Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is a museum located in Sultanahmet Square, just opposite the Blue Mosque. At first, the museum building was the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, who was the first grand vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent. After the proclamation of the Turkish Republic, it started to serve as a museum.
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is the first museum covering Turkish and Islamic art collections in Turkey. Its major sections are the Wood Works Department, Department of Ethnography, Stone Art Section, Department of Ceramic and Glass, Metal Art Department, Department of Carpet, and Department of Manuscripts and Calligraphy.
These exhibitions display Turkish history, ranging from earlier periods beginning in the 8th century, through the Seljuk period (11th to 13th centuries), to the Ottoman era (14th to 20th centuries). Especially the Carpet Department is unique, with Seljuk carpets.
In addition, it has a courtyard where you can relax and drink Turkish coffee with the view of Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapı Palace.
Opening Hours: 09:00–17:30 (summer and winter). Closed Mondays. Last admission 17:00.
Admission: Approximately 250 TL (updated from older pricing). Museum Pass Istanbul is accepted. Free for children under 12 and Turkish citizens over 65.
Best time to visit: Weekday afternoons (14:00–16:00) are quietest. The museum is much less crowded than Hagia Sophia or Topkapı — you can often have entire rooms to yourself. The courtyard is best in late afternoon when the sun hits the Blue Mosque.
How much time to spend: 1-1.5 hours to see all collections thoroughly.
Getting there: T1 tram to Sultanahmet stop. The museum is directly opposite the Blue Mosque's western wall, 3 minutes walk from the tram stop. Also a 10-minute walk from Hagia Sophia or Topkapı Palace.
Photography: Allowed without flash in most sections. Flash is prohibited and can damage fragile textiles and manuscripts.
Carpet Department: The museum holds the world's most important collection of Seljuk carpets (13th-14th centuries). These are some of the earliest surviving knotted carpets from the Islamic world.
Manuscripts and Calligraphy Department: Houses over 17,000 manuscripts, including Qur'ans from the 8th to 20th centuries. /p>
Wood Works Department: Features Seljuk and Ottoman carved wooden doors, minbars (pulpits), and Koran boxes.
Ceramic and Glass Department: İznik, Kütahya, and Çanakkale ceramics from the 14th to 19th centuries.
Ethnography Department: Displays traditional Turkish clothing, jewelry, bridal chambers, coffee culture.
Metal Art Department: Ottoman silver and copperware, Seljuk brass candlesticks, and instruments used for navigation.
Ibrahim Pasha was the Grand Vizier (prime minister) to Süleyman the Magnificent for 13 years (1523-1536). He was married to Süleyman's sister, Hatice Sultan, and his palace was one of the largest private residences in the Ottoman Empire. Ibrahim Pasha became extremely powerful but fell out of favor and was executed in this palace on the night of March 15, 1536. The building later served as a courthouse, a prison, and a registry office before becoming a museum in 1983.