The best night museums in Türkiye

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What are night museums?

Night museums keep historical and cultural sites open beyond regular hours, allowing guests to explore them from sunset through the evening. Introduced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the initiative offers a more comfortable alternative to the intense summer heat and provides a unique opportunity to experience heritage sites under carefully designed lighting.

In Türkiye, night museums are typically offered during the summer season, usually from June 1 to October 1. During this period, visitors can explore a wide range of cultural and historical attractions, from ancient cities to archaeological sites, in a striking atmosphere enhanced by special lighting. Through this initiative, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also aims to extend tourism activity across a longer portion of the year.

As a result, iconic sites such as Ephesus, Olympos, Aspendos, and Patara can also be explored in the evening. The unique appearance these ancient cities and cultural landmarks take on after dark has become a major attraction in its own right.

Night museums dates (2026)

Night museums will be available from June 1 to October 1, 2026. During this period, museums and archaeological sites designated by the Ministry will remain open not only during regular daytime hours but also in the evenings. Evening visiting hours vary by location, though most sites open for evening visits around 19:00 and close between 22:00 and 23:00.

Note: The museums and archaeological sites included in night museums, along with the applicable dates, may change from year to year, and new locations may be added to the program. Before planning your visit, review the latest announcements from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Are night museums paid?

Yes, an additional fee applies to entry at museums and archaeological sites participating in night museums. Under the 2026 night museums program, MuseumPass holders who are citizens of the Republic of Türkiye must pay an additional 200 TL on top of their existing MuseumPass privileges. This allows them to visit participating museums and archaeological sites from 19:00 until closing time.

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Night museums you can visit in Istanbul

Istanbul Archaeological Museums (19:00 – 22:00)

Night museums feel especially fitting in Istanbul, the city of empires. Among the highlights is the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, a complex of three museums founded by Osman Hamdi Bey. As Türkiye’s first museum, it holds a special place in the country’s cultural history and remains one of the city’s most remarkable museum complexes. Here, visitors can explore the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum.

At the Archaeological Museum, a vast historical journey unfolds, spanning from prehistoric times to the Ottoman era. The collection includes some of the museum’s most celebrated masterpieces, such as the Alexander Sarcophagus, the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women, and the Tabnit Sarcophagus, along with an impressive array of ancient sculptures.

The Museum of the Ancient Orient houses collections from the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia, as well as an extensive archive of cuneiform tablets. Among its most significant exhibits are the Treaty of Kadesh and elements of the Ishtar Gate, both of which are important to world history.

The Tiled Kiosk Museum is the oldest structure in the Istanbul Archaeological Museums complex. Built in 1472 under Sultan Mehmed II, it showcases Turkish tiles and ceramics, with around 2,000 works spanning the Seljuk period through the early 20th-century Ottoman era.

• Address: Alemdar Caddesi, Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Gülhane, İstanbul
• Contact: 0212 520 77 40
• Transport: Take the Kabataş–Bağcılar tram line and get off at Gülhane Station. The museum is about a five-minute walk from the stop.
• Late visiting hours: As part of the Night Museums experience, visitors can explore the Istanbul Archaeological Museums from 19:00 to 22:00. Please note that the ticket office closes at 21:00.
• MüzeKart: Museum Pass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing Museum Pass privileges.

Galata Tower (18:30 – 23:00)

One of the finest venues for Türkiye’s night museums is the Galata Tower. Built by the Genoese in the mid-14th century, the tower was originally part of the fortifications around Galata. Since then, Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire, has become inseparable from the Galata Tower’s silhouette.

Among the tower’s most distinctive architectural features are its massive masonry walls, rounded arches, and a powerful vaulted structure. Rising to a height of 69.9 meters at the roofline, the tower offers visitors an elevator from the ground floor to the sixth floor. The eighth floor is reached by stairs, and its panoramic observation balcony remains the tower’s most popular attraction.

In 2020, the Galata Tower was restored by the General Directorate of Foundations and reopened as a museum. On the seventh floor, visitors can explore a 1:2500-scale model of Istanbul, enhanced with electronic displays and featuring replicas of key historical landmarks. The sixth floor features a model of a small 9th-century CE coastal sailing cargo vessel. The fifth floor serves as a museum space, with five display cases showcasing artifacts from the Neolithic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.

In short, the Galata Tower Museum offers far more than panoramic city views. Its exhibitions reveal the many layers of Istanbul’s history, from its earliest settlements to the eras of the three great empires that shaped the city, making it one of Istanbul’s most rewarding cultural experiences.

• Address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
• Contact: 0212 249 03 44
• Getting there: Take public transportation to Taksim, such as the metro or a bus. Once you reach Tünel Square at the end of İstiklal Avenue, the tower is about 500 meters downhill.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, Galata Tower is open from 18:30 to 23:00. The ticket office closes at 22:00.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing Museum Pass privileges.

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum (19:00 – 22:00)

The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul was Türkiye’s first museum dedicated exclusively to Turkish and Islamic art. Opened in 1914 as the Evkaf-ı İslâmiye Museum (Museum of Islamic Foundations), it is also known as the last museum established during the Ottoman Empire. In 1983, the museum relocated to its current home, the historic Ibrahim Pasha Palace.

Among Istanbul’s and Türkiye’s night museums, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum holds a unique distinction. With nearly 40,000 works and numerous rare artifacts, it is regarded as one of the world’s leading museums in its field. Its main collections include carpets, manuscripts, woodwork, stonework, metalwork, glass and ceramics, and ethnographic objects.

One of its most remarkable treasures is the Damascus Documents collection, which contains more than 200,000 pages of Qur’anic manuscripts. The museum also houses significant works, including the 13th-century doors and door knocker of the Grand Mosque of Cizre, a 14th-century hanging oil lamp, and an ethnographic exhibition depicting life in 19th-century Istanbul.

If you would like to explore a cultural journey spanning thirteen centuries, from the Umayyads to the Ottomans, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is an essential stop.

• Address: Binbirdirek Mahallesi, At Meydanı Sokak, No: 12 Sultanahmet, İstanbul
• Contact: 0212 518 18 05 / 0212 518 18 06
• Getting there: Take the T1 tram line between Bağcılar and Kabataş, then get off at Sultanahmet Station. The museum is inside the Ibrahim Pasha Palace on Sultanahmet Square.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:00.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a Night Museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in İzmir

Ephesus Ancient City

Among the leading destinations for Türkiye’s night museums is the Ancient City of Ephesus, once the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Its monumental architecture and extraordinary structures have endured for thousands of years. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, Ephesus is also home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Yet its significance extends far beyond that iconic monument.

Within the Ancient City of Ephesus, visitors can discover landmarks that reflect the urban development, architecture, and religious history of numerous civilizations, particularly from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Once a principal port linking Asia and Europe, Ephesus is home to remarkable sites, including the Temple of Hadrian, built between 118 and 138 CE; the famed Celsus Library, dating to the 2nd century CE; the Church of Mary, where Mary was officially recognized as the mother of Jesus; and the impressive ancient theater, which could accommodate about 25,000 spectators.

• Address: Efes Harabeleri, 35920 Selçuk, İzmir
• Contact: 0232 892 60 10 / 0232 892 60 11
• Getting there: From İzmir Intercity Bus Terminal, take public transportation to Selçuk or use the İZBAN commuter rail line. From Selçuk, local minibuses and taxis provide easy access to the Ancient City of Ephesus.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Ancient City of Ephesus is open for evening visits only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On these days, the site remains open until 23:00.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Ankara

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (19:00 – 21:00)

Located in Ankara’s Ulus district, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations brings together remarkable artifacts from Anatolia, spanning from the Paleolithic Age (600,000–10,000 BCE) to the present. As such, it offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultures, traditions, and material heritage that have shaped Anatolia since the earliest chapters of human history.

