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The entrance fees of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions range from free to almost 450 TL per person. Often children can go in for free, but different sightseeing spots have difference age limits. The overview below also allows for an easy comparison to find out whether an Istanbul Museum pass is worth the investment or not based on your personal itinerary. Also, avoid standing in front of a closed door by checking the opening and closing hours of the main tourist attractions.
- Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
Ticket price: 75 TL
Children aged 12 and under: free of charge (ID required)
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here. - Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
Due to renovations, the cistern is currently closed.
Foreign visitors: 30 TL
Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here. Guided Museum Pass is valid here. - Big Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Çinileri Müzesi)
Ticket price: 45 TL
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here. - Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Free entrance. - Çadır Pavilion (Çadır Köşkü)
Free entrance. - Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)
Selamlık (Official section) and Harem (Family section): 300 TL
Combined ticket for Selamlık & Harem: 150 TL
Children aged 6 and under: free of charge
Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here. - Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Free entrance. - Emirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu)
Free entrance. - Fethiye Museum (Fethiye Müzesi)
The museum has been closed for renovation since April 2018. - Florya Atatürk Marine Mansion (Florya Atatürk Deniz Köşkü)
Ticket price: 30 TL
Discounted: 15 TL (students / International Student Identity Card required)
Children aged 6 and under: free of charge - Fortress of Europe (Rumeli Hisarı)
Ticket price 40 TL
Children under 12: free of charge
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here. - Fortress of Seven Towers (Yedikule Hisarı)
Currently only open for Turkish citizens after online reservation. - Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
Foreign visitors: 130 TL - Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
Free entrance. - Hagia Irene
Ticket Price: 120 TL
Children aged 8 and younger: free of charge
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here. - Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi)
Free entrance. - Harem (Harem)
Price: 150 TL
If you plan to visit the Harem, you’re better off buying a combined Topkapi Palace with Harem ticket (see below und Topkapi Palace).
Children aged 6 and younger: free of charge (ID required).
Discounted: 30 TL (students / International Student Identity Card required)
Istanbul Museum Pass Card is not valid here. - Imperial Porcelain Factory (Yıldız Porselen Fabrikası)
Ticket price: 40 TL
Children aged 6 and under: free of charge - Istanbul Akvaryum
Ticket price: 275 TL (248 TL online)
Children aged 2-12: 240 TL (216 TL online)
Children under 2: free of charge
Buy tickets online. - Istanbul Modern
Due to moving to their new building, the museum is currently closed.
Ticket price: 72 TL
Discounted (65 and older, students): 54 TL
Group (more than 10 people): 54 TL - Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi)
Due to renovations, the museum is currently closed.
Ticket price: 65 TL
Children aged 8 and under: free of charge.
Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid here. - LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Ticket price: 145 TL (online)
Adults must be accompanied by a child (aged 14 and under).
If you buy tickets online you can get discounts. - Madame Tussauds
Adult (13 years+): 130 TL (online)
Child (3-13): 120 TL (online)
If you buy tickets online you can get discounts. - Miniatürk
Ticket price 90 TL
For groups bigger than 10 people 20% discount. - Naval or Maritime Museum
Ticket price: 25 TL - Pera Museum
Ticket price: 25 TL
Discounted (children older than 12, students, seniors aged 60 and older): 10 TL
20% discount with Istanbul Museum Pass.
Free entrance: Children aged 12 and younger.
Groups (10 people and more): 20 TL - Sea Life Istanbul
At the ticket office on the day of the visit:
Adult: 230 TL
Child (ages 3-14): 185 TL
Child (under 3): free
All visitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you buy tickets online you can get discounts. - Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
Free entrance - Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
Ticket Price: 320 TL (excluding the Harem), 420 TL (including the Harem)
Cash and credit cards are accepted.
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here.
Children aged 8 and younger: free of charge (verification needed). - Turkish & Islamic Art Museum (Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi)
Ticket price: 75 TL
Istanbul Museum Pass is valid here. - Tünel (Tünel)
Ticket Price: 7,5 TL per person per ride
To get on the funicular you need to have an Istanbul Card. - Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı)
Due to renovations, the palace is currently closed.
Ticket price: 20 TL
Istanbul Museum Pass Card is valid here.
Children at the age of 12 and younger: free of charge.
Currently closed for renovation. - Yıldız Park (Yıldız Korusu)
Free entrance
If you come by car, parking fee is 8 TL.
Rajib says
Hi Erlend,
I’ll be visiting Istanbul with my family in the last week of September 2022, so just a week away.
If you could please clarify a few queries, it would be really helpful –
1. Do we must take a guide to go inside Basilica Cistern or just an entry ticket would do? Is a guide must for any of the ticketed monuments?
2. How long are we allowed to stay in the ‘Archaeological Museums’ and ‘Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum’? Is it 6 pm or 8 pm?
3. When is the last entry time to the Galata Tower? How long should we plan for the Galata Tower?
4. Is there any metro and tram pass which I can buy at the airport or at Sirkeci?
5. It seems no more Istanbul Museum Pass are available for the days of our travel. Does it all tickets are sold out for the museums or is it just the museum pass which is sold out and we can still go and buy the tickets at the counter (after standing in queue) in each of the museums?
Appreciate your help.
Thanking in advance.
Rajib
Erlend says
Hi,
1. Guides are not a must.
2. 20:00. Here is an overview of all opening hours.
3. 22:00 last entry, once inside an hour is enough, but their will be a line to get inside as well. That of course is hard to predict, but I suggest in total to go the latest by 20:00
4. Istanbul Kart.
5. Not sure where you looked, but I don’t think Museum Passes can be sold out. Have a look here.
Rajib says
Thank you so much Erlend! That was very helpful.
Now super excited to be in Istanbul by this time next Sunday.
Rajib says
Hi Erlend,
Sorry to bother again.
What options do I’ve to buy SIM card and Data/Wifi card for my mobile phone?
I’ll be staying at Sirkeci.
Thanking in advance.
Rajib
Erlend says
You can. buy those in any Vodafone or Turkcel shop in the city center. If you can wait, don’t buy them at the airport since they’re often double the price there.
Jo Cee says
Hi, great info overall. Do you happen to know if there are sim cards that are not the tourist welcome package which I read are expensive. Any suggestions. I am staying the the Beyoğlu area. Also Is Turkcell better than Vodafone or visa versa? Thanks
I am leaving in a week. Can’t wait! Thanks in advance.
Erlend says
Hi Jo,
First of all, they’re not that expensive, certainly not when you don’t buy them at the airport and when your home currency is USD or EUR. Moreover, to get the regular cards, you may have to prove you’re a Turkish citizen or get into a subscription plan.
Chris Mulheron says
Hi Erland,
Reading on Istanbul Clues Basilica Cistern re opening mid July.
You hearing that?
PS … Like your website better😀
Chris
Erlend says
Hi,
That has indeed been announced. But there have been such announcements in the past, so I will update the post and write that it’s open when I see it.
Thanks
Erlend says
Hi Chris,
The Basilica Cistern has been reopened. I thought you’d like to know.
Chris Mulheron says
Hi Erland,
Thank you. I am so happy I will be able to visit the Basilica Cistern in October.
I appreciate you thinking of me.
Chris
Sheikh says
About group tickets for 6 peoples
Erlend says
Most attractions don’t have group tickets for individuals.