Museums to Visit for Free in Istanbul and a Guide to Comfortable Transportation

Istanbul is a metropolis that offers visitors unique experiences with its rich historical and cultural heritage. There are many museums in the city that you can visit for free. You can also evaluate the transportation options in Istanbul and discover the advantages of renting a car with RentiCar . Here is a guide for those who want to discover Istanbul's cultural treasures:

1. Pera Museum

History and Exhibited Works: Opened in 2005, Pera Museum exhibits the collections of the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. The museum hosts contemporary art exhibitions as well as artifacts from the Ottoman period.
Visiting Hours and Free Days: The museum is open to visitors every day of the week except Mondays and can be visited free of charge every Friday between 18.00-22.00 as part of the "Long Friday" program.
You can reach the location by clicking here .

2. Sakıp Sabancı Museum

History and Exhibits: Located in Emirgan, this museum houses Ottoman artworks, calligraphy collections and periodical exhibitions.
Visiting Hours and Free Days: Tuesdays are free for all visitors. 
You can reach the location by clicking here.

3. Salt Galata

History and Exhibited Works: Located in the former Ottoman Bank building, Salt Galata organizes exhibitions, talks and film screenings. It also includes the Ottoman Bank Museum, which houses artifacts from the Ottoman period and modern banking.
Visiting Hours: Saturdays between 12:00-20:00 and Sundays between 12:00-18:00. Entrance is free of charge.
You can reach the location by clicking here.

4. 500th Year Foundation Turkish Jews Museum

History and Exhibits: The museum, which has a rich collection of Jewish culture in Turkey, offers visitors the opportunity to get to know this culture closely.
Visiting Hours: It can be visited between 10.00 - 17.00 every day except Sunday and Monday. 
You can reach the location by clicking here.

5. Istanbul Railway Museum

History and Exhibits: Opened in 2005, the museum exhibits nearly 300 artifacts including railway parts, warning signs, office equipment, license plates, station clock, station bell, photographs and documents.
Visiting Hours: It can be visited between 10.30-15.30 except Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. 
You can reach the location by clicking here.

6. Istanbul Museum of Modern Art

History and Exhibits
Founded in 2004, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is the first modern art museum in Turkey. The museum brings together Turkish and international contemporary artworks and offers a rich collection to art lovers.
Museum collection:
- Modern and contemporary artworks,
- Photo exhibitions,
- Digital art and video installations,
- There are special exhibitions for young artists.
The museum also organizes independent film screenings, art talks and art workshops for children.
Visiting Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday - Wednesday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00
- Thursday: 10:00 - 20:00 (Entrance is free for Turkish citizens)
You can reach the location by clicking here .

7. Hababam Class Museum

History and Exhibits
The Hababam Class Museum is located in the Adile Sultan Pavilion, the location where the Hababam Class movies, one of the unforgettable works of Turkish cinema, were filmed. Adile Sultan Pavilion was built in 1856 by Sultan Abdülaziz for his sister Adile Sultan. Later, in 1899, Adile Sultan donated it to National Education and it was used as a girls' school. In 1986, after a fire, it was restored with the support of businessman Sakıp Sabancı. 
The museum offers visitors a nostalgic experience by preserving the classroom environment where the Hababam Class movies were filmed. The original desks and tables used in the movie, wax sculptures of the actors, movie posters and photographs are exhibited in the classroom. In particular, the scene in which Güdük Necmi is caught by Mahmut Hodja while cheating in the stove is animated with wax sculptures. 
Visiting Hours:
The museum can be visited every day of the week between 09:00 - 17:00. The entrance fee is 3 TL and this fee is taken for the cleaning of the museum. 
You can reach the location by clicking here.

8th Energy Museum (Santral Istanbul)

History and Exhibits
The Energy Museum was created by restoring the Silahtarağa Power Plant, Istanbul's first electricity generation plant. Inaugurated in 1914, this power plant provided electricity to Istanbul until 1983. In 2007, it was converted into a museum by Istanbul Bilgi University and became the first industrial archaeology museum in Turkey. 
The museum displays the original machinery and equipment of the power plant. Visitors can closely examine turbine-generator assemblies from AEG, Brown Boveri, Siemens and Thomson Houston. There are also interactive experiment areas in the museum where visitors can generate their own electrical energy and make batteries and magnetic sculptures. 
Visiting Hours:
The museum can be visited every day of the week between 09:00 - 18:00. Entrance is free of charge.
You can reach the location by clicking here.

9.Istanbul Atatürk Museum

History and Exhibits
Istanbul Atatürk Museum is one of the houses where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lived in Istanbul and has been converted into a museum to keep his memory alive. Located in Şişli, this three-story building is the residence where Atatürk lived with his mother Zübeyde Hanım and sister Makbule Hanım between 1918-1919. On May 16, 1919, he resided in this house before leaving for Samsun.
Purchased in 1928 by the Istanbul Municipality, the building was restored and opened to visitors as the Atatürk Museum on June 15, 1942. The museum was restored in 1962 and 1980 and restored to its present form.
Museum collection;
- Atatürk's personal belongings and clothes,
- Photographs of his military and civilian life,
- Handwritings and official documents,
- Furniture used by Ataturk,
- Newspaper clippings from the period are on display.
Visitors can visit Atatürk's bedroom, study and guest room and closely examine the details of his private life.

Visiting Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday - Friday: 09:00 - 16:00
- Saturday - Sunday: 09:00 - 15:00
- Entrance is free of charge.

You can reach the location by clicking here.

10.Haldun Taner Museum House

History and Exhibits
Haldun Taner Museum House was established by Kadıköy Municipality to keep alive the memory of Haldun Taner, an important name in Turkish theater and literature. Housed in a 117-year-old historical building, the museum exhibits Haldun Taner's personal belongings and examples of his works. The museum also hosts various cultural events. 
Visiting Hours:
The museum is closed on Mondays and Sundays. It can be visited on Tuesdays between 10:00-18:00. 
You can reach the location by clicking here.

Advantages of Renting a Car with RentiCar

- Flexibility: You can move on your own schedule and go where you want, when you want.
- Comfort: You will have a comfortable travel experience away from the crowds of public transportation.
- Economic Solutions: RentiCar offers an economical way to travel by eliminating additional costs such as insurance, damage repair and taxation. 
- Various Vehicle Options: You can choose from different brands and models of vehicles to suit your needs.
- Easy Reservation: You can book your car rental quickly and reliably through the online platform.
In conclusion, free museums are a great starting point for those who want to explore Istanbul's rich cultural heritage. To make this discovery even more enjoyable and practical, you can rent a car with RentiCar and enjoy the city to the fullest.