We all know that life in a big city is a constant struggle to make ends meet and save some money if possible. Between the money spent on transportation, food, rent and other essentials, almost everyone prefers leisure and personal activities to be as cheap as possible. Fortunately, Istanbul has recognized this potential problem for us art and history lovers, and has managed to solve it by offering a wide range of free museums to visit throughout the city. With variations on the types of museums and locations, Istanbul provides free cultural and historical experiences in everyone's back yard. Here is a list of just a few of the free or inexpensive museums this great city has to offer.
Türkiye İş Bank Museum
Hobyar Mah. Bankacılar Cad. No: 2, Bahçekapı, Eminönü
0212 5111331
Visiting Hours: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday), closed Monday
Cost: Free for everyone
Türkiye İş Bank Museum, also known as Türkiye İş Bankası Müzesi, is a museum that adds both color and history to Eminönü. İş Bank Museum is dedicated to the first public bank in Turkey, which was founded in 1924. The building that houses the museum dates back to 1892 when the structure was used as a post office before it was transformed into the bank and then the museum. Work to convert the bank into a museum started in 2005. During the process, the original furniture of the bank was kept intact, and the various rooms used for archives were restored. The museum also contains objects, documents and photos from the banks history and services.
Florence Nightingale Museum
Selimiye Kışlası, Üsküdar
0216 3437310
Visiting Hours: Only with reservations on weekdays
Cost: Free for everyone
This museum located in Üsküdar is dedicated to the legendary Florence Nightingale, also known as the "Lady with the Lamp." It follows the story of the English nurse from her childhood up to her contributions during the Crimean War. The museum itself was established in 1954 and is located in the northwestern wing of the military hospital where Florence Nightingale served during the Crimean War. The museum displays her personal effects, photos, her famous lamp, the jewelry and bracelets Sultan Abdülmecid gave her, along with many other details and items concerning to her life and career.
Hilmi Nakipoğlu Camera Museum
Nefus Nakipoğlu School for the Mentally Disabled, 4th Floor, Osmaniye St. No: 18/B, Bakırköy
0212 5430920
Visiting Hours: 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Monday-Saturday), closed Sunday
Cost: Free for everyone
Also known as the Hilmi Nakipoğlu Fotoğraf Makineleri Müzesi, the camera museum is located in Bakırköy. It holds the camera collection of Hilmi Nakipoğlu and is the first and only camera museum in Turkey. Mr. Nakipoğlu was a self-taught photographer as well as a camera collector who had a keen eye for rare and old cameras. He collected cameras of all shapes and sizes for over 30 years, amassing a collection of more than 900 cameras, all of which are on display in the museum. The museum also displays a collection of photos and camera accessories. The collection starts off with cameras made in 1896 and displays models up until present day ranging in brand and size. These cameras include portable and non-portable studio cameras, spy cameras, mini cameras, cameras that use Leica films, Polaroid cameras and many more.
Bakırköy Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Museum
Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Hospital
Zuhuratbaba Mah. Dr. Tevfik Sağlam St. No: 25/2 Bakırköy
0212 5436565
Visiting Hours: 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on weekdays
Cost: Free for everyone
This museum is dedicated to the famous hospital that shares the same name as the museum. The museum places great importance on the values of psychiatry, neurology and mental health, and aims to pass down this cultural legacy to new generations working in the same field. The museum is a time capsule that demonstrates the scientific and historical progress of the hospital based on documents and registries. On display in the museum are surgery journals belonging to Dr. Mahzar Osman, the founder of the museum itself. The museum was established to shed light on the works and studies of the time, with visual and written documents, and functions as a valuable source of information for medical and health practices in Turkey.
A museum of contemporary art in Beyoğlu, otherwise known simply as Istanbul Modern, this is one of the most well-known art museums in the city. It is said that this project was initially inspired by the first International Contemporary Art Exhibition in 1987, known today as the International Istanbul Biennial. The building that is now home to the museum used to serve as a textile manufacturing plant during the 19th century. The warehouse was later transformed into a museum, and Istanbul Modern displays exhibitions on two floors. The top floor includes the museum's permanent collection, with a wide range of different pieces, a shop and a restaurant. The bottom floor houses temporary exhibitions along with a cinema and an arts library open to all.
For more free museums you can visit all over the city, visit www.istanbul.gov.tr
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
