Exploring Istanbul by Public Transport

Events of Sunday Afternoon, 30th September 2018

On Sunday morning, I'd made brief visits to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Museum of Archaeology (described here). After a simple lunch at my hotel, I took a 20-minute ferry trip to Kadikoy, on the Asian side (described here).

I arrived at Kadikoy by public ferry and spent a little time exploring the waterfront. It was quite mild, with a pale sun and lots of people seemed to be enjoying their Sunday afternoon in a relaxed manner. To the south of the pier where I'd arrived was the Princes' Islands Pier. I'd watched the ferry 'M/S ŞEHİT MUSTAFA AYDOĞDU'(brief information here) leaving the berth . The pier appeared to serve two destinations - Adalar on the Princes' Islands and Besiktas (near the First Bosphorus Bridge on the European side).


Around Istanbul: Princes' Islands Pier, Kadikoy.

A small crowd was watching some sort of presentation publicising (I think) culture, entertainment and activities but I haven't worked it out, I'm afraid. The presentation was being made from a plinth mounting an elaborate statue commemorating the reform of the Turkish language. I assume this statue refers to the changes in alphabet introduced in 1928 and the creation of the Turkish Language Association in 1932 but, again, I'm not sure. Wikipedia has an article on the Turkish language here.


Around Istanbul: A publicity presentation drew a small crowd at Kadikoy. A figure forming part of the language commemorative statue is just visible behind the speakers in yellow jackets.

I sat watching the people coming and going for a while. A middle-aged Turkish woman joined me and opened a chocolate biscuit snack, immediately sharing it with me in a charming gesture. We sat companionably in silence for a few minutes, then I thanked her, said 'goodbye' and made my way towards the town. I had intended to explore the town a little but when I saw how crowded the streets were I decided, instead, to head for the Kadikoy Metro.


Around Istanbul: Kadikoy

On my way to the Metro station, I crossed the single, 1000mm-gauge line of the Moda Tram (Line T3) which forms a short, circular route advertised as a 'nostalgic tram'. It didn't appear to be operating on Sunday. There's a useful Wikipedia article here.


Istanbul's Metro: Entering Kadikoy Station, Kadikoy Line Metro (oh dear, the down escalator's not working).

Istanbul's M4 Metro line ('Kadikoy Metro') extends for 26.5 km and opened in 2012, using rolling stock from the Spanish company CAF. It's Standard Gauge to 'Light Rail' standards, powered from a 1,500 volt d.c. overhead conductor. There's a Wikipedia article here and an article on all Istanbul's Metro lines here.

I only travelled one stop on the Kadikoy Metro, to Ayrilik Cesmesi, so that I could transfer to the present Asian terminus of the Marmaray Line, one stop from Uskudar. The Marmaray platforms at Ayrilik Cesmesi are on the surface and there was quite a crowd waiting as the next train pulled in from the turnback sidings.


Marmaray Line surface-platform at Ayrilik Cesmesi, with train arriving.

Phase 1 of the Marmaray project, from Ayrilik Cesmesi (Asian side) to Kazlicesme (European side) opened in 2013. The line is Standard Gauge to 'Heavy Rail' standards, powered from a 25 kV a.c. overhead conductor. I'd already traversed the Marmaray Tunnel twice the previous day, travelling between Sirkeci and Uskudar and back again (described briefly in the post here). The engineering achievement of crossing the Sea of Marmara with an immersed-tube tunnel construction (I believe the deepest in the world) in an earthquake zone continued to impress me.

I had to stand during the speedy journey back to the European side. Some people got off at Sirkeci but the train remained quite full as we continued to Yenikapi, one stop beyond Sirkeci. There was a mass exodus at Yenikapi, as I anticipated, since Yenikapi is an interchange station with two Metro Lines - M1 ('Ataturk Airport Metro') and M2 ('Taksim Metro').


Istanbul's Metro: The Mezzanine Concourse at Yenikapi Station (interchange station serving Taksim Metro, Ataturk Airport Metro, Marmaray Line).

The Ataturk Airport Metro Line not only serves the airport but the coach station at Otogar and a branch to Kirazli which connects with the Basaksehir Metro. There was no time to sample these routes, instead, I'd decided to take the Taksim Metro Line as far as Taksim. It would also have been interesting to explore beyond Taksim, as there is yet another Metro Line (the Etiler Metro) and a branch serving a funicular at Havaray which runs on a concrete viaduct but, with limited time at my disposal, Taksim was to be my destination.


