Absolutely stunning! Hagia Sofia, I was not familiar with your game. It was so interesting to see…read morehow much Christian influence and history is here, which I had no idea about. Our ticketing and entrance process was smooth, though busy - expect lines if you don't go right away in the morning or near closing. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders, chest and knees - and a scarf for covering your head for ladies. They do have some there if you need one. The space is huge! Down on the main floor is just for practicing Muslims to pray, so the space accessible to guests in the higher area. They did have a few spots where you can get audio info, but it was pretty limited info and more of a description of what you're seeing. The ticket covered admission to the museum (not attached, another building) that was VERY helpful and informative! We did that second but wished we'd done it first. Such a stunning space with a ton of history. An absolute must in Istanbul!

Ok, the story is a bit surprising since it was a catholic church during the Roman Empire and now…read moreconverted into a mosque and museum. I was a bit put out off from the high ticket price of $25 per person to go inside. Yes, we paid our fee and did a prearranged guided tour but did not feel like it was not a fair deal. The inside had scaffolding due to the interior renovation that is in the works. I've been to churches all over the world and only the Vatican is worth that kind of ticket price, In my opinion. There are a few remaining frescoes that you can see be seen but overall it was underrated and more of a cash grab to fund reconstruction.

This museum is located behind Topkapi Palace so if you are going there, you might as well come…read morehere. It wasn't nearly as crowded as the other museums and features artifacts from nearly all periods and civilizations in history. The history of coinage, archaeological artifacts, and Greek statutes, this museum is a must see. I would suggest going early in the morning to beat any crowds.

I would also consider this a must-see in Istanbul, it's quite a collection of artifacts across the…read morelong history of what is now Turkiye and what was the Ottoman Empire. The descriptions are in Turkish and English, you really don't need a guide, so ignore them around the entrance. I can tell from the YELP reviews over time and from the new appearance of many of the rooms that there's been quite a bit of improvement over time. This started out as a sarcophagi museum but expanded, the collection still seems to be expanding. It was nice to visit here after having seen Ephesus, Bergama, and Sagalassos; and I would very much like to return to Turkey to visit some of the many other Greek and Roman sites. There are two other must-see museums in Istanbul, Topkapi Palace and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. Topkapi is much more expensive than the other two, we only realized too late to get the museum pass that will really save you money if you're going to visit these and other museums. Allow at least 3-4 hours here, and bring some cat treats to make friends with the felines in front.

Underneath Istanbul are many ancient cisterns to help store water thousands of years ago. This one…read moreis an alternative to the Basilica Cistern and cheaper to get in. Go inside and purchase tickets. It's around $25, but much cheaper for locals. (As it should be.) Walk down the stairs to the dark space where a light show plays for around 10 minutes. It's a unique experience but worth it only once in my opinion. It is wild to think this cistern was lost for years before rediscovered.

It's okay, unless you're easily impressed with light shows (which honestly could be better here)…read more The cistern is very small and there's not much to do for more than 15 mins. For the money, go to the Basilica Cistern aka Yerebatan Sarnici.

Incredible museum…read more This small museum near the Arasta Bazaar is dedicated solely to the recovered mosaics from the Byzantine period, unearthed at the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople. In 1935 during excavations at the Arasta Bazaar in Sultan Ahmet Square, it was discovered that this area was once part of the south-western Great Palace. The excavations discovered a large courtyard, with a surface of 1872 m², entirely decorated with mosaics. The museum is two levels. Downstairs are very large portions of the floor. Amazingly very intact. From the upper deck you can view down to the lower level, as well as see smaller portions of mosaics on the wall. It takes about a half hour. The notes are well documented in English for travelers. Amazing beauty. Incredible find.

Today, the Great Palace of Constantinople exists in only two places: our imagination based on…read morehistorical anecdotes and the Great Palace Mosaic Museum. Thanks to the extensive archaeological effort, we can witness a small fraction of the remarkable mosaics from the now-vanished royal Byzantine palace in this museum! More than a millennia ago, the site where Blue Mosque now sits and the area between the Mosque and the sea were dominated by the Great Palace of Constantinople, a royal palace that was said to house splendor that was worthy as the centerpiece of a great empire. Sadly, the Great Palace fell in disrepair as the empire was crumbling and the capital was invaded. Eventually, the former Palace vanished altogether as the new Ottoman rulers of Constantinople favored new palaces. The Mosaic Museum offers a small glimpse of what the Great Palace might have been. Here, you will find many impressive mosaics of various motifs from hunting to urban life that once adorned the Palace grounds. From afar, you would not think that they are mosaics but instead single paintings until you step closer and realize that these colorful works are composed of countless small tiles! As you walk through this museum, you can imagine how these mosaics appeared throughout the walkways and walls of the Palace. How splendid the Palace must have been! The many multilingual explanation blurbs throughout the museum will definitely guide your imagination and explain the archaeological process to recover these wonders. Located in the Arasta Bazaar by the popular Blue Mosque, the oft-ignored Mosaic Museum deserves a look especially if you are interested in Byzantine or mosaic art history or have a Muzekart! This museum is a truly educational experience that extends even beyond its exit as you can take what you saw and learned from here and compare the evolution of mosaic art in Ayasoyfa and Kariye Muzesi in Istanbul and even mosaic in elsewhere around the world.

