Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket

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Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Istanbul Tourist Pass®

Guided Museum Tours

Price Without Pass: €21

Free with Istanbul Tourist Pass®

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Are you ready to explore the Istanbul Archeological Museums?

Are you ready to have a great time and witness different cultures in one of the world's largest museums? The Istanbul Archeological Museums is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul. It has many objects from the pre-Islamic periods of Anatolia and Mesopotamia's Greek, Egyptian, and Arabian Peninsulas.


Exploring the Archeological Museum in the best way is so easy with the Istanbul Tourist Pass®! You will enjoy hearing the hidden stories, architecture, and history of the Archeological Museum with Istanbul Tourist Pass® guides!


It is very easy to visit this memorable place with the Istanbul Tourist Pass®! The collection of the Istanbul Archeological Museum will impress you with its uniqueness. Do not leave Istanbul without visiting witness the cradle of civilizations.

About The Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket

Mobile ticketing - No need for printed voucher, we're digital!

Skip the ticket line - Avoid queues!

Duration - 20 Minutes  Check Time table to see starting times

Instant confirmationThe tour does require a reservation in advance. Please book your spot. 

Guide - English


Highlights 

Statue of Hermes

Statue of Aphrodite

Archaic Temple Pediment from Assos

Ancient Greek Exhibition

Siloam Inscription

Virgin Mary Relief

Roman Emperor II. Valentine's Statue

Mari Governor Puzur Ishtar

Sarcophagy Porphyry Stones of Byzantine Emperors

The original text of the Treaty of Kadesh, signed in BC 1258

Mesopotamian Statues

Babylon Reliefs

Palmyra Reliefs

Bust of Marcus Aurelius from Rome

A panel from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon

Kybele Statue from Bitínia

Nippur, the Ancient Egyptian Measure of Length


Includes

Guided Entry to Istanbul Archeological Museums

Professional English-speaking tour guide


Istanbul Archeological Museum

The Istanbul Archeological Museums are among the largest museums in the world, with over one million artifacts from various cultures. Since you can see many objects from the pre-Islamic periods of the Greek, Egyptian, and Arabian Peninsula of Anatolia and Mesopotamia, this museum is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul.

It was established as the Imperial Museum at the end of the 19th century by the painter and museologist Osman Hamdi Bey. Istanbul Archeological Museums' collection includes artifacts from civilizations within the borders of the Ottoman Empire, from the Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to the Arabian Peninsula and Afghanistan.

For this amazing experience and more, Buy Your Pass Now! Istanbul Tourist Pass® is here to make your Istanbul trip an unforgettable experience! 

Hours & Meeting

The approximate duration is 20 minutes. Please visit time table for tour hours 

Please meet your guide at the meeting point 10 minutes before the tour start time.

How To Get There?

Take the T1 Bağılar - Kabataş tram and get off at Gulhane station. The museum is an easy 5-10 minute walk away.

Meet your guide in front of the Archeological Museum. The guide will be holding a flag with the logo of Istanbul Tourist Pass.

Get Directions

Important Information

The guided tours are performed in English.

The tour starts in front of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. Click "Get Directions" above to find the location on Google Maps.

The tour  require a reservation in advance.

Istanbul Tourist Pass holders do not pay admission at the Archeological Museum.

Children will be asked to present their passport at the entrance to confirm their age.

This museum not available for wheelchair access.

Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket Free With

Avoid paying the entry fees and skip the ticket queues with Istanbul Tourist Pass®.

Guided Archeological Museum Tour is Included in Istanbul Tourist Pass®️

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All About Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket

Istanbul Archaeological Museum, is located in the main building of the facilities of Istanbul Archaeological Museums near the other units as Tiled Kiosk and the Museum of the Ancient Orient. Istanbul Archaeological Museum, which is one of Turkey’s first museums, is a legacy from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic. Although the first emergence of the idea of the museum dates back to the time of Mehmed the Conqueror, its actual realization was with the establishment of the Imperial Museum in 1869. The Hümâyun Museum, which consists of archaeological artifacts collected until that day in the Hagia Irene Church, formed the basis of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. While visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museum you may also stop by Hagia Irene Museum which has a special place for the history of the city. Saffet Pasha, the Minister of Education of the period, made personal efforts to bring works to the museum, and at the same time, one of the teachers of Galatasaray High School, Edward Goold, of English origin, was appointed as the museum director. In 1872, the Minister of Education Ahmed Vefik Pasha re-established the Hümâyun Museum, which had been abolished for a while, with the help of German Dr. Phillip Anton Dethier. As a result of Dr. Dethier's work, the Hagia Irene Church was insufficient for the newly arrived works, but a new building could not be built due to financial difficulties. The "Tiny Pavilion", which was built during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, was converted into a museum and added to the museum complex in 1880. It took time for the museum to become world-renowned. In 1881, Osman Hamdi Bey, the son of the grand vizier Edhem Pasha, became the director of the museums, and the attempts to find artifacts to be displayed in the museum gained momentum. archeological museum tour, guided archeological museum tour, archaeological museum Istanbul, Istanbul archaeological museums, archaeological museum in Istanbul, archaeological tourism, archaeological museum opening hours, archaeological museum Istanbul, archaeological museum in Istanbul, Istanbul archaeology museum ticket price, archaeological museum istanbul opening hours, Istanbul museum archaeology, Istanbul archaeology museum highlights, Istanbul archaeology museums entry fee.

