Have a look at the opening hours of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions when planning a city trip to Istanbul, so you don’t find yourself standing in front of a closed door. Sightseeing spots such as the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace and its Harem, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace and the Basilica Cistern all have their own closing days and slightly different operating hours. Please also consult the list of public, national, and religious holidays in Turkey. Especially religious holidays vary from year to year.
You may also want to have a look at the entrance fees of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions before making your itinerary.
Below you’ll find an overview (in alphabetical order) of what is open when and how long.
- Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
Summer: April 1 – October 30, open daily from 9:00 – 19:00.
Winter: October 31 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 – 17:00.
Open daily. Last entrance 45 minutes before closing time. - Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
Open daily from 9:00 – 22:00.
Could be closed until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays. - Beylerbeyi Palace (Beylerbeyi Sarahı)
Open daily from 9:00 – 17:30.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January and first day of religious holidays. - Big Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Çinileri Müzesi)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 – 19:00.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 – 17:30.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office: 30 minutes before closing time. - Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Open every day. Closed for visitors during prayers. Avoid coming 30 min. before and 30 min. after the prayer.
The Friday midday prayer takes around 2 hours. Have that in mind before planning the visit. - Çadır Pavilion (Çadır Köşkü)
Open every day from 9:00 – 22:30. No closing days. - Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)
Open daily from 9:00 – 18:00.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office at 17:00.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January and first day of religious holidays.
If the number of visitors exceeds the daily limit, the ticket office closes early. - Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Open every day from 8:00 – 19:30, opens at 09:30 on Sundays.
Closed on October 29 & all days of religious holidays. - Emirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu)
Open every day from 07:00 – 23:00. - Fethiye Museum (Fethiye Müzesi)
The museum has been closed for renovation since April 2018. - Florya Atatürk Marine Mansion (Florya Atatürk Deniz Köşkü)
Open from Tuesday – Sunday, between 9:00 – 18:00, last ticket sale at 17:00.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January and first day of religious holidays. - Fortress of Europe (Rumeli Hisarı)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 – 19:30.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 – 18:30.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office: 1 hour before closing time.
Closed on Mondays. On the first day of religious holidays, the fortress opens at 13:00. - Fortress of Seven Towers (Yedikule Hisarı)
Currently only open for Turkish citizens after online reservation. - Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
Open every day from 8:30 – 23:00. Last entrance at 22:00. - Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
Open every day from 8:30 – 19:00.
Closed on Sundays and on all days of religious holidays. - Hagia Irene
Summer: April 1 – October 2, open daily from 9:00 – 18:45.
Winter: October 2 – April 1, open daily from 9:00 – 16:45.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office: 45 minutes before closing time.
Closed on Tuesdays, 1st of January and on the first day of religious holidays. - Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi)
Open every day. Closed for visitors during prayers. Avoid coming 30 min. before and 30 min. after the prayer.
The Friday midday prayer takes around 2 hours. Have that in mind before planning the visit. - Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum (Ayasofya Tarih Müzesi)
Open daily from 9:00 – 22:00. Last entrance at 21:00 - Harem (Harem)
Open daily from 9:00 – 18:00.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office at 17:00..
Closed on Tuesdays, and on the first day of religious holidays. - Imperial Porcelain Factory (Yıldız Porselen Fabrikası)
Open daily from 9:00 – 17:00.
Closed on all official and religious holidays. - Istanbul Akvaryum
Open on weekdays from 10:00 – 19:00.
Open in the weekend from 10:00 – 20:00.
No closing days.
Aquarium may open later than usual on the first day of religious holidays. - Istanbul Modern
Open on Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 – 18:00.
Open on Sunday from 11:00 – 18:00.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January and the first day of religious holidays. - Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi) / Chora Church
Closed due to renovations.
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 – 19:00.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 – 17:00.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office: 30 minutes before closing time.
The museum opens in the afternoon on the first day of religious holidays. - Malta Pavilion (Malta Köşkü)
Open daily from 9:00 – 23:00.
