Has artifacts as old as the bronze age (2000 BC). Was pretty decent. Only the ground floor of the main museum building is currently open. 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors are all closed for some reason. Save at least an hour for the museum. Depending on your pace, it can take a few hours. The audio tour was difficult to use, but still worth it.

Its a nice museum. Has English introduction also. Huge area, many cats.

Absolutely breath taking museum! If you are planning to visit it, please at least plan 4 hours minimum. The pieces in display are stunning! There is a nice cozy cafe in between the buildings, which you will be surrounded cute cats while you enjoy your cup of Turkish coffee.

Its really good place where you csn touch the history

Istanbul Archaeological Museums are a complex of museums consisting of three main units. The Archaeological Museum, The Museum of Ancient Oriental Works, The Tiled Kiosk Museum. Istanbul Archaeological Museum, the first museum in Turkey, has about a million artifacts from a variety of cultures, brought from the imperial lands.

Awesome museum. It has a rich collection from Mesopotamia which was really good. Definitely a must visit in Istanbul.

Great museum, with lots of stuff to see. If you are interested, you should definitely visit it.

Awesome museum with a big collection of breath talking Mesopotamia..at least you need a plan of 3 hours to spend thereMust visit

Its very interesting, but staff, LEARN ENGLISH PLEASE. It is impossible to get an answer for anything

Before the quarantine I believe it was even greater! But even today you can see the tiled lions from Ishtar gates, Alexander the Great sarcophagus (which is not his in fact) and much more. Not forget to have a tee in a marvelous garden decorated with columns and statues!

Super awesome museum with an amazing collection from many countries. It has a rich collection from Mesopotamia which was really good. Definitely a must visit in Istanbul.

Fantastic buildings, this museum has 4 buildings. Amazing history. Amazing collections. Must see.

It was amazing! I liked how they saved everything, the museum is so clean and the atmosphere is more than beautiful! Highly recommend. One star left for the price :p

This place is fascinating. There are pieces dates back to Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Hatti and more. This place is one of the must see places in Istanbul.

Really awesome collection of sarcophagus that are inspired by ancient Egyptian mummification and rituals. These museum really dives into the history of the region.There are 3 separate museums under the IAM and each one of them are their own experience.Admission is 60 TRY or the equivalent of $6 USD. Highly recommend checking this place out on your trip to Istanbul.Say hello to the cats lounging in the courtyard.

Archeological museum is interesting, especially with the sarcophage collection.This is the main museum of the site.

This place brought all my feelings within, since I am Lebanese and this place is saving and protecting our heritage since we are not able to do it by our own. Have your cafe in its garden

One of the best museums in the worldThe Istanbul Archaeology Museums (Turkish: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri) are a group of three archaeological museums located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, near Gülhane Park and Topkapı Palace.The Istanbul Archaeology Museums consists of three museums:Archaeological Museum (in the main building)Museum of the Ancient OrientMuseum of Islamic Art (in the Tiled Kiosk).It houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history.

Thousands of years of history are in these museums. From Assyrian, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Greek, Roman and Egyptian - you will see it all. The museum is broken into three sections, all very large. You can easily spend hours here.They also have a nice garden outside with some interesting art pieces. Great place!

The best museum in Istanbul, must visit.

Its an interesting place, but almost all of the exhibits there are sarcophaguses. Even if they are true masterpieces in their branch, I would not recommend visiting the museum in a bad mood.A million+ pieces is impressive but there is no enough place to store everything inside, many is stored outside, which will not work well for their longevity.

Amazing selection of antiquities and historical artifacts from different time periods and their empires. Unfortunately some parts have limited information regarding that particular artifact which is a shame. The museum isnt very big but you wouldnt think that from outside.Outside the museum is great as well with many pieces of history lying on the floor.

Nice place to see the Bosphorus and the greatest buildings in Istambul!

