Tourist Attractions & Monuments Turkey

Timetable

The administrations and services are generally open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, as are most museums, but for the latter, the days of closure vary. For more information on the opening hours of sites, museums and monuments, consult their websites. Hours may vary during the high or low season.

To be booked

Reservations are rarely necessary, except for guided tours offered at fixed times to visit certain sites or monuments, and for popular brands (restaurants, bars), especially at the time of year when tourist numbers are at their peak. On the other hand, if you want to avoid waiting in line at the ticket office, it is a good idea. Especially since most attractions offer online booking.

Budget & Tips

We can't say it enough: if you can, take advantage of the low season to leave, when the beaches are yours and the prices of hotels, restaurants and other services are at their lowest due to the drop in the number of visitors. The months of October or March are very pleasant, each in its own way, and the flow of travelers is quite reasonable at this time. During the winter season, you will not miss the Asian tourists, Chinese, Koreans and Japanese, who love the ancient sites and the low temperatures.

The best way to visit Turkey's museums and monuments for less is with the MüzeKart+ or MuseumPass. The first is a discount card for Turkish nationals and foreigners with a residence permit. The second is the version for tourists. The MüzeKart+ costs 70 TL per year and allows unlimited access to all museums in the country. The MuseumPass Turkey costs 450 TL and gives access to all monuments and museums in Turkey, including the must-see sites: Pamukkale, Ephesus, Göreme in Cappadocia...

Please note! The pass must be used within 15 days of its first use. The MuseumPass is also available in a "1 region at a time" variant: Istanbul (295 TL), Mediterranean Sea (295 TL), Cappadocia (175 TL) and Aegean Sea (295 TL).

Note that, following the economic crisis of 2018, the country has revised all of its entrance fees for major sites, monuments and museums... upwards, it goes without saying: prices sometimes going from simple to triple, or from free to paid. The changes are still evolving, so don't be surprised if some of the prices announced in this edition differ from those you will encounter on site. Prices generally increase every November^1.

Main events

Many events, both large and small, take place throughout the year in Turkey. No matter what season you go, you won't have time to be bored! Tulip festival, oil or camel wrestling, dervish ceremony or commemoration of the birth of the Republic... in winter or in summer, you will always have an opportunity to celebrate!

Guided tours

Often neglected by tourists, you should know that great professional and passionate French-speaking (and English-speaking) guides exist in Turkey. In addition to their solid knowledge of the country's sites, monuments and history, you will learn a lot more about current Turkish society. And, let's be honest, it's much nicer to talk to a person than to be led around by an audio guide. Moreover, the more you are, the more you pay.

Tourist traps

There are several kinds of guides. The sworn guides, recognizable by the badge with their number, photo, name and surname, who are allowed to enter the tourist sites. And then there is the second category, those who will lure you in by certifying a complete visit at a low price, in any case lower than that offered by an official guide. The offer is tempting and of course you can meet some nice people, but you should know that in most cases, you will meet impostors who, if they cost less, also teach you less and the visit will last less time... Almost the same, but not as good.

Finally, there is a third variation: the "guides" who offer to take you around "for free". They often have the same approach (friendship, wish to develop the language, etc.). And, unless there is a surprise, it ends up in a store that belongs to a "friend" or "cousin". Their favorite neighborhood is naturally the historical heart of the city, like Sultanahmet, the Blue Mosque and the most popular sites for Istanbul.