Museum · Istanbul
İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Istanbul Archaeology Museums website. Official links are under Sources.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Turkish citizens under 18; Turkish citizens aged 65+; foreign children aged 8 and under; visitors with disabilities (Turkish or foreign); Turkish citizens also get one companion free.
- Otherwise: foreign visitors — ₺15.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- It's right next to Topkapı's first courtyard and Gülhane Park - combine them (Topkapı is closed Tuesdays, this museum isn't).
- Don't miss the Alexander Sarcophagus and the Tiled Pavilion.
- Kids 8 and under are free.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree for Turkish citizens under 18 | turkey citizens under 18 | Applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk. Teachers accompanying school groups of this age are also free. | No |
| Free forFree for Turkish citizens aged 65+ | turkey citizens over 65 | Applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk. | No |
| Free forFree for foreign children aged 8 and under | up to 8 | Applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk. (Turkish children are covered by the under-18 rule.) | No |
| Free forFree for visitors with disabilities (Turkish or foreign); Turkish citizens also get one companion free | visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) | Visible disability or disability ID. The free companion right applies only when both the disabled visitor and the companion are Turkish citizens. | No |
Official prices
Istanbul Archaeology Museums ticket prices
| Foreign visitors — Price stated in EUR (€15) in the Ministry tariff (directive PDF, Feb 2026). Turkish ID holders enter with a MüzeKart. | ₺15 |
| Museum Pass İstanbul (5 days, Ministry museums in İstanbul) — Price in EUR; 5 days of entry to Ministry-run museums and sites in İstanbul. | ₺105 |
| Audio guide (electronic guide system) — Price in TRY. | ₺120 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (foreign visitors). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:00–18:30 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:00–18:30 |
| Wed | 09:00–18:30 |
| Thu | 09:00–18:30 |
| Fri | 09:00–18:30 |
| Sat | 09:00–18:30 |
| Sun | 09:00–18:30 |
Closed today (holiday or special closure).
Daily 9am-6:30pm; ticket office closes 5:30pm. Three units: Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Ancient Orient, Tiled Pavilion. Closed for one day on 24 October 2026.
Alemdar Caddesi, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Gülhane, Fatih, İstanbul, Türkiye
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Istanbul Archaeology Museums: common questions
Is Istanbul Archaeology Museums free?
Istanbul Archaeology Museums has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Turkish citizens under 18; Turkish citizens aged 65+; foreign children aged 8 and under; visitors with disabilities (Turkish or foreign); Turkish citizens also get one companion free. Otherwise the official ticket costs ₺15.
Who gets free entry to Istanbul Archaeology Museums?
Turkey citizens under 18 — applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk. Teachers accompanying school groups of this age are also free.. Turkey citizens over 65 — applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk.. Up to 8 — applies during regular hours at Ministry-run museums listed in the directive's annex; not during separately ticketed night-museum hours. Show ID/passport at the ticket desk. (Turkish children are covered by the under-18 rule.). Visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) — visible disability or disability ID. The free companion right applies only when both the disabled visitor and the companion are Turkish citizens..
How much is a ticket to Istanbul Archaeology Museums?
Foreign visitors costs ₺15 on the official site.
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What visitors say about Istanbul Archaeology Museums
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Sources
Where this comes from
- muze.gov.tr/document/bakanlik_yonergesi_tr.pdf · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- muze.gov.tr/muze-detay
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.