Definitely is a must. History is so magical so you need to know the past to understand the present

Spend the whole day there - or do Hagia Irene and this one. It has 3 museums inside. Tile section seemed unimportant until I stepped in. The decline in tile design quality over the centuries that coincided with decline of Ottoman empire was quite a revelation (see pictures). The Alexander sacrophagus doesnt belong to Alexander but has a carving of Alexander in it. The first museum which shows stone age related information needs audio guide but the guide needs to be returned at 5 pm (while the museum itself closes only at 7 pm). So, I recommend to finish it first and then the other two (they dont really require audio guide - its a repeat of what descriptions are provided). Totally enjoyable day.

There is a lot more to see here regarding ancient history than in the once crowded with tourists main Istanbul attractions - Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Blue Mosque. Situated in beautiful park with a nice coffee shop at the entrance. Interior is a bit outdated.

One of the best museums in the world! You need at least 3 hours if you dont want it rushed, there are 3 museums here and a little cafe at the garden. A lot of well preserved artifacts and stunning sarcophagus. Get the multi day museum pass to save on the ticket price and saves you time queueing.

A couple of departments are closed for the restoration but opened ones are really amazing

Given the incredibly rich history of the region the museum is distinctly underwhelming. There are a few very nice pieces but they are generally not contextualised. The majority of the collection is sarcophagi. The exhibition of the Hellenic period is a lot better than the rest (particularly in terms of descriptions). Overall worth a visit but not a detour.

Very informative museum. Ancient sculptures, sarcophaguses, a lot of ceramics and much more!

The museum is beautiful but literaly half of it was under restoration (which means you cant access that). No one told us that and the wasnt any cheaper. Students dont have any discount with ISIC card. Audio guide is bad and we didnt use it at all.

Istanbul Archaeologicam Museum is one the spectacular attractions of Istanbul city. the most important benefit of this place is that it is close to other places you maybe want ti visit. the access to this place is easy.

It is worth to go there and look. Entrance lost 50 tl you can also have audio guide for 25 tl

A very interesting museum with artefacts that are so fun to examine at such a close distance and a lovely park full of cats and ancient sculptures

Really disappointed with the procedures.I bought a ticket with audioguide but.... the pieces are changed of place what makes impossible to match the piece with the audio. No number to identified it, the staff didnt neither found it and the response of the ticket office was we just sell it, we dont know is the pieces are there or not, they are changing it.At least all of them recognized that was true and were kind and polite.

Must see in Istanbul.I saw lot of Times and everytime i enjoyed and learned.Fantastic collection, they made big changes in Ancient west department but lot of pieces are not in Show unfortunatly!!!New nice shop foe museum and Kind staffs.Thanks and see you soon again

This is amaizing!!

Breathtaking museum and experience. Everything is maintained intact and the atmosphere of the museum is perfect. It is also small to see, so it won’t take up much time

Ive seen better. It baffled me that the place was very humid and warm while these pieces were supposed to be cared for! Guide kiosk was closed! No tours offered. Not much information provided. But definitely worth a visit if you are interested in such things. There were many pieces from different times.

Nice museum

There are three museums on the premises of the Archaeological Museum: Eski Sark Eserleri Muzesi, Arkeoloji Müzesi and Çinili Köşk. These museums are call as the Archaeological Museums.Famous exhibits are the below.Alexander SarcophagusEgyptian–Hittite peace treatyAlso,Audio guide can be rented for TRY 30.

If you like historical and archeological terms - this is your place.. Really.. You will enjoy.. And it could take all day with coffee breaks in archeological small park with coffee between antique columns 👍

Amazing collection. Inside and out.

Nice to see but nothing special, they have real mummy.

So amazing, i cant believe that I saw first time ever a real skull in front of me their

More than half of the museum is closed. Could only see a small part of the collection. Wish we knew that before we bought tickets. Would be nice if the airconditioning was in with 37 degrees outside 🥵

This museum is really amazing you can find some icons from different part of ottoman empire here, but still to me the most interesting part is the section of sarcophagus specialty The Alexander Sarcophagus.

It has 3 hall with ancient things from diffrent part of the world

Three period of time museum with different hictorical story .you need at least 1/30 hours to see completely these 3 museum .first and second museum have better collection than the third one.if you love history and culture its best place for you .