The museum is housed in two Ottoman-era buildings: the Mahmutpaşa Bedesten and the Kurşunlu Han. Inside, visitors can explore a variety of exhibition spaces, including the Upper Hall, Lower Hall, and Hall of Stone Artifacts. The Upper Hall alone is divided into eight sections dedicated to the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages, as well as the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period, Hittites, Phrygians, and Urartians.

The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is organized into 11 distinct galleries: the Paleolithic Age Gallery, Neolithic Age Gallery, Chalcolithic Age Gallery, Early Bronze Age Gallery, Assyrian Trade Colonies Gallery, Hittite Gallery, Phrygian Gallery, Urartian Gallery, Hall of Stone Artifacts, Classical Periods Gallery, and Ankara Gallery.

Renovated and reopened in 2014, the museum also offers virtual tours, interactive displays, and replicas of the iconic T-shaped pillars from Göbeklitepe. Thanks to its outstanding collections and innovative presentation, it was named the European Museum of the Year in 1997. While you’re in the area, be sure to climb Ankara Castle for a panoramic view of the city.

• Address: Gözcü Sokak No:2 06240 Ulus, Ankara
• Contact: 0312 324 31 60 / 0312 324 31 61
• Getting there: Walk straight from Ulus Square toward Ankara Castle without turning off the route. The road will lead you directly to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The ticket office closes at 20:15.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Antalya

Aspendos Archaeological Site (19:00 – 22:00)

Night museums in and around Antalya include several remarkable sites, among them the Aspendos Archaeological Site. According to Greek mythology, Aspendos was founded by Argive colonists led by the hero Mopsos after the Trojan War. Renowned for its 12,000-seat theater, Aspendos captivates visitors with its scale and remarkable preservation. The site is also home to significant historical structures, such as a basilica and monumental aqueducts. Experiencing these landmarks under the atmospheric lighting of night museums adds a new dimension to the visit. The aqueducts, in particular, are an extraordinary feat of ancient engineering, having carried water from the mountains north of the city into Aspendos. Thanks to their remarkable state of preservation, they remain among the rare examples of such infrastructure to have survived from antiquity to the present. The theater itself is a masterpiece worthy of study. Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, it hosts concerts and cultural events each summer. If you are looking to add cultural and historical highlights to your Antalya itinerary, the Aspendos Archaeological Site deserves a place near the top of your list.

• Address Belkıs Mahallesi Serik, Antalya
• Contact: 0242 892 13 25
• Getting there: If you are traveling by public transportation, take a minibus from Antalya Bus Terminal to the district of Serik, then transfer to a minibus serving the Aspendos Archaeological Site.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Aspendos Archaeological Site is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

Alanya Museum (19:00 – 22:00)

For an unforgettable museum experience in Antalya, visit the Alanya Museum, which houses artifacts spanning the Archaic, Classical, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. From bronze, marble, terracotta, glass, and mosaic finds to Turkish-Islamic works, the museum offers a rich collection of cultural treasures. It is among the best places to explore Alanya’s remarkable historical heritage.

The museum is organized into several galleries and exhibition halls. For example, the Heracles Hall houses the famous 2nd-century CE statue of Heracles, which has become one of the museum’s defining symbols. In the Anatolian Civilizations Hall, visitors can explore everyday objects, jewelry, sculptures, and other artifacts made of glass, bronze, and terracotta. The hall also features a dedicated section on Alanya Castle, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

The museum’s pleasant garden features Roman-period decorated column capitals, gravestones, osteothekoi (ash chests), sarcophagi, and inscriptions. Visitors can also explore a section dedicated to ancient agriculture, which illustrates how olive oil was produced in the Roman period and showcases the tools used in daily farming.

• Address: Saray Mahallesi, İsmet Hilmi Balcı Sokak, No 2, Antalya
• Contact: 0242 513 12 28
• Getting there: The Alanya Museum is about a 10-minute walk from central Alanya. You can also take local minibuses heading toward the Damlataş area.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Alanya Museum is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

Patara Archaeological Site (19:00 – 22:00)

Located in Kaş, one of Antalya’s most popular destinations, the Patara Archaeological Site is of immense historical and archaeological significance. First and foremost, it served as the capital of Lycia. Its name also appears as “Patara” in Lycian inscriptions and on ancient coins. Dating back to the pre-Iron Age, Patara is home to monumental structures, including its Hellenistic-era assembly building and theater, both of which offer remarkable insight into the city’s past.