Istanbul's Metro: Boarding the Taksim Metro at Yenikapi

Istanbul's M2 Metro line ('Taksim Metro') extends for 23.5 km and opened in 2000, using rolling stock from Alstom. Standard Gauge to 'Light Rail' standards, it is powered from a 750 volt d.c. third rail. There's more information on Wikipedia here.


Istanbul's Metro: Yenikapi - Taksim

The journey to Taksim was swift and uneventful, stopping at Vezneciler, Halic and Sishane and I was glad that the long escalator to return me to the surface was working.

Istanbul's Metro: Returning to the surface at Taksim.

There's a Wikipedia article with more details of Taksim Metro Station here. A short walk from the metro station, I came to Gezi Park, very peaceful on that Sunday afternoon. But, in 2013, it had been the trigger for a series of wide-ranging, violent protests in Turkey. There's a detailed analysis of the escalation of what was initially a demonstration against an urban development plan into a major uprising against the state in the Wikipedia article here.


Around Istanbul: Fountain in Gezi Park, Taksim.

I walked towards Taksim Square, passing through the temporary market for 'Beoglu Antiquarian Book Fair'. I found Istanbul's other tram line, called simply 'Nostalgic Tram' (line T2) but, like the 'Moda' tram, not running on Sunday. This line is described in the Wikipedia article here. The local bird population seemed well aware that the trams weren't operating, as large numbers were perching on the tramway's overhead conductors and guy wires.


Around Istanbul: Taksim Square.

The centrepiece of Taksim Square is the Republic Monument, by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica, which was completed 1928. Wikipedia has additional information here.


The Republic Monument, Taksim Square, Istanbul, by Pietro Canonica, completed 1928.

Determined to travel on at least one of Istanbul's funiculars, I walked back to Taksim Metro Station and through the long pedestrian tunnels leading to the Kabatas Funicular. This is a modern, underground system with two cable-hauled counter-balanced trains operating on a single line with a passing loop. Because of the gradient the doors, stepped floors and seats in each coach are set at an angle to the rails. There's a Wikipedia article here and a video (by MBC) here.

I emerged from the underground funicular a few yards from Kabatas Terminus on the T1 (Sultanahmet) tram line as it was getting dusk. The modern tram station is on a double-track line which runs on the central margin of a busy dual-carriageway road. An empty tram arrived and I took my seat. Before the tram left, quite a few more passengers had boarded and, after three intermediate stops had picked up more passengers, it was standing room only. We crossed the Galata Bridge and, after some difficulty, I left the crowded tram at Eminonu where it was already dark.

The waterfront was just yards away so I crossed to the nearest ferry waiting room which was crowded with people waiting for the next service to Uskudar. This route seems to be operated by modern,'double-ended' ferries with passenger ramps each end and accommodation for 500 passengers inside plus a further 200 outside. The Yalova Yard in Turkey built four of this design in 2015 named ŞH-KÜÇÜKSU, ŞH-GÖKSU, ŞH-GÜMÜŞSU and ŞH-DURUSU, each powered by two Scania DI13 070M diesel engines (engine data here). Earlier in the day, I'd photographed ŞH-DURUSU operating the route.


Istanbul's Ferries: 'SH-DURASU', arriving at Eminonu earlier in the day.

I took a seat in the noisy waiting room and, after a few minutes, the large ferry docked and, having passed through the automatic ticket barrier with my 'Istanbulkart', I was swept up the broad loading ramp with the boarding crowds. I assume the ferry was ŞH-DURUSU but, in the dark and the crush of people, I didn't confirm that. It was a little chilly on the water and rather damp so, for once, I was content to take a seat in the lower passenger saloon and watch through the misted window as we made our ten-minute crossing to Uskudar. I disembarked and was once again swept along as we passed through the broad exit gate into the street. As I was now noticeably tiring, I turned left, re-entered the terminal building and passed through the ticket barrier in time to rejoin the ferry I'd just left. Although still busy, the return crossing was not as crowded as the outward journey.

Safely back at Eminonu, I decided to head towards my hotel using the Sultanahmet tram which uses the 'Citadis 304', a 3-section, fourth-generation version of the successful Alstom 'Citadis' range. There's a Wikipedia article here. I was too tired and it was too dark for pictures but I'd photographed one of the Alstom 'Citadis' trams (at Sirkeci) the previous day.


