The Archaeology Museums: Thousands of Years with an Expert

Istanbul has a museum that tells thousands of years of world history through love and war, victory and defeat: through human stories. The Istanbul Archaeology Museums, made up of the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Kiosk, hold close to a million objects and form Türkiye’s first museum.

Designed by the architect Alexandre Vallaury and filled through the efforts of Osman Hamdi Bey with finds from across the Ottoman lands, the museum is explored with our guide and an expert archaeologist. We look at the Alexander Sarcophagus, Sappho, one of the earliest known women poets, the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology and the layers of ancient Troy, each through its story.

For international guests the tour runs privately on request, in English or Turkish, with our guide and an expert archaeologist: €250 per group (up to 30 guests). About 6 hours of visiting plus a 1-hour break; children up to 12 free; museum entry not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.