The monument most closely associated with Patara is its Triumphal Arch. Measuring 19 meters long and 10 meters high, the arch served as the city’s symbolic gateway. At the same time, it became an integral part of Patara’s water distribution system. Another of the site’s most extraordinary landmarks is the world’s oldest surviving lighthouse. Commissioned by Emperor Nero in the harbor district, it is the oldest lighthouse known to have survived to the present day.

The Patara Archaeological Site also holds special significance for Christianity. Saint Nicholas, known worldwide as Santa Claus, was born here. It is also believed that Saint Paul departed from Patara on his way to Rome. With its vast open setting, monumental architecture, and remarkable collection of ancient landmarks, the Patara Archaeological Site is one of the most distinctive places to experience night museums in Antalya.

• Address: Gelemiş Mahallesi, Örenyeri Sokak, No:1 Kaş, Antalya
• Contact 0242 843 50 18
• Getting there: To reach Patara by public transportation, take a Fethiye–Kaş minibus and get off at the Patara junction on the main road. From there, transfer to a Gelemiş minibus, which will take you to the archaeological site and the beach.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Patara Archaeological Site is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a Night Museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Aydın

Temple of Apollo, Didim (19:00 – 21:00)

Located in Aydın’s Didim district, the Temple of Apollo is among the best-preserved sanctuaries in the ancient world. Much of what visitors see today was uncovered during extensive archaeological excavations between 1906 and 1913. Situated within Didim’s sacred precinct, the Temple of Apollo was once home to one of antiquity’s most renowned oracular centers.

Among its most remarkable features are the legendary Branchidae statues, believed to depict individuals making offerings to the sanctuary. Visitors should also look for the reliefs of Medusa, one of the three Gorgon sisters in Greek mythology, known for her serpent hair and a fearsome gaze that could turn onlookers to stone. Surrounded by an array of ancient monuments and architectural details, the sanctuary takes on an especially captivating atmosphere after dark, making it one of the most memorable places to experience night museums.

• Address: Hisar Mahallesi, Özgürlük Caddesi, Apollon Tapınağı, Didim, Aydın
• Contact: 0256 875 52 06
• Getting there: To reach the Temple of Apollo, Didim by public transportation, take a minibus from central Didim heading toward Yenihisar. The temple is located within easy walking distance of the stop.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Temple of Apollo, Didim is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The ticket office closes at 20:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a Night Museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Muğla

Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology (19:00 – 22:00)

Now let’s move on to a distinctive stop among the night museums of the Muğla–Bodrum region: the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It is an outstanding cultural destination for those interested in exploring the region’s history, natural heritage, and remarkable archaeological collections. The museum’s artifacts are displayed across a range of specialized exhibition spaces, including the Castle Mosque; the Serçe Limanı (harbor) Glass Shipwreck Exhibition; the Yassıada Shipwreck Exhibition; the Hall of the Eastern Necropolis of Halicarnassus; the Carian Princess Hall; and the Hall of the Knights of Rhodes in the English Tower.

The museum is housed in Bodrum Castle, a fortress built by the Knights of St. John between 1406 and 1522 in honor of Saint Peter, on the site of earlier Byzantine and Turkish fortifications. It is regarded as one of the best-preserved and most significant surviving castles in the Eastern Mediterranean. Scientific underwater archaeological excavations along Türkiye’s coastline began in the 1960s, and many of the discoveries from these expeditions were placed under protection at the Bodrum Museum after the castle was converted into a museum in 1964.

Set across 33.5 decares, the castle also showcases a variety of artifacts displayed in its open-air sections. Notably, the museum received a Special Commendation Award in the European Museum of the Year Award competition in 1995, further cementing its reputation as one of Türkiye’s most distinguished cultural institutions.

