Istanbul is an ancient city that straddles the line between Europe and Asia, and has been home to many people throughout time. Each generation leaves a new layer of history and culture that seamlessly melds with previous generations. The Byzantine era buildings, ancient Roman artefacts, Ottoman mosques, and European baroque style architecture which can all be found near the Sultanahmet district are proof of that fact.

No doubt when you plan to go to Istanbul, you would’ve been recommended at least one museum. Whether you want to see the palaces of Sultans, Turkey’s artistic history, or experience its rich ethnic milieu there is a museum for you.

Istanbul is definitely a city for repeat visitors. Museums aside, there truly is too much for you to discover and learn in one go. Repeat visitors will probably find a lot has changed in most recent years. With the strain of COVID on the economy, the public transport upgrades to connect distant parts of the city, as well as the unfortunate natural disasters of 2023; it’s like your returning back to an old friend. You have the memories you shared and treasured, but their story is still being told. New chapters are being created, there’s always new things to experience.

If you needed some new ideas or stories to encourage you to travel once more; check out my article on great travel quotes here.

o, if this isn’t your first visit; you may have already seen some of the most well known spots. Maybe you are looking for something new, or perhaps a museum to spend the extra time in and take a deep dive into Istanbul. Hopefully, this list will provide you with something a little different. Check out some of these places for a completely different museum experience as well as a unique perspective on Istanbul.

The Istanbul Toy Museum

Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, you can very easily catch one of the many taxis that linger around the Kadikoy ferry port to get to this unique little museum. Massive model giraffes and nut-cracker guards welcome you to the quaint, multi-level building. This place has things for both children and children at heart as well.

Visitors will see collections of toys from various historic eras organised in well thought out themes.  The most impressive of which would be the miniature doll scenes and panoramas on the higher levels. There you will find fully furnished shops, kitchens, and houses all with meticulously arranged miniatures, clothing, and detailed items. You will also find tributes to Barbie, classic trains, as well as battle scenes, and superhero dioramas for the boys.

The Museum of Innocence

Orhan Pamuk is a name that comes up when you start to get into the cultural discussions about Istanbul. You’ll be able to navigate the more artsy circles of your friends if you have read one of his books. Pamuk’s stories often include characters living in Istanbul and his words paint vivid descriptions of locations frozen in time and in his memory.

The Museum of Innocence is one such book that focuses on the dreams and lives of two Istanbul families. Pamuk’s grand aspirations were to always have a physical museum to accompany the book. Visitors to this museum will be thrown into the world of these characters, retrace their steps, and live their lives. Reading the book is not a prerequisite to enjoying the museum or vice versa. The Museum of Innocence is great for those looking for a more conceptual museum experience.

July 15 Memorial Museum

The night of July 15, 2016, still lingers in the hearts and minds of Istanbul’s residents. The date itself is now a public holiday, commemorating both the government’s and the city’s resistance to Turkey’s most recent coup attempt. The country has had multiple military coups in its history. Therefore, understanding how these events fit into history is critical to understanding the modern Turkish mindset.

The sombre museum is located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Bridge. You will find a memorial to those who died that night and personal items that were collected from the event. Cars crushed by tanks, the shoes worn on the night, and the personal belongings of those who died all help tell the story of this coup from a very personal perspective.

Pera Museum

The Pera district of town is synonymous with high culture, and brings visitors back to a time in the early 1900’s of Istanbul. It is a short walk from the Şişhane train station; where you will bypass consulates, some swanky cafe’s and bars, and of course, the Grand Hotel de Pera. The museum itself stands in the renovated and refurbished Bristol Hotel.

Pera Museum has a mix of permanent and rotating exhibitions; all of which seem to speak about cultural identity and belonging. And in a city with as mixed heritage and history as Istanbul, a discussion on identity is not only vital, but potentially long and with many different angles and view points. This museum tries to touch hold these conversations and touch on these topics.