Loved the place. To explore the 3 buildings plus the Marvellous garden which is a open air museum as well.I spent there the full morning but that was definitely not enough. Will for sure go back there next time Im in Istanbul ❤

Not very big, honestly was expecting more artefacts for the rich history that Turkey has, but well kept exposition. Nice inner cafe.

Nice museum with an active team working on a lot of restoration projects and other discoveries.Tile museum was just as cool as the sarcophagus (alexander the greats being the one to see) one. Nice designs from many centuries ago.

Beautiful museum. Especially the giant wall paintings, they really add to the atmosphere.

Almost half of the museum is under reconstruction now. Please make sure that you want to pay full cost for visiting only some of the museum halls.

If you kind of that do not like museums, this one worth visiting anyway. It has many sarcophagus open with bones inside, you can walk around it pretty close. Some of archaeological artefacts looks really impressive, telling the history of their owners, nations.It is 4 buildings in total, all different artefacts and impressions, it takes some time to walk though all of them so grab some water to take a short rest in meantime.

Absolutely stunning museum. Especially the sarcophagus parts. Sarcophagi of Sidamara, Mourning Women and Alexander are the most impressive and well-preserved ones. There are a lot of pieces from Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. This museum is also very close to other museum, so all can be traveling in one day.

Totally loved the outside display!!!There are so many things to see and read about. It made me feel that we are accomplishing so little in comparison to what our ancestors had done!

Great collection, though a bit haphazardly presented. A must see in Istanbul.

Its a must for museums lovers!❤

This is a group of three medium-small museums that live in the shadow of the great Topkapi Palace. They dont get as much tourists as they would deserve. The first exhibition is about ancient mesopotamia and they have great pieces like for example the lions of the Ishdar Gate. The second exhibition is the most extensive. It is about the Greek heritage in anatolia and it has its focus and tombstones and sarcophagi. The last exhibition concerns Ottoman era ceramics but they only have a few pieces.

Half the museum was closed for renovation. The pieces that were left were nice. Also, the audio-tour was not worth the price - there was enough information by each piece.

Worth a visit. Bring some time with you. The audio guide is not worth the money. Some items are not numbered at all.

It was stunning that employee on entrance didnt know basic English

One of the best museums....

Great museum placed in a beautiful neighborhood surrendered by little cafes and hotels. The museum includes many interesting historical objects and other stuff both from the ottoman era and older. Also there are categorized sections that helps you choose based on your interest. I suggest dont miss the section for older times. I found some interesting objects belong to pre-Islamic era in Arabia Including a sun clock. However while you get tired after spending some time exploring the place, there isnt enough refreshing options around for you to get rested and stay relaxed for a while. So, be prepared and bring cool water with you.

The Istanbul archeology museum is one of the must see museums in Istanbul. The Alexander sarcophagus is an amazing work of art that is very well preservered. You can still see traces of the paint that was used to color the marble. There are many sarcophagi and grave markers, as well as friezes. Unfortunately ☹️ when we were there, the place was being renovated and the entire second floor, as well as one of the wings was closed. Still worth the trip though.

This one and Cretean Archaeology museums are the best what I ever saw.

When I was sitting on the boulvard I asked a random Turkish guy for a place to visit, something like museum. And he mentioned this place. Before I came here I didnt even know what would I see.It was the best place I visited so far. I saw the signs of the first civilizations here!

Best museum in Turkey so far. Especially I really love to see Osman Hamdi Bey collection