• Address: Çarşı Mahallesi, 48400, Bodrum, Muğla
• Contact: 0252 316 25 16
• Getting there: The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology is in the heart of Bodrum. Even from the Bodrum Bus Terminal area, the museum can be reached on foot in about 10–15 minutes.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

Marmaris Museum (19:00 – 22:00)

The Marmaris Museum is housed in the historic Marmaris Castle, located in the city’s protected heritage district. Thanks to night museums, both the castle and the museum take on a particularly atmospheric character after dark. Overlooking the sea from its commanding position on a peninsula, Marmaris Castle was restored from 1980 to 1990 and opened as the Marmaris Museum in 1991.

The museum features four archaeological galleries: Knidos Hall, Burgaz–Emecik Hall, Marmaris and Surroundings Hall, and the Hall of Stone Artifacts. In Knidos Hall, visitors can explore marble statues, sculpted heads, figurines, ornaments, amphorae, and everyday vessels uncovered during excavations at the ancient city of Knidos. The Marmaris and Surroundings Hall showcases gold artifacts, coins, jewelry, figurines, and glass objects discovered in and around Marmaris, which were later added to the museum’s collection.

• Address: Tepe Mahallesi, Kaleiçi Mevkii, Marmaris, Muğla
• Contact: 0252 412 14 59
• Getting there: The Marmaris Museum is about a 10-minute walk from central Marmaris. Once you reach the town center, follow Kordon Street along the waterfront to the museum, which is within Marmaris Castle and overlooks the harbor.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Marmaris Museum is open from 19:00 to 22:00. The ticket office closes at 21:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Nevşehir

Derinkuyu Underground City (19:00 – 21:00)

Famous for Cappadocia and its dreamlike hot-air balloon views, Nevşehir is also home to one of the most fascinating stops on Türkiye’s night museums program. Here, visitors can explore the Derinkuyu Underground City, an extraordinary settlement made possible by the region’s unique geological formations. Spread across eight levels, the underground city was designed to shelter and sustain a large community. It also contains spaces such as a missionary school, a confessional chamber, and a baptismal pool, offering insight into the lives of its former inhabitants.

Among the most striking features of Derinkuyu Underground City are its depth of 85 meters and its 55-meter-deep ventilation shaft, which also served as a water well and maintained a connection to the surface. Together, these elements showcase remarkable engineering ingenuity designed to ensure safety and survival underground. Exploring this mysterious subterranean city after dark makes the experience even more atmospheric and unforgettable.

• Address: Bayramlı Mahallesi, Şemşili Yolu Sokak, No: 15, Derinkuyu, Nevşehir
• Contact: 384 381 31 94
• Getting there: Derinkuyu Underground City is about 30 kilometers from central Nevşehir. To reach it by public transportation, take a regular minibus to the town of Derinkuyu. From the town center, the site is just a short walk away.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, Derinkuyu Underground City is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The ticket office closes at 20:15.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Gaziantep

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum (19:00 – 21:00)

The Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep is a must-visit destination not only for archaeologists and art historians but also for anyone interested in culture and history. It is remarkable enough to be a destination in its own right. The museum houses some of the world’s most celebrated mosaics, including the iconic “Gypsy Girl” mosaic, a masterpiece.

The museum is divided into three main sections. Block A showcases mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma, while Block B features floor mosaics from Eastern Roman-period churches uncovered in excavations in and around Gaziantep. Block C contains the administrative offices, conference facilities, and the foyer.

The collection includes approximately 3,000 square meters of Roman and Eastern Roman mosaics, 140 square meters of wall paintings, four Roman fountains, twenty columns, four limestone statues, a bronze statue of Mars, funerary steles, sarcophagi, and numerous architectural fragments. Enhanced by sophisticated exhibition techniques and three-dimensional reconstructions, the museum offers a striking glimpse into the artistry and architectural achievements of the ancient world.

