In a city where every stone has a story to tell, the Museum Pass Istanbul is your golden key to unlocking centuries of history without the hassle of long ticket lines. From the opulent halls of Topkapi Palace to the panoramic heights of Galata Tower, this pass connects you to the very heart of Istanbul’s cultural heritage.
As a licensed tour guide who has spent over two decades leading travelers through Istanbul’s labyrinth of palaces, mosques, and ancient streets, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable this card can be. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about saving time and energy for what truly matters: immersing yourself in the city’s treasures.
Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of sultans, admiring Byzantine mosaics, or wandering through Ottoman courtyards, the Museum Pass gives you the freedom to explore at your own rhythm. In this updated 2025 guide, I’ll share the current prices, included museums, insider tips, and practical advice to help you decide if this pass is the right choice for your trip.
Museum Pass Istanbul 2025 Visitor Summary
Below you can find the Museum Pass Istanbul visitor summary updated for 2025, including prices, validity period, and usage details.
• Price: 105 Euros
• Validity: 5 consecutive days (starting from first use)
• Coverage: 30+ museums operated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Istanbul
• Best For: Visitors planning to see 4 or more paid museums
• Where to Buy: Online, museum ticket offices, or authorized sales points
• Skip-the-line: Yes at participating museums
• Not Included: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace
• Last Updated: August 2025
Museum Pass Istanbul 2025
In the following lines, I answered the most frequently asked questions about Istanbul Museum Pass in 2025 under 12 headings. Since I am a tour guide living in Istanbul, I know the topics that foreign visitors are most curious about, and I wrote this article in detail to answer frequently asked questions.
If you cannot find what you are looking for in the article, you can write in the comments. I reply to comments within a reasonable timeframe. I should also note that questions asked about the information already in the article will remain unanswered.
1. Istanbul Museum Pass Worth It?
If you are going to visit Istanbul museums in detail, Istanbul Museum Pass is definitely worth the money. However, do not forget that you should visit at least 4 or 5 museums with all sections. Especially Topkapi Palace has three separate sections and Museum Pass is valid in all of them. Even in this museum alone, you get a significant part of your money back.
In my opinion, Museum Pass Istanbul is worth buying just to avoid waiting in line at ticket offices. Because waiting for a long time at museum entrances can ruin your day. For this reason, the museum card can be bought even for fast track advantage.
2. Museum Pass Istanbul Price in 2025
Museum Pass Istanbul price is 105 Euros as of 2025. Museum card prices were in Turkish Lira until this year, but now they are sold in Euro. Similarly, most of the museums in Istanbul now sell tickets in Euros.
Children under 8 years old are admitted free of charge to the museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Istanbul. However, you must still go to the ticket office to obtain a free child entry ticket, and proof of age (e.g., a passport) is typically required. To avoid waiting in long queues during peak seasons, it may be worth considering purchasing a Museum Pass for children as well.
Tip: In some cases—if a child’s age is clearly below 8—museum staff have allowed entry together with parents through the turnstile, without issuing a separate ticket. This is not guaranteed, as it depends entirely on the discretion of the attendant and the crowd level at the time.
3. How to Use the Museum Pass?
Once the card is activated, you can use the Museum Pass Istanbul for 5 days, or 120 hours. The museum card is valid in all Istanbul museums that I have listed below. However, there are some exceptions, so it may be useful to read the article until the end.
The museum card is a plastic tool just like a credit card and it’s very easy to carry. You can activate it in turnstiles at museum entrances. Additionally, those who purchase the museum card online can also enter the museums with a QR code.
4. What’s Included in the Istanbul Museum Pass (2025)
You can find the list of museums included in the Istanbul Museum Pass below. You can find much more detailed information about each of these museums by clicking the links.
- Topkapi Palace Museum (including Hagia Irene Church and Harem)
- Istanbul Archaeological Museum (Inside Topkapi Palace Complex)
- Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (Near Hippodrome)
- History of Islamic Science and Technology Museum (within Gulhane Park)
- Great Palace Mosaic Museum (Byzantine Palace Mosaics – Near Blue Mosque)
- Galata Tower (Near Taksim Square)
- Rumeli Hisarı Fortress (Citadel at the Bosphorus)
- Galata Mevlevi House Museum (Whirling Dervishes Museum – in Galata)
- Adam Mickiewicz Museum (In Beyoglu near Taksim Square)
Don’t be surprised when you don’t see Hagia Sophia in the list below. Because Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque in 2020 and entrance for prayer purposes is free for Muslim tourists.