These museums site include wonderful museums located in Gülhane Park in Istanbul. The names of these three musums are Istanbul Archeology Museum, Old Oriental Works Museum and Çinili Köşk Museum (Tiled Pavilion Museum). Currently, some of the Archeology Museum is under renovation and closed for visit. Especially in the archeology department, there are terrifying works. If all three museums are open, it may take a long time to visit this place properly.Known as the Turkeys first museum has approximately a million pieces in this site. It was founded in the Ottoman Period in 1869 under the name of Museum-i Hümayun, which means Imperial Museum. Çinili Köşk (1472), which was the structure of Fatih Sultan Mehmet period in previous years, was opened as a museum in 1880. Turkish tile and ceramic samples are dazzling at the oldest building of the site, Tiled Pavilion.The museum was highly developed with the numerous works that Osman Hamdi Bey, who was appointed as the director in 1881, brought to the museum after his research and excavations. Osman Hamdi Bey, who found the Sidon King Necropolis during excavations in Sidon Ancient City of Beirut, even came to Istanbul with many sarcophagi including İskender Tomb, Crying Women Tomb and Tabnit Tomb. The classic building was built in 1891 to showcase these works. There is also a section of the Kadesh Treaty, the first written treaty in the history.The Old Oriental Works Museum was first built by Osman Hamdi Bey as an Academy of Fine Arts in 1883 and transferred to the Directorate of Museums in 1917.The architect of the other two buildings, except the Tiled Pavilion, is Alexander Vallaury. On the pediment of the magnificent Archeology Museum built in the Neo-Classical architectural style, Asar-ı Antiques Museum (Ancient Works Museum) is written along with the tughra of Sultan Abdulhamit II.Moreover, you will see the first love poem in this museum.

Still some parts closed, it is a great museum with so many articles collected from Turkey and Middle East.

In my visit, most rooms were being refurbished. However, the available ones had interesting pieces, such as caskets beautifully sculpted which are (mostly) part of the Roman heritage that settled in Turkey which makes this country very interesting, and full of History as a result of a clash of different cultures and this is self-evident in the pieces displayed in its different rooms. The little garden in the café has a set of beautiful sculptures and statues that make it magical. I hope they finish the restoration soon. Highly recommended!!

I loved the Sumerian part of the collection.The old writings and old egyptian collection. Some of the things on second floor were in reservation. Its open untill 8pm so very conviniant. also open in ramadan and covid.

Half museum was closed, no information were provided anywhere before I visited.. but museum is really nice

Huge Museum. Well worth it. I’m taking two stars off cause unfortunately it was being renovated during my visit so a few halls were shut down... PLUS, like in all the museums in Istanbul they really REALLY should hire a writer for their english copy. I mean it’s just a dreadful mess and sometimes rather confusing. Example: Perseus headed off the Medusa (you have to interpret that as Perseus “decapitated” the Medusa)

Very interesting, the art of the sarcophagus of Alexander is mindblowing, however it gets repetitive quick and much of the museum was closed off

Istanbul Archaeology museum has one of the grandest collection of archaeological findings. Unfortunately a large part was closed under renovation when I visited and rest I couldnt cover as they closed the museum at 6:30 instead of 7:00.Even then, they have an unbelieveable collection of historical finds from the bronze age, and from years before the birth of Jesus Christ.I was in disbelieve as I looked at how they managed to find, preserve and display items that were literally centuries old.Unbelievable experience. Must visit, but take few hours and come here to actually enjoy the place.

A magnificient place where lots of artifacts can be seen from Mesopotamian to ancient anatolian civilisations.

Pretty cool,nice way to spend a rainy day

Cool museum. Especially i like tomo of Macedonsky

OMG.... One of the best in the world.... When fully open, youll need two days here so get a Muzecard...

The museum was closed for a long time. Many episodes have been updated with new historical artifacts and you can have wonderful moments. I think, If you are a concerned person, one day, its not enough time for you.

Turkey territory is a cradle of many ancient civilisations so you might admire a lot of interesting artefacts in the museum.

Stunning collection although access to the second floor of the main building was closed at the time of visit.Entrance fee (50 TL) is included in the Istanbul Museum Pass.

Wonderful museum divided into several buildings. Hosting a miriad of tombs of amazing quality. Shame that some of the rooms and some famous pieces were closed for renovation. Still definitely worth a visit.