• Address: Mithatpaşa Mahallesi, Hacı Sani Konukoğlu Bulvarı, 27500 Şehitkamil, Gaziantep
• Getting there: You can reach the museum by taking one of the city bus routes operating from central Gaziantep to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The ticket office closes at 20:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Şanlıurfa

Şanlıurfa Museum (19:00 – 21:00)

Established in 1965, the Şanlıurfa Museum relocated to its modern building in 2015. It is an essential stop for anyone seeking to explore the region’s rich, ancient heritage. One of the museum’s greatest distinctions is its collection of artifacts from Göbeklitepe, widely regarded as the world’s oldest known temple complex. Together, these collections make the Şanlıurfa Museum one of Türkiye’s most remarkable cultural institutions and a standout destination for night museums.

Also known as the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, it features 14 main exhibition halls and 33 reconstruction areas. Highlights include Paleolithic surface finds; Balıklıgöl Man, the oldest known life-sized human statue in the history of civilization, dating to the Neolithic period; cutting and piercing tools; stone idols; vessels; and painted and unpainted ceramics decorated with geometric motifs. In the museum’s Archaeopark area, visitors can explore a chronological series of architectural reconstructions that reflect the building traditions of various historical periods.

A few of the museum’s superlatives are worth highlighting as well. The current museum building is the largest museum in Türkiye by enclosed exhibition space and gallery area. It is also considered one of the largest museums in the country and, among the few worldwide, for the number of life-size reconstructions and immersive displays it contains. Another notable distinction is its 4.5-kilometer-long visitor route, making it the longest museum tour route in Türkiye.

• Address: Haleplibahçe Mahallesi, 2372. Sokak, Eyyubiye, Şanlıurfa
• Getting there: Take bus number 63 from one of the bus stops in the city center. The route provides direct access to the Şanlıurfa Museum.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Şanlıurfa Museum is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The ticket office closes at 20:30.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Night museums you can visit in Denizli

Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Archaeological Site (19:00 – 23:00)

Located about 20 kilometers north of Denizli, the Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Archaeological Site is an ancient city founded by Eumenes II of Pergamon in the 2nd century BCE. Most surviving structures date from the rebuilding after the devastating 60 CE earthquake, which significantly altered the city’s original character. For example, the earlier theater in the northern part of the city was replaced by the Hierapolis Ancient Theater. Built in the Greek style and set against the hillside, the impressive structure could accommodate about 10,000 spectators.

The site is also home to the Martyrion of Saint Philip, an octagonal church. Another notable landmark is the Plutonium (Gate to the Underworld), one of the most famous sanctuaries in Asia Minor dedicated to Pluto, the god of the underworld, and his wife, Persephone. In this respect, Hierapolis was also an important center in the history of religion. Thanks to night museums, you can explore Hierapolis under atmospheric lighting, from its ancient theater to the many historic structures scattered across the site.

• Address: Pamukkale, 20280 Pamukkale, Denizli
• Getting there: You can reach the Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Archaeological Site by taking one of the buses or minibuses departing from central Denizli.
• Evening visiting hours: As part of the night museums experience, the Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Archaeological Site is open from 19:00 to 23:00. The ticket office closes at 21:00.
• MuseumPass: MuseumPass holders with a Turkish ID number can visit by purchasing a night museums experience ticket for an additional 200 TL, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

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Frequently asked questions

What are night museums?

Night museums are museums and archaeological sites that stay open to visitors in the evening, in addition to their regular daytime hours. Each year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye announces which museums and archaeological sites will take part in night museums.

How long do night museums last?

Night museums are offered on different dates each year. They are typically available from June through October. For the latest dates and visiting hours, it is recommended to follow announcements from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.

Are night museums paid?

Yes. Visiting participating museums and archaeological sites during evening hours as part of night museums requires an additional fee. Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye who hold a MuseumPass must pay an additional fee for evening visits, in addition to their existing MuseumPass privileges.

Is the MuseumPass valid for night museums?

No. Even if you hold a MuseumPass, an additional fee applies to visits during the evening hours of night museums.

Where are night museums available?

Night museums are available at select museums and archaeological sites in many cities across Türkiye, including Istanbul, İzmir, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Muğla, Nevşehir, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, and Denizli. For the latest information on participating venues and visiting hours, be sure to follow announcements from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.