The Best Museums in Turkey
With its rich history that spans the ages and empires, Turkey’s museums are full of stunning artifacts as well as art. From Istanbul’s renowned museums to the lesser-known yet equally important museums around the country, Culture Trip rounded up the most essential.
1. Chora Church
Church, Museum
This medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church dates back to around the early 4th century and possesses some of the most stunning Byzantine frescoes and mosaics. Converted into a mosque in the Ottoman era in the 16th century, Chora Church became a museum in 1948.
Chora Church, Dervişali Mahallesi, Kariye Cami Sk. No:8, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey, +90 212 631 92 41
2. Ephesus Archaeological Museum
Museum
3. Sakıp Sabancı Museum
Museum
4. Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Museum
5. Istanbul Modern
Museum
6. Mevlana Museum
Museum
7. Topkapı Palace
Museum
8. CerModern
Built within a renovated train depot, CerModern is not only a stunning work of architecture but also the main destination for art in Turkey’s capital. Engaging exhibitions, as well as workshops from art history to yoga, make CerModern a profoundly engaging museum.
CerModern, Anafartalar Mahallesi, Altınsoy Cad. No:3, Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey, +90 312 310 00 00
9. Hagia Sophia
Cathedral, Museum
10. Pera Museum
Museum
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