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When planning a city trip to Istanbul, you may want to take a look at the opening hours of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions so you don’t find yourself standing in front of a closed door.
Sightseeing spots such as the Haghia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace and its Harem, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace and the Basilica Cistern all have their own closing days and slightly different operating hours.
Please note that NOR stands for National, Official and Religious holidays. When mentioned, the place of interest is closed on national and official holidays, and is either closed or has deviating opening hours during the first day of a religious holiday.
Below you’ll find an overview (in alphabetical order) of what is open when and how long.
- Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 19.00, no entrance after 18.00
Closed: on Monday & NOR - Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.30 in summer, till 18.30 in winter
Closed: no closing days - Big Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Çinileri Müzesi)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: on Monday & NOR - Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Open: daily from the first prayer to the last prayer.
Closed: during prayer time - Çadır Pavilion (Çadır Köşkü)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 21.00
Closed: no closing days - Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: Monday, Thursday & NOR - Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Open: daily from 08.00 - 19.30
Closed: on Sunday, October 29th and the full duration of religious holidays - Fethiye Museum (Fethiye Müzesi)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: on Wednesday & NOR - Fortress of Europe (Rumeli Hisarı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00, no entrance after 16.30
Closed: on Wednesday & NOR - Fortress of Seven Towers (Yedikule Hisarı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 18.30
Closed: no closing days - Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 20.00
Closed: no closing days - Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
Open: daily from 08.30 - 19.00
Closed: on Sunday, October 29th and the full duration of religious holidays - Haghia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: on Tuesday & NOR - Harem (Harem)
Open: daily from 09.30 - 17.00, lunch break from 12.00 - 12.30
Closed: on Tuesday & NOR - Imperial Porcelain Factory (Yıldız Porselen Fabrikası)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 12.00 and 13.00 - 17.00
Closed: Saturday, Sunday & NOR - Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: on Wednesday & NOR - Malta Pavilion (Malta Köşkü)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 23.00
Closed: no closing days - Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
Open: daily from the first to the last prayer, tombs from 09.00 - 16.30
Closed: during prayer time
Note: due to restoration, till 2010 only a small part of the mosque is open - Şale Pavilion (Şale Köşkü)
Open: daily from 09.30 - 17.00
Closed: on Monday, Thursday & NOR - Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 17.00
Closed: on Tuesday & NOR - Turkish & Islamic Art Museum (Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi)
Open: daily from 09.30 - 16.30
Closed: on Monday & NOR - Tünel (Tünel)
Open: daily from 07.00 - 21.00
Closed: no closing days - Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı)
Open: daily from 09.00 - 16.00
Closed: on Tuesday & NOR