You can see the Byzantine mosaics in the upper floor galleries by purchasing a ticket for 25 Euros. However, unfortunately, Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid in the museum section of Hagia Sophia.
5. How to Cover the Cost of The Card?
To make the Museum Pass worth its price, you’ll need to visit several of the museums it covers. Below is a sample itinerary showing how you can easily match — and even exceed — the card’s value by visiting some of Istanbul’s most popular attractions.
For example, Topkapi Palace is a large complex with multiple sections. The combined ticket, which includes the four main courtyards, the Harem Rooms, and Hagia Irene Church, costs around 2,400 TL (≈ €50).
That’s nearly half of the €105 Museum Pass price covered already. Add the Istanbul Archaeology Museums (€15), the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (€17), and Galata Tower (€30), and your total comes to €112 — more than the cost of the card.
6. Three Alternative Museum Cards
There are three more museum cards offered by private companies in Istanbul as alternatives to the official museum pass. The alternative passes, listed from oldest to newest, are Istanbul Tourist Pass and Istanbul E-Pass and Istanbul MegaPass.
Istanbul Tourist Pass
The oldest and most recognized private city pass in Istanbul, offering instant digital activation and access to 100+ attractions, tours, and experiences. Includes fast-track or guided entry to highlights like Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and Dolmabahce Palace, plus Bosphorus cruises and cultural shows. Some attractions require meeting at a set time for guided access.
Explore Istanbul with ease
Get instant access to over 100 attractions, guided tours, and cultural experiences with the Istanbul Tourist Pass. Perfect for skipping ticket lines and making the most of your time in the city.
Book your Istanbul Tourist Pass here
Istanbul E-Pass
Available in 2, 3, 5, or 7-day options, covering over 60 museums and activities. Offers guided tours for top sites and a “savings guarantee” if you visit fewer places than expected. Activation can be postponed for up to 2 years after purchase. Check details for attractions like Hagia Sophia, which may not include full interior tickets.
Discover more of Istanbul
Enjoy entry to 60+ attractions, guided tours, and skip-the-line access with the Istanbul E-Pass. A smart choice for seeing the city’s highlights without the wait.
Book your Istanbul E-Pass here
Istanbul MegaPass
Sold in tiered packages (Classic, Premium, Deluxe) combining fast-track entry to major landmarks with guided tours and extra experiences. Coverage and pricing vary by package — always review the official comparison chart before buying.
See it all with one pass
Explore top attractions, enjoy scenic cruises, and benefit from included transportation with the Istanbul MegaPass. A convenient way to experience the best of the city in one package.
Book your Istanbul MegaPass here
7. Fast Track Guided Tour Tickets
If you prefer not to buy the Museum Pass, you can still visit Istanbul’s top attractions with skip-the-line guided tour tickets. These options are slightly more expensive than standard entry fees but save valuable time, especially during peak season.
- Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket – Includes guided entry to the upper galleries and Byzantine mosaics.
- Topkapi Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket – Covers the main courtyards, Harem, and Hagia Irene Church.
- Basilica Cistern Fast-Track Ticket – Explore the atmospheric underground water reservoir with priority access.
- Dolmabahce Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket – Includes the main palace and Harem section.
With these guided tickets, you meet your guide at the entrance and enter directly with the group, avoiding long queues at the ticket counters.
8. Be aware of the Security Queues!
The museum card saves you from waiting in line to buy tickets. However, this does not mean that you will enter the museum without waiting. In most museums, there is a security queue after passing the ticket offices.
You leave your bag on the x ray machine before you scan your ticket and pass through the turnstiles. Security checks take time due to crowds during the tourist season, and even if you own a museum pass, you may have to wait here.
9. Istanbul Museum Opening Days & Weekly Closures
When planning your museum visits in Istanbul, it’s important to know which days certain attractions are closed. Most museums close one day a week, usually on different days. Here’s a quick reference for the city’s most popular sites:
- Galata Tower – Open every day
- Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum – Open every day
- Istanbul Archaeological Museums – Open every day
- Dolmabahce Palace – Closed on Monday
- Topkapi Palace – Closed on Tuesday
- Great Palace Mosaic Museum – Open every day
- Adam Mickiewicz Museum – Open every day
Tip: Always double-check official websites for seasonal changes or special holiday closures before your visit.
