Check when planning a city break and Istanbul the Opening hours the mostimportant points of interest & sights of Istanbul, so that you don't stand in front of closed doors. attractions like Hagia Sophia, the Blaue Moschee, the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Topkapi Palace and its harem, the Spice Bazaar, the Grand Bazaar, the Dolmabahce Palace and the Basilica Cistern have their own closed garden days and slightly different opening times.
See also the list of public, national and religious Holidays in der Turkey. Religious holidays in particular vary from year to year.
Before creating your itinerary, you might also want to check the entrance fees for the main tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Below you will find an overview (in alphabetical order) of what is open when and when.
- Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
Summer: 1. April - 30. October, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Winter: October 31 – March 31 March, open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office: 45 minutes before closing.
- Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
The cistern is currently closed due to renovation work.
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 18:30 p.m.
Closed until 13.00 p.m. on the first day of religious holidays.
- Great Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Çinileri Müzesi)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 19:30 p.m.
winter: 1 November – March 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 17:30 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office: 30 minutes before closing.
Closed on the first day of religious holidays.
- Blue Mosque (Blue camii)
Open daily. Closed to visitors during prayer. Avoid coming 30 minutes. before and 30 minutes after the prayer.
Friday midday prayer lasts about 2 hours. Keep this in mind before planning your visit.
- Çadır Pavilion (Çadır Köşku)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 22:30 p.m. No rest days. - Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayı)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office closes at 17:00 p.m.
Monday, on the 1 January and closed on the first day of religious holidays.
If the number of visitors exceeds the daily limit, the ticket office closes early. - Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (The Egyptian Bazaar)
Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 19:30 p.m., Sundays at 09:30 a.m.
Closed on October 29th and all religious holidays. - Emirgan Park (Emirgan Woods)
Open daily from 07:00 a.m. to 23:00 p.m. - Fethiye Museums (Fethiye Muzesi)
The museum has been closed for renovations since April 2018. - Florya Ataturk Marine Mansion (Florya Ataturk Deniz Kosku)
Open Tuesday – Sunday, between 9am – 00pm, last ticket sale at 18pm.
Closed on Mondays, January 1st and the first day of religious holidays. - Rumelia Fortress (Rumeli Hisari)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 19:30 p.m.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:30 p.m.
Last entry & ticket office: 1 hour before closing.
Closed on Monday. On the first day of religious holidays, the fortress opens at 13:00 p.m. - Fortress of the Seven Towers (Yedikule Hisarı)
Currently only open to Turkish citizens after online reservation. - Galataturm (Galata kulesi)
Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to midnight. Last entry at 00pm. - Grand Bazaar (Grand Bazaar)
Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and all religious holidays. - Hagia Irene
Summer: April 1 – October 2, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:45 p.m.
Winter: October 2 – April 1, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 16:45 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office: 45 minutes before closing.
Closed on Tuesdays January 1st and the first day of religious holidays . - Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya muzesi)
Open daily. Closed to visitors during prayer. Avoid coming 30 minutes. before and 30 minutes after the prayer.
Friday midday prayer lasts about 2 hours. Keep this in mind before planning your visit. - harem (harem)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Last admission and ticket office closes at 17:00 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays, 1 January and the first day of religious holidays. - Imperial Porcelain Factory (Yıldız Porselen Fabrikası)
Open daily Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Closed on all official and religious holidays. - Istanbul Akvaryum
Open on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Open on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.
No rest days.
The aquarium may open later than usual on the first day of religious holidays. - İstanbul Modern
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Open on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Monday, on the 1 Closed on January XNUMXst and the first day of religious holidays. - Kariye Museum (Kariye Muzesi)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 19:00 p.m.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 17:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office: 30 minutes before closing.
The museum opens on the first day of religious holidays in the afternoon. - LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office closes at 17:15 p.m
Opens on the first day of religious holidays LEGOLAND at 13:00 p.m. - Madame Tussauds
Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office closes at 19:00 p.m.
On the first day of religious holidays, the museum opens at 13:00 p.m. - Malta Pavilion (Malta Köşku)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 23:00 p.m.
No rest days - Miniatürk
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
No rest days - Naval or Maritime Museum
Open daily from 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m.
Open Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Last entry is 16pm on weekdays and 00pm on weekends and public holidays.
Closed on Mondays, January 1st and the first days of religious holidays. - Pear Museum
Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Open on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m.
Open on Sunday from 12:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Monday, on the 1 January and closed on the first day of religious holidays. - Sea Life and Istanbul
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office close: 19:00 p.m.
On the first day of religious holidays and special days like January 1st, Sea Life opens at 12pm. - Suleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Closed during prayer. - Topkapi Palace (Topkapi palace)
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Last admission & ticket office closes at 17:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, January 1st and the first day of religious holidays closed . - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (Turk Islam Eserleri Muzesi)
Summer: April 1 – October 31, open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 17:00 p.m.
Winter: November 1 – March 31, open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 17:30 p.m.
Last entry & ticket office: 1 hour before closing.
On the first day of religious holidays, the museum opens at 13:00 p.m. - tunnel
Open Monday – Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 22:45 p.m.
Open Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 22:45 p.m.
No rest days - Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı)
Currently closed for renovations. - Yildiz Park (Yildiz Korusu)
Open daily from 09:00 a.m. to 22:30 p.m.
No rest days.
Note: Due to the corona pandemic, the opening times may vary.