SALT Galata

For a sort of catch-all museum experience, you might want to give SALT in the Pera region of Istanbul. From the name, it’s no surprise that SALT is in the same vicinity as the iconic Galata Tower. Pera has so many small, unique eateries and pieces of history. If you just want somewhere to chill out, SALT has that. It’s a lovely cafe in an old historic building in one of the most scenic parts of Istanbul.

What makes it so interesting is that this particular building used to be the old central bank in the Ottoman Empire. They have many historic banking memorabilia from Ottoman times. There is a wide selection of books to borrow, read, and buy which makes this place really popular with students and researchers. There is also a gallery that often hosts exhibitions on historical discoveries and artists.

Miniaturk

Are you a fan of miniature models and exhibitions you can walk through? Miniaturk is definitely for you. It is sort of out the way, but the travel is worth it. The easiest way for you to access Miniaturk would be either taxi or trying to include it with your tour guide.

Visitors can explore the wide complex and view miniature remakes of key cultural, historical, and touristic locations of Istanbul, the rest of Turkey, and even international locations. Make sure to pick a day with good weather and you will be able to see miniature models of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, multiple ships and ferries, Pamukkale, and the Ephesus Library.

Dialogue in the Dark

This museum experience has featured in multiple cities around the world, but if you haven’t been yet, why not make some time for it on your Istanbul trip? It is situated very close to a number of large and popular shopping malls.

The Dialogue in the Dark museum relies on a simple concept. Helping people understand and learn about the lives of people who are blind, via direct experience in a safe space. This museum employs blind tour guides to lead visitors through the various exhibits. The rooms are kept in the dark which means you will need to pay attention to your other senses. What can you hear, feel, or even smell? These rooms reflect day-to-day situations that people who are blind find themselves in and are a way of sharing and learning more about each other.

Basalan Istanbul Camera Museum

Unless you’re strictly planning for it, you may not have come across the small town of Balat. It’s in the Fatih district but a little bit further away from the main tourist locations. The downtown artsy vibe as well as all the uniquely coloured buildings make this one of my favourite places to spend an afternoon. You can read more about the Balat area here. You used to have to get a taxi to this region but there is a much more accessible and cheaper alternative thanks to the new T5 Tramline, that you can get from Eminonu.

So what’s so special about Balat? No one thing in particular. The whole area is just a collection of old houses, vintage stores, and cute cafes. All of these have been refurbished and decorated in an individual and colourful way which lends to its artsy and hip vibe. In the middle of it all, you will find the Basalan Istanbul Camera Museum. Like most of the arts shops in Balat, you will find a trendy cafe but there is also an art gallery and library. Of course, the main attraction is the wide variety of specialty and vintage cameras. If cameras and tech is your thing, add Balat and Basalan to your trip plans.

Nakkas Rugs & Nakilbent Cistern

This location combines two things that are very emblematic of a tourist trip to Istanbul. If you’ve been before you may have already gone to the largest cistern in the city; the Basilica Cistern. The enchanting rugs that you see on display in all the bazaars and window fronts are here too. You can learn about the various styles, origins, and production techniques. After that, you can check out the smaller Nakilbent Cistern as well as the exhibits they have there.

This is a perfect place to bring someone who hasn’t had their ‘Istanbul Carpet Dealer Experience’, you know the one I mean. It goes something like this; get invited into the store, go downstairs to their display room, have a free tea, watch them display 20 different carpet designs and sizes, and finally wonder how you can possibly leave without spending any money.

Sadberk Hanım Museum

There is certainly something to be said for private museums. They can host certain items from culture or history that only a family of power or influence could acquire. And when it comes to things like Turkish and Anatolian artefacts, isn’t it better that they are still on Turkish soil than somewhere else?

Travelling to Turkey’s first private museum, we were so impressed by the unique archeological items and cultural clothes on display. It might have been the time of day, but when we went, the entire museum was empty. So we had it all to ourselves! However since the museum is in the Sarıyer area getting there might pose a bit of a challenge. You will either need to take a taxi or be a very clever with your buses and ferries. But both the museum itself, as well as the lovely coastal town, are worth the travel.