10. The Pass is not Valid in These Places
Unfortunately, Istanbul Museum Pass is not valid in some of Istanbul’s popular museums. Because those museums are operated by different government institutions. The Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace are among the museums where the museum card is not valid.
11. Where to Purchase the Museum Pass?
You can purchase the Istanbul Museum Pass from the museums listed below. You don’t need a passport when buying a card. However, do not forget to carry the passport copies of your little children with free entrance to the museums. Children under 8 years old can enter the museums free of charge. However, you will be asked to prove the kid’s age with the passport.
- Topkapi Palace Museum
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Istanbul Archaeological Museums
- Great Palace Mosaics Museum
If you want to buy the museum card online, you can access the official website from this link. The mobile version of the card can be purchased via that link. This way, you can enter museums by showing your QR code.
12. Istanbul Museum Pass Map
You can see the map showing the locations of the museums you can visit when you get the Museum Pass. I did not load it in full screen to avoid slowing down the page opening speed.
In order to find the Istanbul Museum Pass map as a PDF file, you can check Istanbul Tourist Attractions Map blog post. In this article I recommend, you can find images and explanations about all the tourist places in Istanbul.
Written by Serhat Engul
Thank tou so much for this article!!!
Hi Maria, you are welcome. Thanks for the feedback!
Hi from Toronto Canada,
I really don’t understand what do you mean by Museum Pass is valid only 5 days or 120 hours.
So how should I start using the card.
Thanks
Hi Abdul, the Museum Pass is active from the first use. In other words, the card will be valid for 120 hours from the moment you use it on the turnstiles in the first museum you visit.
There is no discount for Bosphorus Cruise, updated Jan 2, 2020.
Hi Grine, thanks for your contribution. I will confirm and update. Sometimes there are changes that we are not aware of, and unfortunately the Museum Pass’s official website is not informative enough.
Hi Serhat,
Do you have a brasilian discount for students ?
What the best pass or card for Brasilian Studentes
How Much this card for May 2020?
Thanks Lili
Hi Lilian, I do not sell this product. I just explained the details about it. The places that you can buy the card and its current price is noted in the article. I do not think there is any discount for foreign students.
Hi Serhat
I just had a look here (https://millisaraylar.gov.tr/en/visiting-information) to check the fees for some palaces and it’s quite confusing: it says that the museum pass is valid in all palaces affiliated to the national directorate of palaces, but it says also says that the museum card is not valid for the harem in topkapi palace. Do you have any explanation?
thanks for your help
Hello Olfa, there is a product called Muzekart for Turks. According to the latest change, Muzekart is now valid in Dolmabahce Palace. However, I do not think that the Museum Pass card designed for foreign visitors is valid at Dolmabahce Palace. Someone copied the English version of the change, which was noted on the Turkish page there, but the details have nothing to do with the Museum Pass. The Museum Pass is already valid in the Harem section of Topkapi Palace and Hagia Eirene. However, the Muzekart given to the Turks is not valid. the contradiction within the article itself stems from this. I will update the post if there will be a change for Museum Pass.
Hi Serhat
I have read all the posts and your informative replies. Just to clear myself. Do we have to pay any ticket or entry fee for the listed places once we buy the Istanbul Museum Pass?
This pass includes the entry/ticket fee Plus refraining ourselves from standing in lines. Correct ?
Hi Sultan, this post is written to answer this question. The answer is “YES” with some considerations and they are noted in the post.
Hello, do you know if tourists in a wheelchair with helper have discounts and do they have to stand in queues?
Hi Lukasz, when you contact the security at the entrance of the museums, they can help you get through the security queues quickly. However, I do not know whether a discount is provided in your case.
Hi Serhat,
While I tried to order Museum pass from official link I found this
“The cards are shipped in 1 week. On Saturdays-Sundays and the official holidays is not counted as a workday in the museum card sales system and there is no museum card delivery on these days. E-Tickets will reach your e-mail address after you complete the order.”
As we will be there on Sat, will the e-tickets work as same as card? Also, I assume the pass is personal means every member has to buy one, right?
Thanks
Sofia
Hi Sofia yes Museum Pass is something personal. Everyone has to get a separate one for themselves. In addition, as far as I know, the digital museum pass can be used without any problems via QR code. The turnstiles at the museum entrances can read the codes from the phone. I don’t know anything about shipping.