Building of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum’s architecture belongs to Alexander Vallury. The building was built due to the need for a new museum to exhibit magnificent works such as the Iskender Tomb, the Crying Women's Tomb, the Lycian Tomb, and the Tabnit Tomb, which were brought to Istanbul from the Sidon King Necropolis. The museum was officially opened on 13 June 1891. June 13rd, when the museum is opened to visitors, is celebrated as the museum day in Turkey. With the addition of the north wing in 1903 and the south wing in 1907 to the Archeology Museum complex, the museum gained its present appearance. Due to the need for new exhibition halls, an addition was made to the southeast adjacent to the Main Museum building between 1969 and 1983, and this section was named the Annex Building. The building, which has witnessed an important part of history, is waiting to host you with its fascinating texture. With Istanbul Tourist Pass, you can visit Istanbul Archaeological Museum without paying for entrance. Artifacts in the Istanbul Archeological Museum This uniquely beautiful building, where you will step into the dusty pages of history as soon as you enter, is home to many ancient artifacts. There are approximately 1 million artifacts in the museum and it contains artifacts from all over the world, most of which are from Turkey. It is hardly possible not to admire the unique artifacts from Mesopotamia and Anatolia. Especially the ancient Greek exhibition will make you feel as if you are wandering among the ancient Greek gods, taking you away from today's world with its mysterious and awe-inspiring hue. Some of the most famous artifacts in the museum are:
  • Statue of Hermes
  • Statue of Aphrodite
  • Archaic Temple Pediment from Assos
  • Ancient Greek Exhibition
  • Siloam Inscription
  • Virgin Mary Relief
  • Roman Emperor II. Valentinian's Statue
  • Mari Governor Puzur Ishtar
  • Sarcophagy Porphyry Stones of Byzantine Emperors
  • The original text of the Treaty of Kadesh, signed in BC 1258
  • Mesopotamian Statues
  • Babylon Reliefs
  • Palmyra Reliefs
  • Bust of Marcus Aurelius from Rome
  • A panel from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon
  • Kybele Statue from Bitínia
  • Nippur, the Ancient Egyptian Measure of Length

Orpheos Statue

Orpheus, who appeared as a mythological character, became a school of its own over time and was associated with Jesus in Christian art. In the root of this, Orpheus, who tamed all the animals with various musical instruments he played during his lifetime, lost his lover with the bite of a snake. Due to the deep sadness he experienced, he was given the chance to go to the underworld and bring his lover. But Orpheus, who lost his lover again in this unfortunate experience, devotes himself to preaching only to men. Because of this dedication, Orpheus, who is associated with Jesus, appears in some works with descriptions similar to Jesus the Good Shepherd. Orpheus is depicted sitting and with an animal next to him, in the statue. The details of his dress are made with a few flush scratches rather than elaborate details. The depiction was completed with the face and hair drawing, which are widely seen in classical Roman art of the era.

Alexander Sarcophagus

The Sayda Sarcophagi are the sarcophagi of the kings' tombs in Sidon, unearthed by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1887. Seven of the 18 sarcophagi found in the necropolis were left in place, and the others were brought to Istanbul upon a very meticulous study. The most important of the invaluable sarcophagi is the Alexander Sarcophagus, and the oldest is the Tabnit Sarcophagus. Apart from this, other important sarcophagi are the Sarcophagus of Crying Women, the Lycian Sarcophagus and the Sarcophagus of Satrap. The Alexander Sarcophagus is considered the most important artifact in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums. According to some archaeologists, this priceless artifact is the symbol of Istanbul. You can enjoy seeing this and similar works that are exhibited in the Istanbul Archeology Museum.

Advantages Of Istanbul Tourist Pass®

By having the Istanbul Tourist Pass®, you can visit more than 100+ attractions in Istanbul. You can save huge amount of time and money by not waiting in the long queues or paying fees at the entrances of the museums or for other facilities and activities. You can buy the Istanbul Tourist Pass®️ for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 10 days. So many attractions are available with Istanbul Tourist Pass®️ such as Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe Palace, Sapanca Lake daily tour, Dinner on the Bosphorus, Istanbul Airport Shuttle etc. included in the pass. For more details and updated attractions available with the pass can be found on website.

Istanbul Archaeological Museums Guided Tour with Entrance Ticket Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum?

You can have the chance to see many of the works you read in the books in this wonderful museum, which provides an extraordinary experience for history buffs. It is one of the most important landmarks of Istanbul, in a building that dates to the Ottoman.

Can I Get in Archeological Museum with Istanbul Tourist Pass?

No, this attraction cannot be accessed directly by presenting the digital Pass at the museum. You need to enter with the tour guide.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum Opening Hours

Istanbul Archeological Museum is open every day(except monday), from 09:00 in the summer and to 19:30 in the evening. In the winter season, it opens at 09:00 and closes at 17:30.

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