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Turkey Museum Pass Options – Everything You Need To Know To Save Money
A historically rich country, Turkey is full of museums, cultural spots, and ancient sites. Any trip to Türkiye would be incomplete without a visit to at least some of the museums in Turkey.
Before my last trip in February 2023, I did not know that there was a national museum pass and smaller regional museum passes.
Oh man, I spent far too much money not buying this!!
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism created a multiple-entry pass for tourists, allowing visitors to purchase passes for all of Turkey, Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean regions. The passes consolidate entrance tickets, saving visitors time and hassle throughout their trip and lots of money.
My trip to Türkiye was just one week after the devastating earthquakes – and I was happy to spend money there – to help the economy and the grief-stricken people of Türkiye. But dang, it, I could have spent the Turkish Lira I would have saved on the museum entry tickets on more shopping and eating!
Depending on your interests, holiday location, and budget, there is a Turkish museum pass for everyone. So, if you are considering purchasing a Museum Pass in Turkey, here are the fundamental things to know before you buy one.
Turkey Museum Pass 15 Days
The most comprehensive pass, the Turkey Museum Pass, covers three hundred different museums and archaeological sites which belong to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Directorate of National Palaces.
The pass currently costs 1,000 Turkish Lira (February 2023) and is available for purchase at designated ticket booths at each cultural site. Once you enter your first site, the pass is valid for fifteen days, meaning you have plenty of time to explore.
Until 2022, it was possible to purchase the pass online with a free courier service delivering the pass to you. Since March 2022, this service has been suspended, so passes must be purchased in person.
5-Day Museum Pass Istanbul
A more limited version of the Museum Pass Turkey, the Istanbul Museum Pass is perfect for travelers only intent on traveling to the city.
The pass can be purchased as an e-ticket or at designated ticket booths located at the first seven locations on the list below. Currently, the pass costs 700 Turkish Lira (February 2023) and allows visitors access to sites for five days (or 120 hours) from its first use.
The museum pass in Istanbul includes thirteen historical sites in Istanbul, including:
- Istanbul Archaeology Museums
- Great Palace Constantinople Mosaics Museum
- Galata Tower
- Rumeli Fortress Museum
- Museum Of Turkish And Islamic Arts
- Topkapi Palace
- Hagia Irene Museum
- Galata Mevlevi House
- Adam Mickiewicz Museum Istanbul
- Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam
- Turbes Museum
We saw many of these and spent a lot of money, so I can tell you firsthand that Museum Card in Istanbul is very good value for money.
3-Day Cappadocia Museum Pass
For visitors to the Cappadocia region, the Museum Pass Cappadocia provides one-time access to thirteen museums in the area for a price of 400 Turkish Lira (February 2023) for three days.
Helpfully, the pass can be purchased online and downloaded to your mobile phone, meaning you can buy ahead of time and plan your trip accordingly. However, you can also purchase the card at ticket booths at one of the below locations.
The Museum Pass Cappadocia includes the following sites:
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Kaymakli Underground City
- Ihlara Valley
- Aksaray Monastery Valley
- Aksaray Museum
- Goreme Open Air Museum
- Dark Church Türkiye (Goreme)
- Ozkonak Underground City
- Nevsehir Museum
- Nevsehir Archaeological Site & Cavusin Church
- Haci Bektas Veli Museum (Nevsehir)
- Zelve Open Air Museum (Nevsehir)
- Church of St. Jean, Gulsehir (Nevsehir)
7-Day Museum Pass Aegean Region
Over seven days, the Aegean Museum Pass provides visitors access to forty museums and sites in Turkey’s Aegean Region. The pass can be purchased online for 650 Turkish Lira (February 2023) and downloaded to your mobile phone.
The pass is an excellent purchase for visitors to the provinces of İzmir, Aydın, and Muğla as it covers single entry to historical sites, including:
- Ephesus (including the Terrace Houses and Museum)
- Ancient Hieropolis/Pamukkale
- Laodicea
- Bergama Acropolis
- Kayakoy
- Fethiye Rock Tombs
- Museum of Underwater Archaeology
7-Day Mediterranean Region Museum Pass
The Mediterranean Museum Pass provides visitors access to over forty museums and sites in Türkiye’s Mediterranean Region over seven days. The pass can be purchased online for 650 Turkish Lira (February 2023) and downloaded to your mobile phone.
The pass is an ideal purchase for visitors to the regions of Antalya, Mersin, Adana, and Denizli as it covers single-entry essential sites, such as:
- Antalya Museum
- Aspendos
- Perge
- Side
- Termessos
- Phaselis
- Myra/St. Nicholas Church
- Simena
- Patara
- Laodicea
- Ancient Hieropolis-Pamukkale
Museums Of Turkey App
The Museums of Turkey app is a free app for Apple and Android users that provides users with information on over 200 different museums in Turkey. The app includes museum descriptions, photos, opening hours, and contact information. Users can also search for specific museums by name or location.
The app is available in both English and Turkish, making it accessible to a wide range of users. And with its user-friendly interface, it’s easy to navigate. So whether you’re looking for a specific museum or want to browse what’s available, the Museums of Turkey app is a great resource.
How much money can you save?
An adult entrance ticket to each museum or cultural site typically costs around 200-500 Turkish Lira each. Therefore, the pass will 100% save you money if you plan to visit multiple museums and sites over your visit to Turkey.
Additionally, the passes offer discounts for certain cultural and artistic institutions and events in the relevant region, which is something to consider.
Can I buy the Muzekart?
Yes, but this is just for Turkish Citizens, and you need to show a Government ID to purchase it.
How much are kids’ passes?
The is currently no kids rate pass. However, it is unnecessary to purchase a pass for kids.
Children under six years old benefit from free entry to all museums and sites in Türkiye. Additionally, children between the ages of 7 and 12 benefit from substantially reduced rates.
Is there a student or senior rate pass?
There is currently no student or senior rate pass.
Do the passes allow you to skip queues?
Museum passes allow you to skip the long queues to enter sites and museums. However, visitors are not exempt from security-check lines.
What are the Turkey museum pass card prices as of February 2023
- Turkiye Museum Pass – 1000 Turkish Lira
- Istanbul Museum Pass – 700 Turkish Lira
- Mediterranean Museum Pass – 650 Turkish Lira
- Aegean Museum Pass – 650 Turkish Lira
- Cappadocia Museum Pass – 400 Turkish Lira
How many days can you use the museum passes in Turkey?
- Museum Pass Turkey: 15 days
- Museum Pass The Mediterranean: 7 days
- Museum Pass The Aegean: 7 days
- Museum Pass Istanbul: 5 days
- Museum Pass Cappadocia: 3 days
Are there free museums in Istanbul?
Yes, a few, including,
- Istanbul Modern Art Museum
- Turkey Is Bank Museum
- Sirkeci Orient Express Museum
- Galatasaray Museum
- Private Sakip Sabancı Fine Arts Museum
- Private Pera Museum
What important museums are not covered by the passes?
The passes only include museums and sites which belong to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Directorate of National Palaces and include many important museums.
However, the pass does not include major sites such as Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern, Dolmabahce Palace, and Beylerbeyi Palace.
What are the best museums in Turkey?
Ohh there are far too many to list, but the ones we have seen and loved so much we wrote guides about them are:
