Chora Museum
Kariye Camii Sokak, Kariye Sguare, Edirnekapi. (0212)631 92 41. www.choramuseum.com
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday 09:00-19:00 (last admission at 18:00).
Admission 15TL Museum Pass Istanbul accepted.
The Chora Museum, originally a Byzantine church, was built in the 11th century by the mother-in-law of Alexius I Comnenus, converted into a mosque in the 16th century and reconverted into a museum for good in 1958. Its walls and ceilings are adorned with some of the worlds finest mosaics and frescoes.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Alemdar Caddesi, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu,Sultanahmet,Fatih. (0212)520 77 40-41 www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr
Tuesday-Sunday 09.00-17.00.
Admission 10TL
Musseum Pass Istanbul accepted.This was the first museum to open in Turkey in the late-19th century.It holds a large collection of Ancient Greek, Roman and Turkhis artefacts, as well as objects discovered in the Balkans, Africa,Mesopotamia and the Middle East. The museum is divided into three sections: Archaeology, Ancient Orient and Islamic Art.
Museum of Innocence
Firuzaga Mahallesi,Cukurcuma Caddesi, Dalgic cikmazi 2,Beyoglu.(212)252 97 38. wwww.masumiyetmuzesi.org
Tuesday Sunday 10.00-18.00 (open till 20.00 on Friday).
Opened in April of this year, the Museum of Innocence is inspired by Orhan Pamuks 2008 novel of the same name. Artworks, videos, photographs and sound installations come together to create a feeling of nostalgia, while the items that readers will recognize from the book lend the display a touch of authenticity.
Pera Museum
Mesrutiyet Caddesi 65,Tepebasi,Beyoglu. (212) 334 99 00 www.peramuzesi.org.tr
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-19:00; Sunday 12:00-18:00. Admission 10 TL, 5 TL (students, senior citizens and children under12) and free for students on Wednesdays.
The Pera Museum has always offered exhibitions and events focused on different cultures and education, hosting shows whose topics range from local contemporary art to World classics.Pera Film screens a variety of independent features and shorts throughout the year.
The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews
Karakoy Sguare, Percemli Sokak, Karakoy.(212)292 63 33. www.muze500.com
Monday-Thursday 10.00-16.00;Friday,Sunday 10.00-14.00 Admission regular 10.TL,student 3TL.
Established in order to protect the cultural heritage of Turkhis Jews,the museum features documents, objects and photographs of the minority’s rich culture in Turkey.
Sadberk Hanim Museum
Buyukdere Piyasa Caddesi 27-29, Sariyer.(212)242 38 13-14 www.sadberkhanimmuzesi.org.tr
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday 10;00-17:00. Admission 7 TL, 2 TL (students, teachers and senior citizens).
The Vehbi Koc Foundations Sadberk Hanim Museum was founded in 1980 as Turkeys first independent museum exhibiting the private collection of Sadberk Koc, the wife of philanthropist and businessman Vehbi Koc. The collection features over 18.000 pieces, including Sadberk Kocs traditional costumes, embroidery, silver artifacts with sultans signature, porcelain, and pieces from the private collection of Huseyin Kocabas.
Bereket Carpet
Peykhane Caddesi Üçler Sokak No:8 Sultanahmet / İstanbul Türkiye www.bereket-unlimited.com
Modern yet traditional is an apt description of the ‘carpets’ Celaleddin Vardarsuyu manufactures at Bereket in Istanbul. Recycling and repurposing the remains of discarded rugs, kilims, carpets, blankets, and other ‘found’ textiles, Bereket breathes new life into old fabrics. Kathy Hamilton Gündoğdu finds out why Celal finds beauty in the unwanted.
Turkish Hamam
Hamams are open from as early as 6 a.m. till somewhere around midnight
The masseur and scrubber will be of the same sex as you are
Standard soap is used. If you have sensitive skin or are allergic to some products, bring your own soap
You need to wash your private parts yourself
You’ll get drenched, so women may want to get rid of their make-up first. Also, don’t forget to bring the necessary toiletries.
Women may want to bring dry underwear along too
There is no way you can avoid tipping the attendant(s), so make sure you have some cash money on you. You normally tip 10 to 20% of the total amount
If you care about your (new) tan, maybe visit a hamam at the beginning of your city trip or holiday
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Ibrahim Pasa Sarayi,Hippodrome,Sultanahmet, Eminonu.(212)518 18 05.
Tuesday-Sunday 09.00-17.00 Admisson 10.TL.
Museum Pass Istanbul accepted. The museum hosts over 40,000 pieces from every era of Islamic history. Once the palace of Ibrahim Pasa, the grand vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum now holds an extensive collection divided into the following sections: carpets, calligraphy, woodwork, stonework, ceramics, glass, metals, and ethnography.