Turkey is a beautiful combination of east and west, a mesmerizing mixture of antiquity and modernity. Once known as Constantinople and Byzantium, Turkey is home to a variety of ancient sites and architectural wonders. Turkey, a hub of world history and the home of Turks, is home to a variety of beautiful museums that reflect the country’s past. Turkey appears to be an artistic giant living museum, sheltering the rich culture and heritage of historical characters like the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

Turkey’s museums are among the most remarkable and enchanting globally, covering a rich history. Here is a list of the top 8 museums in Turkey that will offer your eyes classic bliss. So, without wasting time, apply for a turkey visa online now.

1. Hagia Sophia Museum

The Haga Sophia Museum, once a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque, and is now a museum in Istanbul, has long been a popular tourist destination. Haga Sophia, which means “holy wisdom,” is Istanbul’s most famous Museum. The Museum’s antiquity spans a 108-foot dome, and its crown rises 180 feet above the street, with gold, silver, glass, and multicoloured stones adorning its interiors. Built in the 6th century, this historical masterpiece is magnificently packed with 30 million gold tiles, giving the location an exquisite and luminous look and making it one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations.

2. Pera Museum

The Pera is a well-known Istanbul Museum that displays the incredible Turkish painting ‘The Tortoise Trainer by Osman Hamdi Bey, which is also the costly artwork sold. The Pera Museum, once the old Hotel Bristol, is a captivating blend of antique artefacts, traditional and modern art, and masterpiece paintings. The Orientalist paintings, Anatolian Weight and Sizes, and Kütahya tiles and ceramics are among the permanent displays in the Pera Museum, creating an environment that blends Ottoman, Turkish, and Anatolian cultures. Apart from appreciating the Museum’s splendour, visitors may rest while enjoying a drink and a piece of cake in the Pera Museum Café.

3. Anatolian Civilizations Museum

In Turkey’s Anarkali province, the Anatolian Civilization Museum is one of the country’s most renowned museums, with fine artifacts collected from significant archaeological sites in Anatolia. The historic Museum displays heirlooms dating from around 900 years ago to the present day, artifacts from the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras, and Hittite, Urartu, Phrygian, and Roman civilizations.

The Anatolian Civilizations Museum awarded Museum of the Year in 1997, is a history buff’s dream. The Museum’s antique jewellery section is one of the most intriguing parts for visitors.

4. Topkapi Palace Museum

The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, one of Turkey’s most famous museums, was once the residence of Ottoman Sultans. This massive Museum displays a magnificent collection of Ottoman Empire treasures and a vast collection of old books and manuscripts in its library. The Museum’s imperial architecture is striking, and it portrays the life of the Ottomans who once resided here. It consists of four courtyards, each of which had a different purpose: the first served as a public hall for ceremonies, the second as an administrative centre, the third as the Sultan’s private palace, and the fourth as gardens and pavilions.

This Istanbul Museum, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, contains magnificent gold and copper utensils, Chinese and Japanese porcelains, Istanbul glassware and ceramics, European porcelains, a treasury, and much more.

5. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum

The Ephesus Archaeological Museum is an extraordinary archaeological site in Selcuk, Turkey, near the Greek city of Izmir. It is famous for the antique statue of the Greek Goddess Artemis that was retrieved from the Temple of the Goddess, making it one of Turkey’s top tourist destinations. The items unearthed between 1867 and 1905 draw crowds to this Museum throughout the year. Coins, remnants from tombs and structures, sculptures, and other ancient artefacts are all on display in the Museum. There are several galleries, rooms, a museum shop, and a café at the Museum. For a better experience, there is also a 10-minute 3D simulation film where viewers may visualize the ancient past before visiting the galleries.

6. Mevlana Museum

The Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey, was once the house of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a famous poet, philosopher, and religious leader. The Museum’s unique architecture includes a ‘Kubbe-i Hadra’ (Green Dome), supported by four peculiar pillars and gives the mausoleum an elegant appearance. The Museum’s beautiful building is organized into different areas, including chat rooms, Dervish cells, the outdoors, the kitchen, the yard, and the library. Carpets, wooden artworks, books, and other treasures are displayed in the Museum.

The graves of Mevlana’s father, Mevlana, and his other family members may also be found at this Turkey museum. Every year, many people visit the Museum because of its royal ambience.

7. Zeugma Mosaic Museum

Getting lost in the splendour of mosaic is a must among all the exciting things to do in Turkey. The Zeugma Museum Mosaic, which has 1700m 2 mosaics located in Gaziantep, Turkey, is the world’s largest mosaic Museum. The magnificent structure is an architectural masterpiece, showcasing mosaics discovered along the Euphrates River and mosaics from Roman Haman and other areas. The sculpture of Mars, the God of War and Leap, and the mournful expression of the Gypsy Girl mosaic are among the Museum’s most appealing masterpieces. The lovely Museum transports visitors back in time by recreating the ambience of old city life, religion, and culture.

8. Antalya Museum

The Antalya Museum, located in Konyaalti, Antalya, is one of Turkey’s largest museums, with about 5000 works of art exhibited in 13 galleries. The artefacts reflect Anatolia’s entire history. The Heracles statue, removed in two parts, is the most alluring and most splendid of the Museum’s several unique Roman sculptures. Turkish archaeologists at Perge released the bottom part in 1980, and the top half was later discovered in the collection of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The fascinating ambience of the Museum and the magical works of art make it one of Turkey’s most fascinating museums. The Ottoman heirloom collection includes antiques such as weapons, apparel, rugs, and nomadic families’ shelters, all of which will bring the flavours of Ottoman history to life.

Fascinated? Well! Turkey’s museums will make your journey a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Turkey itself appears to be a massive museum, with 99 museums. The pulchritudinous architecture and the intriguing combination of artefacts from many centuries will take you on a thrilling voyage through ancient flavours. Turkey is the finest destination in the world to visit. Apply for a Turkey visa or a turkey e visa, book your Turkey flights now, pack your bags and don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the beautiful ambience of Turkey.