Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: carpets, manuscripts and İbrahim Pasha Palace
- Museums and palaces
- Sultanahmet Square, Fatih
- Paid
Family hotels closest to Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (540 m) Walking route
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (550 m) Walking route
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Green Life Apart Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (570 m) Walking route
Visitor information
| Type | Art museum (in a 16th-century palace) |
|---|---|
| Built | Palace 1520s; museum founded in 1914 |
| Commissioned by / architect | The palace of Grand Vizier Pargalı İbrahim Pasha |
| Neighbourhood | Sultanahmet Square, Fatih |
| Opening hours | Opens daily at 9 am; closing time changes with the season (later in summer) |
| Admission | Paid; the Müzekart is accepted. Current prices are on the official ticket website. |
| Müzekart (Turkish museum card) | Accepted |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Getting there | T1 Sultanahmet stop, 3 min walk |
| From Sultanahmet Square | About 6 min walk (390 m) |
| Pushchair / stroller | Partly suitable. There are stairs at the entrance and between the halls |
| Best time | In the midday heat or on a rainy day |
| Official website | muze.gov.tr (resmî bilet sitesi) |
Opening hours and prices can change; check the official website before you go. Map links open in Google Maps.
İbrahim Pasha Palace and the story of the museum
This stone palace on the western edge of the Hippodrome was remodelled in the 1520s for Pargalı İbrahim Pasha, grand vizier and son-in-law of Suleiman the Magnificent. It is the largest private residence to survive from the Ottoman period apart from the sultans’ palaces. The museum was founded in 1914 in the soup kitchen building of the Süleymaniye complex as the “Museum of Islamic Endowments” and moved to this palace, restored in 1983.
What is in the museum?
- Carpet collection: Ranging from Seljuk carpets to Uşak and “Holbein” carpets, the collection is among the most important in the world. Most of the carpets were brought to the museum from mosques in Anatolia.
- Quran manuscripts and calligraphy: Manuscripts and illuminated pages from the Umayyad, Abbasid, Mamluk, Ilkhanid and Ottoman periods are on display.
- Woodwork and metalwork: Mosque doors, Quran stands, and Seljuk candlesticks and lamps.
- Ethnography section: The nomad tent, village house room and hand looms on the lower floor bring daily life in Anatolia to life; it is the section children find most interesting.
Visiting tips
The museum is directly opposite the Blue Mosque. The six minarets of the mosque look wonderful from the palace terrace and the café in the courtyard; it is a good place to escape the crowds on the square and have a tea. Because it is indoors, it is a good choice for rainy or very hot days.
Visiting tips
- Do not forget to take a photo of the Blue Mosque from the café terrace.
- The carpet section is upstairs; if you are going with children, start with the ethnography section.
- Put the museum on the same walk as the Obelisk and the Serpent Column on Sultanahmet Square.
Our family hotels near Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Walking times are approximate and measured from the hotel door; where the hotel gives its own time, we show that.
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Emirhan Inn Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (540 m) Walking route
A budget-friendly hotel with free breakfast in Küçük Ayasofya
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Seven Roses Apart Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (550 m) Walking route
Apartments with kitchens in Küçük Ayasofya, with roomy options for larger families
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Green Life Apart Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (570 m) Walking route
Family-run apartments with kitchenettes and a sea-view roof terrace in Küçük Ayasofya
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Sareban Hotel
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: 8 min walk (580 m) Walking route
An alcohol-free family hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, looking out to the Marmara
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts?
It is on the western side of Sultanahmet Square, in the İbrahim Pasha Palace opposite the Blue Mosque. It is a 3-minute walk from the T1 Sultanahmet stop.
Is the Müzekart accepted at the museum?
Yes, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and you can enter with the Müzekart.