Hello Sehat, Very informative articles, I am a Professor at Oyzegin University and have a work permit, I have my wife and mother on a short-term resident permit card. My brother and his family are visiting us during Bayram, they are from India, so I need to buy Museum Pass for all or whether I can get a discount as a teacher and what about my mother and wife, which card I should buy for them and for me?
Dear Abrarali Saiyed, the relatively cheap muzekart is only given to Turkish citizens. For this reason, anyone who does not have a Turkish ID has to get a Museum Pass.
The price of the Museum Pass is currently 360 Turkish Liras. I think it’s a pretty reasonable price. Because the price of the combined ticket, which includes Topkapi Palace and its extensions, Hagia Irene and Harem Rooms, is 285 TL.
Then, when you visit the Istanbul Archeology Museum, the money of the card is already covered. Moreover, you do not have to wait in line anywhere. (Because even if you buy discounted tickets for teachers, you will wait in line.)
My advice to you is to get the Museum Pass for all family members. Thus, you can go directly to the turnstiles at the museum entrances without waiting.
Merhaba,
This is Robert from Poland.
I have just received such a reply from official website:
“The Museum Pass card is not valid for the Harem and Hagia Eirene in Topkapi Palace. For detailed information about ticket prices, you can visit our website.”
So with the Museum Pass Türkiye or Museum Pass İstanbul I need to buy a ticket for Topkapi or just for the Harem and Hagia Irene ?
Regards
Hello, frankly, I did not quite understand what they were talking about. I think the respondent confused the Museum Pass, which is sold for foreigners, with the Muze Kart, which is given to Turkish citizens.
Because the Museum Pass, which is sold for 550 TL for foreigners, includes Topkapi Palace and its Harem Rooms. You can also visit the Hagia Irene Museum in the first courtyard of the palace with the same card.
On the other hand, the cheap Muze Kart, which only local citizens can buy, covers the main courtyards of the palace, but not the Harem rooms. And in addition, it does not apply to the Hagia Irene Museum.
The Museum Pass Istanbul or Museum Pass Turkey, which can be purchased by those who do not have a Turkish identity card, includes all the extensions inside the Topkapi Palace.
The Museum Pass not only includes the Topkapi Palace, the Harem Rooms and Hagia Irene, but also includes the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the Museum of The History of Science in Islam, all within the palace walls.
Hello,
I”m Iustin from Romania. Can I receive the museum pass in my country and how? On their website is not very clear. My phone number from Romania is not accepted to purchase the pass.
Hi Justin, frankly, I don’t know if there is international shipping for the Museum Pass. I think you don’t need to deal with shipping issues for something as simple as buying a Museum card.
When you arrive in Istanbul, you can buy your museum card in 5 minutes from the box office of a relatively quiet museum such as the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Great Palace Mosaics Museum or the Istanbul Archeology Museum.
On the other hand, if you buy the Museum Pass from a very busy place such as Topkapi Palace, you will likely have to wait in line. I think now the museum pass can be purchased online and used over the phone via QR code.
Thank you brother Serhat for taking your personal time to help and give such good advice, may god bless you!
Hi Farook, thank you very much for the feedback. When I see such sincere thanks, I realize once again that I am wasting my time for something useful.
Are there any discounts for people over 65 years of age?
Public transportation is free for Turkish citizens over the age of 65 (only if they show a Turkish ID). But I don’t think there is such a privilege for foreigners. In addition, you have to pay the standard price when purchasing Istanbulkart.
Greetings Serhat Engul,
Your portal is very informative and amazing. My wife and me will be visiting istanbul and some other cities this December. We are excited and looking forward to explore this historical & exciting country.. Best regards.
Dear Zainudin, Thank you for sharing your feelings. I hope you have a nice holiday in Turkey.
Thank you for the detailed information. This is what I was looking for.
Could you please advice how many times we can enter one place with a Museum Pass?
Best regards,
Julie
Hello Julie,
The Museum Pass grants only one entry to each museum. When you use the Museum Pass at the turnstiles of a museum, you cannot enter a second time, even on the same day.
Hi Serhat,
I am so so glad that I found your blog! So informative.
I will contact you soon for a tour.
