The Istanbul Museum Pass at a glance
The pass is an e-card for museums run by the Ministry of Culture and the National Palaces. The current product page shows €105. It is valid for 5 days from your first museum entry and covers 13 museums. This guide is independent and does not sell the pass.
The key point for this site: the Hagia Sophia visitor area is not part of the pass. You pay the separate €25 ticket for it. The pass only makes sense if you plan several other museums in a short time.
Pass or single tickets: sights compared
Prices for foreign visitors in 2026. Check the pass's current list of sites before you count a museum in.
| Sight | Single ticket 2026 | With the pass |
|---|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia visitor area | €25, under 8 free | Not included |
| History and Experience Museum | €25 | Check the product page |
| Topkapı Palace, Harem and Hagia Irene | TRY 2,750 combined | Check the product page |
| Harem only | TRY 1,050 | Check the product page |
| Hagia Irene only | TRY 1,050 | Check the product page |
| Basilica Cistern | Check the current tariff | Check the product page |
The euro amounts for the lira prices are rough and move with the exchange rate.
Our picks: passes
Two commercial passes with different inclusions.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided pass: Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Topkapi
Entry with a guide to Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi, plus guided visits to the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The Harem at Topkapi, pickup and the ride back are not included.
Check availability →
Istanbul e-pass for the top sights
A guided Hagia Sophia visit with ticket, fast-track guided visits at Topkapi and the Basilica Cistern, further museum entries, Bosphorus cruises and a guidebook. Public transport is not included.
Check availability →Istanbul tours and tickets
Palace and cistern visits, guided tours of the old city and Bosphorus trips, with live prices and availability.
What to check before you buy
Which sights are on the list
An older ministry list still names an earlier museum entry for Hagia Sophia, so do not use old lists to count your savings. Whether the pass covers Topkapı, the Harem and Hagia Irene is something to confirm on the current product page. The pass does not apply to the evening museum opening, and you still have to respect last-entry times at each site.
The Museum Card is a different product
The Turkish Müzekart is not the same as the pass for visitors. The Topkapı page excludes the Harem and Hagia Irene from the Museum Card. Do not assume the same exclusions or inclusions for the Museum Pass Istanbul.
The 2027 price
The press has reported €120 for the Istanbul pass in the next tariff year. The €105 above is the current product page price. If you buy for a trip in 2027, check again.
Does it pay off?
No saving is calculated here, because it depends on the list of sights you can actually use. As a rule of thumb, a visit centered on Hagia Sophia and one or two other sights is better served by single tickets. A trip with many museums in 5 days is where the pass starts to matter.
How to decide
List your sights
Write down the museums you really want in 5 days. The pass runs from your first entry, so every day counts.
Price them singly
Add up single tickets for the sights the pass really covers. Leave out Hagia Sophia, which you pay separately.
Hagia Sophia tickets →Mind the closing days
Topkapı is closed on Tuesdays, so build the 5 days around that.
Topkapı Palace →Skip evening visits
The pass is not valid during evening museum operation.
Opening hours that affect a pass day
The pass does not extend any hours. Plan around the usual times.
| Sight | Hours | Closed or limited |
|---|---|---|
| Topkapı Palace | 09:00–17:30, ticket offices to 17:00 | Closed on Tuesdays |
| History and Experience Museum | 09:00–20:00, ticket office to 19:00 | – |
| Hagia Sophia visitor area | Check the current timetable | Break on Friday around midday |
The Topkapı combined ticket is valid for one day from the purchase date, and the first day of the Ramadan Festival is a closing day there. Count both when you spread sights over the 5 days.
A sample plan for 5 days
This is a way to arrange the days, not a promise of savings. Day one: Hagia Sophia with its separate ticket, then the square. Day two: the History and Experience Museum and the cistern. Day three: Topkapı Palace, with the Harem and Hagia Irene, not on Tuesday. Days four and five: a Bosphorus trip and any other museums on the pass list. The pass runs from the first museum you enter with it, so start it on a day when you will use it.
If you buy single tickets instead, the same plan works with no 5-day clock. Compare both before you decide.
Istanbul Museum Pass: frequently asked questions
How much is the Istanbul Museum Pass?
€105 according to the current product page. A higher price of €120 has been reported for the next tariff year.
Does the pass include Hagia Sophia?
No. The visitor area has its own €25 ticket, with children under 8 free.
How long is the pass valid?
5 days from the first museum entry.
How many museums does it cover?
13 museums run by the Ministry of Culture and the National Palaces. Check the current list before you buy.
Does the pass work for evening visits?
No. The product page says it is not valid during evening museum operation.
Is the pass the same as the Museum Card?
No. The Turkish Museum Card is a separate product with its own exclusions.