Top Rated Attractions in Istanbul

The Pera Museum was founded in 2005 as an initiative by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. Located in what was formerly Hotel Bristol, the refurbished space retains it Ottoman Greek architecture. It houses three permanent collections and a myriad of rotating exhibitions as a platform for emerging and established artists. Endowed by the industrialist Rahmi Koc and his descendants, it is a treasure trove of the wealthy family's inventory of culturally-significant Turkish works. It features handwritten Ottoman-era publications, Byzantine works, and a stunning book selection. With a host of cultural events and collaborations, this is a great place to soak in the country's culture.

Set against a majestic backdrop of distant hilltops and timber-clad houses, the magnificent Chora Church is a vestige of the 4th Century. A moving escape into the country’s historic and religious nuances, the church was revamped in the coming centuries, only to be converted into a mosque, and subsequently, the Kariye Museum. Enclosed within the sturdy fabric of the ancient Theodosian Walls, the church-museum is a rich - and often, astounding - repository of Byzantine artwork. The museum is distinctly demarcated into a tapestry of sections, each with an appeal which is distinctively its own. The building's unusual design consists of a string of domes, numerous windows and arches, reflecting the beautiful quintessence of Byzantine architecture. The museum is essentially characterized by a wealth of mosaics, frescoes and medieval paintings, which serve as vibrant windows into the Old Testament, chronicling scenes like the ‘Virgin and Angels Praying’, the ‘Inquiry of King Herod’, the ‘Journey of the Magi’ and ‘Journey to Bethlehem’, among many others. Ancient and relatively less-frequented, the iconic Chora Church is a remarkable crowned jewel of Turkey.

Resting on a peninsular hilltop in Istanbul with sweeping views of the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus strait, the grand Topkapı Sarayı was once the exalted seat of the Ottoman sultans. The palatial structure was built at the behest of Sultan Mehmet II in 1453, in the wake of the Conquest of Constantinople. From the 15th to the 19th Century, the palace was the cornerstone of the Ottoman Empire, until its gradual decline in the later years, when its power was relinquished to the newer Dolmabahce Palace on the Turkish waterfront. As is the case with any palatial residence, the Topkapi also underwent a slew of additions and renovations as various sultans reigned over the city over a 400-year-old span, but the core architectural form of the palace remained predominantly Middle Eastern. When the sun set on the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the palace was promptly converted into a museum by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The essence of this bygone empire still lingers in various corners of the palace's chambers, its treasury, and its imperial harems. Several items from the peak of the Ottoman Empire adorn the museum today, from illuminated manuscripts and age-old weaponry, to diamonds and intricate miniatures. The Topkapı Sarayı Museum is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul.

Founded by Sakip Sabanci and managed by the Sakip Sabanci University , this private museum houses an extensive collection of Ottoman paintings, important documents and calligraphic works. It hosts various lectures, workshops and exhibitions from time to time and gained immense popularity with its display of Auguste Rodin and Pablo Picasso's works. The in-house restaurant , Müzedechanga , is popular for dishing out mouthwatering international delicacies. Open on all days except Mondays.

A truly unique museum experience, Masumiyet Muzesi (The Museum of Innocence) is based on the Nobel Prize-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk's book by the same name. In the novel, the main character collects artifacts from the time he spent with an unrequited love starting in 1975 and creates a "museum of innocence." At the real museum, there are artifacts from the novel's time period, as well as objects described in the novel, blurring the lines between history and art. Copies of the novel were printed with tickets to the museum in the back of and you can use it as a ticket to the actual museum.

Proje 4L/Elgiz Çağdaş Sanat Müzesi is a private collection museum founded by Sevda and Can Elgiz.Promoters of contemporary art, most of the collections here consist of talented contemporary Turkish artists' works as well as works from European artists. Apart form its permanent exhibits, the museum also hosts regular exhibits that feature works by renowned artists from across the globe.