Regards,
Jasvin
Hi Jasvin,
Thank you for your feedback on the blog. I wish you a nice trip in Istanbul!
Kind regards,
Serhat
Hi! I will be visiting Istanbul for the 5th time in April and while doing some extra research found your blog. Thank you for providing such detailed and useful information. Great job!
Hi Joy. Thank you very much for your kind review. I wish you a nice trip in Istanbul!
Museum Pass Istanbul price is 1750 Turkish Liras since 1st April 2023 🙁
Hi Piotr , thanks for the update on the Museum Pass price. The new pricing seems a little too high. I couldn’t understand the logic. I will update the article as soon as possible.
Hello, thank you for this detailed guide. I have a question. I bought a musueum pass for istanbul in June 2022 but i couldn’t travel to istanbul. Can I still use it in April 2023?
Hello Dina, frankly I can’t give a definitive answer on this. Normally, the Museum Pass can be used after being activated at the entrance of one of the museums in Istanbul.
Since you have never activated your card, it should work at the turnstiles at the entrance of the museums. However, the cards for 2022 may have been canceled because their time has expired.
Good god exactly a year ago we paid 360. Now we are stopping to Istanbul for a few days but decided not not buy it again, still gonna visit some individual museums
Hello Stergios, yes, unfortunately, the price of everything has been rising rapidly in Turkey since the pandemic. As someone who keeps the information in my articles up to date, I can no longer keep up with the changes in museum entrance prices.
Much appreciated all you work, it made our last trip a lot easier when we first visited Istanbul. I think individual museum passes for domestic visitors are still 4-5 times cheaper. I get it to be fair, but milking foreigners in such a plainly obvious way is too much.
Hi Stergios, yes you are right Muzekart designed for locals is much cheaper. The price policy of museums took an interesting turn after the rapid increase in inflation. It seems like it will take a long time for the valuation to stabilize.
Hi we have time only for a day of sighseeing in the main historical area. Is it worth buying a pass for these sites knowing most of them are for several days? Is there one just for one day?
Hello Steven, I don’t think a Museum Pass is necessary for someone who is only going to spend one day on a cultural tour in Istanbul. You can read the relevant price comparison in the article. There is no one-day pass.
Your column is very helpful. How bad are the ticket lines during the last week in October? We may not have time to visit enough museums to make the Museum card pay off, but if the lines are really long it may be worth paying more for the card.
Hello Linda, October is a very busy period for Istanbul. For this reason, there may be long queues at the museum entrances even at the end of October.
However, I would like to remind you that purchasing a Museum Pass will not give you skip-the-line entry priority everywhere. For example, you will still have to wait in line at places such as Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern.
However, thanks to the Museum Pass, you can quickly enter places such as Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Galata Tower.
Hi. Will the Istanbul Museum Pass cover Hagia Sophia? Now that we have to pay a fee of 25 Euros for Hagia Sophia, if the Museum pass covers it that will make it more worth it for me, so please let me know.
Hello Umar, unfortunately, Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid for entering Hagia Sophia.
Thank you Serhat for this advice. I have read the Galata tower is undergoing restoration work for one month from the end of February, is there a specific date in March it is opening?
Hi Josh, unfortunately I don’t have any definitive information on this. I have never seen restorations in Istanbul completed on time. For this reason, I cannot say anything until there is an official announcement that the Galata Tower is opened.
Hello, I am resident in Turkey (with a residence permit) and last year I got the Muzekart+ on my mobile (through the Muzekart app).
This year I tried to renew my card/buy a new one and it won’t let me. It says my kimlik is wrong. Does this mean that people who are resident in Turkey but are not Turkish citizens can no longer buy the Muzekart?
The options on the app for the mobile Muzekart and the Muzekart+ are no longer available to me. I can’t find any updated information about this. Thanks in advance for your help.
Hello Sasha, I am not fully informed on this subject. However, I can share my guess with you.
I do not think that people who are not Turkish citizens and do not have a Turkish ID number can get Muzekart.
Museum entrance fees have been revised this year and there is no discount for non-Turkish citizens.
I love your information. Very useful for first timers to Istanbul. I can now plan my holiday properly. Thank you so much! You can’t imagine the time saved by referring to your short but concise information. Please keep it up! Again, thanks a million!
Thank you so much, Anne! I’m really glad the information was useful for your planning. I’ll keep updating the guides — wishing you a wonderful trip to Istanbul!