmi Koc Industrial Museum
This museum is located in the anchor casting workshop at the docks on the Golden Horn (Halic), an area that symbolized industrialization in the Ottoman Empire of the 19th century. The anchor casting workshop was built in the era of Ahmet II (1703-1730) and the building's foundations go back to a 12th century Byzantine construction. It was restored under Selim III and used by the Finance Ministry until 1951. After a fire in 1984, the building stood in ruins. In 1991, it was bought by the Rahmi Koc Museum and Cultural Foundation, restored and opened to the public in 1994. On the first floor, motors and steam engines are displayed. On the second floor are the scientific instruments and communications apparatuses. The entrance is reserved for the aircraft department, mint machinery for printing paper money and coins, bicycles and motorcycles, the naval department and ship engines. In the open area, there is a coast guard life-boat, a tram, a narrow gauge steam train, and a vertical steam boiler.
Open daily between 08:30-17:00 except Mondays.
Haskoy Caddesi No. 27
Tel: (0212) 256 7153 / 256 7154

Sakip Sabanci Museum
The building today known as the Horse Mansion on the Bosphorus was built in the 19th century and belonged to Sabanci family for many years. Just before the death of Sakip Sabanci the mansion was converted into a museum and opened to the public with its antique furnishings and art collections. Today the Museum's collection of precious manuscripts and extensive collection of 19th and 20th century paintings are on permanent exhibition in the rooms of the original house and gallery annex. From time to time, it also hosts great exhibitions of international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Rodin etc.
Open daily between 10:00-18:00 except Mondays
Sakip Sabanci Cad. No:22 Emirgan
Tel: (0212) 277 22 00

SAV Automobile Museum
The Sabri Artam Vakfi Antique Automotive Museum has the largest collection of antique cars in Turkey with its over 100 vehicles collected privately in a record time frame of 15-20 years by Artam family. The museum is recognized by FIVA (Federation Internationale des Vehicule Anciens - International Federation of Antique Vehicles) as well. There are many special cars in the collection from last century, such as 1907 model Panhard-Levassor, 1912 model Mercer, 1926 model Bugatti, and 1929 model Packard. There is also the largest collection of Ferrari's in Turkey, and special models of Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini and Fiat cars are on display.
The museum is located in Cengelkoy, near Uskudar on the Asian side of Istanbul, and has a total of 5 floors; in the basement there are cars produced after 1960's, on the second floor cars from 1950's, on the third floor a cafeteria and antique cars, and on the roof there are model cars.
Open daily between 10:00-19:00 except Sundays.
Bosna Bulvari 104, Cengelkoy Uskudar
Tel: (0216) 329 50 30

Adam Mickiewicz Museum
Adam Mickiewicz, Polish romantic poet and playwright, was born in Zaosie in 1798. He was arrested by the Russian police in 1823 for taking part in a semisecret group protesting Russian control of Poland. He was jailed and then exiled to Russia. After his release, he spent the rest of his life in Western Europe and in Turkey where he continued to write his poems. He died during a cholera epidemic in Istanbul in 1885. His body was first transported to Paris and then returned to Poland.
His house in Tarlabasi neighborhood near Beyoglu was converted into a museum in 1955 to commemorate the 100th year of his death. Inside the museum, there are many documents and information about the poet and his works, photographs of Constantinople of that time, and documents of Polish Liberation struggle. There is also a symbolic grave of the poet in the basement of the building. The museum today is administered by the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum.
Open daily between 09:00-16:00, except on Mondays.
Dolapdere, Tatli Badem Sokak, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 237 25 45
Pera Museum
The museum was opened in July 2005 by the Suna-Inan Kirac Foundation, another project of Koc family. The old building was originally constructed in 1893 by architect Achille Manousos and restored recently for the modern museum. Kutahya tiles, Anatolian weights and measurements, and Oriental portraits painting Collections are the permanent exhibitions in the museum. One of the most famous paintings in the museum is of Osman Hamdi's "The Tortoise Trainer" (Kaplumbaga Terbiyecisi in Turkish). In addition, three art galleries and an auditorium are among the facilities of the museum.
Open daily between 12:00-18:00 except Mondays
Tepebasi, Beyoglu
Tel: (0212) 334 99 00
Ottoman Bank Museum
It's located in the former head office of the Ottoman Bank on Voyvoda Street in Karakoy district and operates under the aegis of the Garanti Bank sponsored Ottoman Bank Archive and Research Center. The museum, organized in and around the bank's safe room, draws on a wealth of information from the Bank's archive to narrate the history of this institution, which operated as the Central Bank, bank of issue, and treasurer of the Ottoman Empire.
Open to the public during weekdays between 10:00-18:00.
Bankalar Caddesi, Karakoy
Tel: (0212) 292 76 05