No closing days - Miniatürk
Open daily from 9:00 – 19:00.
No closing days - Naval or Maritime Museum
Open daily from 09:00 – 17:00.
Open Saturday, Sunday, and on national holidays from 10:00 – 18:00.
Last entry is at 16:00 on weekdays, 17:00 at weekends and national holidays.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January, and the first days of religious holidays. - Pera Museum
Open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 – 19:00.
Open on Friday from 10:00 – 22:00.
Open on Sunday from 12:00 – 18:00.
Closed on Mondays, 1st of January and the first day of religious holidays. - Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
Open every day from 9:00 – 18:00.
Closed during prayers. - Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
Open daily from 9:00 – 18:00.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office at 17:00.
Closed on Tuesdays, and on the first day of religious holidays. - Turkish & Islamic Art Museum (Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 10:00 – 20:00.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 8:30 – 17:30.
Last entrance & closing of the ticket office: 1 hour before closing time.
On the first day of religious holidays, the museum opens at 13:00. - Tünel (Tünel)
Open Monday – Saturday from 7:00 – 22:45.
Open Sunday from 7:30 – 22:45.
No closing days - Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı)
Open daily from 09:00 – 17:30.
Closed on Wednesday and all official and religious holidays. - Yıldız Park (Yıldız Korusu)
Open daily 09:00 – 22:30.
No closing days.
Hi Erland
Great information here, thanks for all your time and effort. My wife and I are visiting for New years eve and i can see on your website several attractions are closed on Januray 1st, is there anything in particular you could recomend we do on this day please.
Thanks
Hi Stuart,
I’ve updated the page according to the latest information, since they change constantly. To your delight you’ll notice that most of the sightseeing venues are now open to the public on January 1st, too, i.e. Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower, Istanbul Aquarium, and of course all the mosques. Plenty to choose from I guess. Enjoy your stay.
That’s great
Thanks very much really appreciate your efforts keep up the good work and advice
Hi
Is the mosaic museum open at the moment?
Yes it is, during daytime that is.
Hi Erlend,
Any forms required to fill for foreigners entering Turkey . Looks like each country have their own policies. We will be landing in Istanbul on 20th September. Will Basilica Cistern open by then. Many Thanks
Hi,
Normally no form, but check with a Turkish embassy or consulate to be sure. Basilica Cistern should be open.
Hi Erland,
Let’s hope Basilica Cistern will be open when we arrive in October.
Here in Australia I am reading on Turkish Embassy website no need for Entry Form. No HES.
Only Covid requirements and of course Visa. Are you able to confirm?
Cheers Chris
Hi Chris,
At the moment, that’s indeed the case. Cross fingers it will still be like that in October.
Hi Erland,
Any updates on re opening Basilica Cistern.
Cheers Chris
Hi Chris,
I’m afraid not.
Hi Chris, the basilica cistern is now open again for public visits. Also, you must complete a health declaration in the 72 hours before you arrive in Turkey. Here is the link and you can easily complete it in English!
https://register.health.gov.tr/
These schedules should be updated…. they’re currently different.
You’re right, I’m in the process of updating it for the winter schedule. The same with the prices, they change often too, due to fluctuating currency. Should be done after the weekend. My apologies.
My husband and I are heading to Instanbul in August and the Grand Bazaar is on the ‘must see’ list. It looks amazing, cant wait to go! We also need to ensure that we are online throughout how can we make this possible, we had been recommended to rent n connect what is your take on this
Hi Calz,
I just had the chance to test rent n connect, and it worked like a charm. Alternatively, you could buy a Turkish sim card for a fixed price, giving you up to 9 Gb. Then of course you need to swap SIM cards. If you don’t want to do that or you plan to use a lot of Gb, the the rent n connect is a great option.
Where can I buy this fixed price card? Do I need any special papers to buy it?
Which fixed price card are you referring to, the Museum Pass?