Rahmi Koc Museum is located on the shores of Golden Horn in Istanbul. This unique museum is the first museum in Turkey that is dedicated to the history of industry, transportation, and communications.
Two buildings from the Ottoman era was restored and opened as Rahmi Koc Museum. One of these buildings was an anchor factory opened during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III (1703-1730) and the other building was a shipyard that was built in 1861.
These two buildings were used as a storage house later and in the end, they were abandoned to their fate. Mr Rahmi Koc bought these two buildings in 1991 and turned them into the first industry museum of Turkey.
As the Rahmi Koc Museum soon became one of the most popular museums in Istanbul, the Koc Family opened museums in the other cities of Turkey. Today, Rahmi Koc Museum also has branches in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and Cunda, a resort town in the Aegean Sea.
Things to See in the Rahmi Koc Museum
Things to see in the Rahmi Koc Museum reflects developments in industry and technology over the past few centuries. By looking at the objects in the museum, you can see the developments in the world as well as what has happened in Turkey.
One of the best things about Rahmi Koc Museum is that it is located on the shores of Golden Horn. You can take a break while visiting the museum and eat and drink in one of the museum’s wonderful restaurants or cafes located on the seafront.
1. Lengerhane Section
Lengerhane is one of the main buildings of the museum and it’s a section that gives nice surprises to its visitors. It houses really interesting collections, especially for kids. Old radios, train models, and boat pictures not only teach kids the history of technology but also create a nostalgic atmosphere for adults.
Additionally, you can also see a wheelhouse that is enlivened with sound effects. No doubt, this section will be truly unforgettable for your little ones.
2. Shipyard Section
The Shipyard used to be where the regular maintenance and the repair of the city line ferries were conducted. Today, a rich collection of boats is displayed at this section of the museum.
Boats are not the only items that are displayed here. One of the richest car collections in Turkey is in this section too. The out-of-circulation cars of brands such as Rolls-Royce, Chevy, Daimler, and Tofas are displayed and they still look like brand new and attractive.
Additionally, a steam train coach, tunnel coach, nostalgic tram, and many other nostalgic mediums of transport that are deeply rooted in Istanbul’s history are displayed at The Museum.
In addition to such static items inside the museum, there is a dynamic section named “How Does It Work” at Rahmi Koc Museum. In this informative section, the working principles of machines like a washing machine, dishwasher machine, and oven are illustrated.
Restaurants and Cafes in Koc Museum
Spending time in the restaurants and cafes of the Koc Museum is a truly enjoyable experience. One of these restaurants, Halat Restaurant, is supported by one of Turkey’s most famous food and beverage brands, Divan.
1. Fenerbahce Ferry Cafe
Fenerbahce Ferry Cafe offers you a nostalgic experience. Fenerbahce, one of the ships carrying passengers on the Asian and European coasts of the Bosphorus for decades, was taken by the museum after its retirement and turned into a wonderful cafe.
Fenerbahce Cafe offers its visitors delicious Turkish tea and snacks such as toast and sandwiches. It is a great pleasure to watch the Golden Horn and the Historical Peninsula on the opposite shore while having your tea on the deck of the ship.
2. Halat Restaurant
Halat Restaurant is run by one of Turkey’s most famous patisseries, Divan. Operating in beautiful districts of Istanbul such as Beyoglu, Bebek and Kadikoy, Divan is an important brand for Istanbulites.
Tables of the Halat Restaurant offer you the opportunity to eat delicious Turkish food along the Golden Horn, a historical waterway. As a professional tourist guide, I had lunch with my customers a few times and I was very satisfied.
3. Other Restaurants and Cafes
In addition to these favorite places of mine, there is one elaborately decorated British Pub, a classic Turkish cafe named Demlik Cafe, a truck converted into a nostalgic Coca-Cola Truck Snackbar, and Cafe Du Levant (Paris Brasserie) are inside the museum too.
Rahmi Koc Museum Entrance Fee 2025
Rahmi Koc Museum entrance fee is 600 Turkish Lira for adults as of 2025. Discounted tickets for children and students are 300 Turkish Liras. This information was last updated on November 30, 2024.
Please also note that the Rahmi Koc Museum in Istanbul is a private museum and therefore the Museum Pass Istanbul is not valid. If you want to buy tickets online for this museum, you can get them from Biletix, a ticketmaster platform.
Rahmi Koc Museum Opening Hours 2025
Rahmi Koc Museum opening hours are between 09:30 in the morning and 17:00 in the evening as of 2025. On weekends, the museum can be visited between 10:00 and 18:00. The museum is closed to visitors on Mondays. This information was last updated on November 30, 2024.
Visiting times of the museums in Istanbul may change due to events and renovations. Before going to the museum, I recommend you to visit the official website of The Museum and review the latest situation.
How to Get to the Museum?
Rahmi Koc Museum is located very close to Taksim Square and Sultanahmet, which are the tourist centers of Istanbul.
In order to go to Rahmi Koc Museum, you can take buses from Taksim to Haskoy direction. The museum is located by the sea and you can get off at the bus stop that bears the museum’s name.
The shortest way to go to Rahmi Koc Museum from Sultanahmet is to take a taxi. You can reach the museum in just a 15-minute taxi ride. Or, you can take the tram to Eminonu, the transportation hub of the Old City, and from there you can take buses in the direction of Haskoy.
After visiting the Museum, you can go across the Golden Horn and visit Fener and Balat, one of the most popular districts of recent years. Fener Balat walking tour is among the off-the-beaten track activities to be held in Istanbul.
Written by Serhat Engul
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