Excellent museum, we had saved this museum for a day when the weather was too inclement for a lot…read moreof outdoor sightseeing and since this was winter, pretty much all days weren't ideal and this became a place we visited on the last full day. I'm glad we had a couple of hours because there's a lot to see here. It's a very well arranged museum, so we were able to learn the artistic differences between periods like we were in a very good archaeology class. The textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy (Qurans) were all the more fascinating when arranged by region and epoch. Very good captions and descriptions. In a former palace, the building itself is wonderful, and of course we got to meet some more nice Muslim cats. Yes, it's posted "no pictures," but the guards are concerned with old school film flash photography which would degrade some of the more delicate artifacts, and they are also watching for people touching items unprotected by glass. Just be respectful and don't lick anything. I think that is good advice for life.

This is a nice museum located in the heart of Istanbul inside the palace of Ibrahim Oasha. It's not…read morebig by any means - plan 1.5 hrs max if you read every label. It costs 17 EUR, but you can get a museum pass for a few days which includes this location (total bang for your buck). Wasn't crowded at all (prob because it's March). I was expecting to see more art variety, but this museum should be treated more like an opportunity to learn about the history of Islam, the Ottoman Empire, and all the caliphates of the past. The museum has a rich collection of centuries (or even millenia) old Qurans, rugs, and ceramics that are well preserved. There's also a bit on the history of coffee and coffee shops as well as fashion. Everything was organized in the chronological order and there were plaques in every room explaining the history of the region. The calligraphy pieces were stunning as were Islamic relics such as the beard of the Prophet. Definitely worth a visit if you have a pass and are in the area!

Built in 1472 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, it originally was a pleasure palace or kiosk…read more Located originally at the outer walls of a Topkapi Palace, today it is included with a visit to the Istanbul Archeology Museum. The word kiosk comes from this type of building. The building resembles a Greek cross but actually represents the four corners of the world and the sovereignty that the Sultan possessed. The portico allowed the Sultan to watch events from an elevated position. Today, the building houses a beautiful collection of rare ceramics ranging from Iznik tile work to peacock fountains to lanterns that illuminated mosques in historic times. Don't miss the beautiful tiled Karaman Mihrab.

She's in the backyard of Topkapi Palace like an ancient, stone-faced roommate who's been around…read moresince the 4th century and just won't move out, Hagia Irene (a.k.a. Saint Irene) is Istanbul's original holy hotspot, older than Hagia Sophia. Constructed during Constantine the Great's reign, this church was built on the ashes of a pagan temple. Because what says "progress" more than plopping a new religion's temple right on top of the old one like an architectural mic drop? Unlike her famous sister Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene never went through that phase where she became a mosque. She stayed a church until the Ottomans showed up and were like, Cool building, but it would make a better weapons depot. And so, for centuries, Irene stored cannons, swords, and all sorts of medieval mayhem. The church has exactly one surviving fresco. A black cross up in the apse that survived the Iconoclasm, aka the 8th-century version of a social media purge, where religious images were canceled harder than a problematic YouTuber. If you visit Topkapi Palace, pay this spot a visit. She's been through a lot.

Although the glamorous Ayasoyfa is its sister church, the dilapidated Aya Irini is a huge contrast…read more This former Byzantine church is perhaps a tragic reminder that resembles more like a ruin than a museum of an once-glorious monument. Built as the earliest church in Constantinople by Constantine himself, Aya Irini (Hagia Irene - "Holy Peace") paralleled to the now-famous Ayasoyfa in religious importance in the Byzantine capital. However, since the Ottoman conquest, the location of Aya Irini within the new palace complex limit became a curse, as the church was degraded as the armory of the palace guards. Today, Aya Irini is nothing but a shell of its former glory, although it is occasionally used as a concert venue. One cannot help but feel sadness when stepping into Aya Irini especially after being dazzled by the glory of Ayasoyfa. How different are the fates of these two sister churches! Aside from the bare structure itself, virtually nothing of its Byzantine decor remained - except for a simple mosaic of a cross outline, which survived either because it did not violate the Islamic ban on depictions of man or was simply too dull for the Ottoman to even bother. To add insult to this sadness, the whole structure is now overshadowed by a massive net, presumably to catch feces from pigeons - the only creatures who could find joy in this depressing ruin. The historic value of Aya Irini is certainly undeniable, but unless you are interested in this area of history or have a Muzekart which includes the admission, I would not recommend visiting here, because I do not believe that you would be enthralled to pay the 20 TL admission only to see a sad space.