The Istanbul Archaeological Museums is among the most impressive historical venues for your outdoor events and made up of three main units: the Istanbul Archaeological Musuems, the Ancient Orient Museum and Tiled Kiosk Museum. The collection of the Archaeology Museum Turkey’s first museum houses over one million artifacts belonging various cultures collected from the imperial territories. The Archaeological Museum was ounded in June 13, 1891 under the name of Müze-i Hümayun (the Imperial Museum). Commissioned by archeologist, painter and curator.Osman Hamdi Bey, the museum met a need to display important artifacts such as the Sarcophagies of Alexander the Great and King Tabnit, both unearthed at the Royal Necropolis of Sydon (Saida, Lebanon), a site considered one of the most significant archeological discoveries of that era. The main building of the museum was designed by the renowned architectAlexandre Vallaury a later took it’s current form with the construction of auxiliaries built in 1903 and 1907. In addition to the Alexander and Tabnit sarcophagi, the permanent collection features numerous.remarkable artifacts including the Mourning Women Sarcophagus, also unearthed in the Sidon Royal Necropolis excavation, the Tabnit Sarcophagus, and the Brankhit Sculptures of the Didim-Milet Sacred Way, belonging from archaic period utill late-Roman period. Besides archaeological artifacts, one can enjoy seeing various valuable objects from the pre-islamic Arabian Peninsula, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Anatolia in the Ancient Orient Museum as well as some outstanding tile and pottery samples by Seljuk and Ottoman in the Tiled Kiosk Museum.

If you take lots of photo like me you can forget to travel for museums 😂 so you shouldnt take lots of photo . You will never check it more then 5 time . I think the best way is when you visit there take a guider or digital guider . Or just talk your friend . Its the unfotgetble . Just think about the stuff

Its beautiful place with lots of fun historic thins to see i loved it.

What an amazing place. The architecture and mosaics are really wonderful. Can get very crowded with selfie addicts but dont let that our you off. The weapons room was my personal favourite, it was incredible to see items that were so lavish and intricate. We spent about 3.5 hours in this place and could have spent longer. If you buy the 122tl pass it includes the haaram and also a number of other sites too.

I love to create time to visit.

Mesopotamian era preserved archaeological finds museum. One of the three places covered in the TL135 pass (January 2019). Smoking prohibited inside. No WC inside. Divided into sections within the same building for scriptures, utensils and grave sites. Expect a small line at entrance and you’ll need about 2 hours to fully explore it. Baggage checks at the entrance also have a line. The Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are beside it a minute walk. The later two almost have the same entrance. Don’t miss out on the walk in the park behind this museum.Visit during a rainy day so it is spent indoors here and the line would be shorter.

Very nice museum with super interestingg content. All expos and signage is very clear.There are audio guides available for a fee and bathrooms.

A must to visit in İstanbul

What attracted me was the sarcophagus first Alexander the Great however it almost the entire part of the museum is under restoration and renovation. If I had known earlier I would have skipped this and move on to another museum. Perhaps they could’ve state this in their website or something.You can enter with the MuseumPass and it was lucky that I got the pass because I wouldn’t pay full fare for museum’s current condition.There is also another exhibition which you need to do sort of a u-turn from the main gate to enter. Look out for a path on the left.

So far best museum in Istanbul.

The worst navigation I have ever seen in museums. They charged audioguide 25 to, but they have identification marks just in one building. In others you have to search items in the map, compare with signs (translations in English are wrong) different in map and items signed.Also the most part of holls are clothes for reconstruction.If you have seen all attractions and only archeological museum left-you should go, but in other cases my advice is you should visit other plases

The most exciting part is that for the classical period...

A great collection. From ancient sarcophagus from Lebonan to old findings in Greek lands. Istanbul Archeological Museum has a lot to offer to its visitors. Its a very vast collection so be ready to spare proper time to your visit. The complex consists of a couple of separate exhibitions. Make sure you visit the hall of various sarcophagus. This museum was founded by prominent Ottoman archeologist & historian Osman Hamdi Bey back in the end of the 19th century. Museum card works here and the entrance is 18 liras.

Istanbuls Archaeological Museum contains an important and beautifully presented collection of prehistoric, Greek Roman and Byzantine antiques. The third building in the museum complex is the graceful Tiled Pavilion which is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Istambul.

One of the best museums I have ever visited in Turkey