Museums in Istanbul

The Basilica of St. Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum (click here to see interior picture) is unquestionably one ot the finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. You should linger here to absorb the building's majestic serenity and to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. (Open every day except Monday.)


Interior, Istanbul Archeological Museum

The Archaeological Museums are found just inside the first court of Topkapi Palace. The newly renovated Archaeological Museum includes the celebrated Alexander Sarcophagus among its treasures of antiquity. The Museum of the Ancient Orient displays artifacts from the Sumerian, Babylonian. Assyrian, Hatti and Hittite civilizations. (Open every day except Monday.)

Originally built as a kosk or pavilion by Mehmet the Conqueror in the 15th century, the Cinili Kosk. which houses the Museum of Turkish Ceramics. contains beautiful lznik wares from the 16th century and fine examples of Seljuk and Ottoman pottery and tiles. (Open every day except Monday.)
Kasikci Diamond
in Topkapi Palace
Like the Ayasofya Museum, the St. Irene Museum was originally a church. It ranks, in fact, as the first church built in Istanbul.Constantine commissioned it in the fourth century and Justinian later had the church restored. Reputedly the building stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. (Open every day except Monday.)

Yerebatan Palace The dark stone building that houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art was built in 1524 by Ibrahim Pasa, Grand Vizier to Suleyman the Magnificent, as his residence. It was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. Today it holds a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest carpets in the world. (Open every day except Monday.)

Across the street from the Ibrahim Pasa Palace is the Museum of Turkish Carpets which contains exquisite antique carpets and kilims gathered from all over Turkey. (Open every day except Sunday and Monday.)

Near St. Sophia is the sixth century Byzantine cistern known as the Yerebatan Sarayi. Three hundred and thirty-five massive Corinthian columns support the immense chamber's fine brick vaulting. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
The Mosaic Museum preserves in situ exceptionally fine mosaic pavements of the fifth and sixth centuries which remain from the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors. (Open every day except Monday.)

The 11th century church of St. Savior in Chora, the Kariye Museum, is, after St. Sophia, the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul. Unremarkable in its architecture, inside tne walls are decorated with superb l4th century frescoes and mosaics. Illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, these brilliantly colored paintings embody the vigor of Byzantine art. Restored wooden houses in the area surrounding the churcn offer tea and coffee in a relaxed atmosphere far removed from the city's hectic pace. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
Mosaic From
Kariye Museum

Mosaic from
Kariye Museum The Aviation Museum in Yesilkoy traces the development of air flight in Turkey. (Open every day except Monday.)

The great field tents used by the Ottoman armies on campaigns are displayed in the Military Museum. Other exhibits include Ottoman weapons and the accoutrements of war. The Mehter Takimi (Ottoman military band) perform Ottoman Marshal music between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. (Open every day except Monday and Tuesday.)

The house in which Ataturk lived in sisli now serves as the Ataturk Museum and displays his personal effects. (Open every day except Saturday and Sunday.)


In the Besiktas district the Naval Museum displays the great imperial caiques in which the sultans were rowed across the Bosphorus, as well as many other interesting exhibits of Ottoman naval history (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)

Also in Besiktas, the Museum of Fine Arts displays Turkish paintings and sculptures from the end of the 19th century to the present day. (Open every day except Monday and Tuesday.)

Near the gardens of Yildiz Palace, the City Museum preserves and documents the history of Istanbul since the Ottoman conquest. (Open every day except Thursday.)

Up the Bosphorus in the picturesque village of Buyukdere, the collections of the Sadberk Hanim Museum fill two charming 19th century wooden villas. A private museum which originally displayed Turkish decorative arts, it has recently been expanded with a new collection of archaeological finds. (Open every day except Wednesday.)

Istanbul and Marmara Region

Istanbul embraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia the other to Europe. In the city's heart, the Bosphorus strait, course the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The former capital of three successive empires- Roman Byzantine and Ottoman-today istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while loking forward to its modern future.





Indeed it is Istanbul's variety that fascinates its visitors. The museus, 5 churches, places, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beautiy seem inexhoustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows on the opposite shore you understand, suddenly and profoundly, why so many centuries ago settlers chose to bulid on this remarkable site. At times such as these you feel that istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.

Istanbul

Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, İstanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Its history tracks back from Byzantium to Constantinople to its place at the head of the Ottoman Empire. Today it hums as Turkey's cultural heart and good-time capital.

In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can tramp the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the sultan's harem; and hunt for bargains in the Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar).
Population
13,000,000

Currency
Name: New Turkish Lira
Code: TRY
Symbol: YTL
Electrical Plugs

220V 50Hz

Languages Spoken
Official: Turkish

Time Zones
GMT/UTC +2


Country Dialing Code
+90

Weights & Measures
Metric

Money and Costs
With hardly a town lacking an ATM, it's perfectly possible to get around Turkey with nothing else but a credit or debit card. Just remember to draw out money in the towns to tide you through the villages and keep some cash in reserve for the inevitable day when the machine throws a wobbly.

Currency, Changing Your Money, Money Tips, Price Guide, Tipping
Currency
Name New Turkish Lira
Symbol YTL The New Turkish Lira (YTL)(brought into circulation at the start of 2005 to replace the old lira's unwieldy denominations) comes in notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

The New Kuruş (YKr) comes in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and one New Turkish Lira. One hundred New Kuruş equals one New Turkish Lira.

Changing Your Money
It's easy to change major currencies in exchange offices, and many post offices (PTTs), shops and hotels; however, banks may make heavier weather of it. Cashing even major travellers cheques can be a hassle (although post offices in tourist areas are a good bet) and the exchange rate is usually slightly lower. Places that don't charge a commission usually offer a worse exchange rate instead.

Although Turkey has no black market, foreign currencies are readily accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants in many tourist areas. If you're left high and dry, most banks countrywide can do Western Union transfers.

Money Tips
Turkey is a relatively low-slung dollar burner. You can travel on as little as €20.00 to €35.00 per day using buses and trains, staying in pensions, and eating one restaurant meal. For €35.00 to €50.00 you can travel on plusher buses, take sleepers in overnight trains, kick back in one and two-star hotels and eat most meals in restaurants. For more than €50.00 per day you can move up to 3 and 4-star hotels, take the occasional airline flight, and dine in restaurants all the time.

Prices in İstanbul and along the coast are higher than in Cappadocia and elsewhere inland.

Sample Price Guide
small bottle of beer € 1.30 movie ticket € 2.50-6.00 night club entry € 6.00-16.00 open air seat at first league soccer game € 7.00 hamam bath and massage € 6.00-25.00 Bosphorus ferry ride € 2.00 (one way) basic meal from lokanta € 3.00 café latte € 2.50 Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
Euro4-50 Euro50-150 Euro120-300 Euro300+
Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
Euro1-4 Euro4-12 Euro12-50 Euro50-80

Tipping
In cheaper restaurants it's not necessary to leave more than a few coins in the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you're expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d'. Porters expect a dollar or so; in taxis you might like to round up the bill; in other situations, for example, helpful guardians at archaeological sites, delicacy is required. Although a tip may be initially refused through politeness, you should offer the money a second and third time. After three refusals, you can safely assume they really don't want the money. In hamams you should tip 10% to 20% of the admission price to the masseuse/masseur.