Istanbul, Turkey: Sirkeci Tram Stop with a Sultanahmet line Alstom 'Citadis 304' tram heading for Kabatas.

I stayed on the tram to the Grand Bazaar tram stop but found the area quiet and uninviting so decided to cut short any further exploring and slowly make my way (largely downhill, thankfully) back to my hotel, amazed at how much I'd seen since my arrival the previous day.

The next morning, I finished my packing and said 'good-bye' to the hotel staff. My booked car arrived on time and took me back to Ataturk Airport for my final flight back to Birmingham and home after an extremely stimulating and instructive trip which, together with my Caspian Odyssey tour, had embraced four countries.

Related posts on other websites

The Marmaray Tunnel and railways

Marmaray Railway Engineering Project.
Haydarpaşa railway station (Wikipedia).
TCDD Taşımacılık (Wikipedia).
TCDD (Wikipedia).
Marmaray (Wikipedia).
Marmaray Tunnel (Wikipedia).

Istanbul Ferries

Ferries in Istanbul (Wikipedia).
IDO fleet list.
Sehir Hatlari History.
Sehir Hatlari typical modern ferry.

Light Rail and Trams

Istanbul Metro (Wikipedia).
M1 (Istanbul Metro) (Wikipedia).
M2 (Istanbul Metro) (Wikipedia).
M4 (Istanbul Metro) (Wikipedia).
Kabatas Funicular (Wikipedia).
Taksim (Istanbul Metro) (Wikipedia). Istanbul Tram (Wikipedia).
Istanbul nostalgic tramways (Wikipedia).


Related posts on this website

This is one of a number of posts describing my weekend in Istanbul, starting with Arriving in Istanbul.

Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Istanbul reports' link displays all the posts on this weekend in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Istanbul reports.

My pictures

Istanbul, Turkey.
Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy.
Istanbul's Metro.
Istanbul's Railways.
All my pictures in Turkey.

To Kadikoy by Ferry

Sunday 30th September 2018

After my whistle-stop tour of Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Museum of Archaeology in the morning, the hotel restaurant was able to provide a wonderful soup with a selection of fresh bread and a Coca-Cola, after which I felt much better and started to plan more exploration for the afternoon. This time, I determined to make more use of my Instanbulkart in sampling public transport. The previous day, I'd travelled to 'Asian Turkey' by rail through the Marmaray Tunnel (landing on the Asian side a second time, during my Bosphorus Cruise, at Bakoz).

This time, I intended to reach 'Asian Turkey' by a public ferry from the waterfront so I walked downhill to Sirkeci (a 'quarter' in the Eminonu 'neighbourhood' of Fatih 'district') and studied the area more closely.


Istanbul, Turkey: Approaching the waterfront at Sirkeci on Ankara Avenue with a Sultanahmet line tram heading towards Katabas.

To my right was the car ferry terminal operated by IDO (privatised in 2011) with the car/passenger ferry 'Sahilbent' moored, but no activity (it was Sunday). Afterwards, I quickly identified what IDO call a 'conventional ferry' (single-hull, not high speed), with loading ramps at both ends, on the IDO fleet list here.


Istanbul, Turkey with 'Sahilbent' passenger/car ferry moored at Sirkeci ferry landing. This is the terminal for the short crossing to Harem.

I turned left and walked along the waterfront towards the Golden Horn, passing three large ferry waiting rooms each displaying electronic signage showing the time of the next departure and destination. Many of the larger passenger ferries bustling to-and-fro were modern and 'double-ended' with passenger ramps each end, like the 'SH-DURASU' I watched arriving at Eminonu (it was built 2015 in Turkey - brief information here)


Istanbul's Ferries: 'SH-DURASU', built 2015, arriving at Eminonu.

This seemed altogether too modern, compared with what I remembered from various films featuring Istanbul (including the 1963 James Bond Film 'From Russia with Love'). I had set my heart on one of the 'traditional' ferries with a bow, stern, funnel and side loading. The Wikipedia article here suggests most were made (or at least designed) by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Glasgow). When I had almost reached the Galata Bridge, I found a suitable ferry loading for Kadikoy and, within moments, my Instanbulkart had allowed me to board. Actually, the ferry was one of the more modern vessels, built in Turkey in 2008 ('M/S ŞH-FATİH', I think - brief information here).


Istanbul's Ferries: View along waterfront as the Kadikoy Ferry prepares to leave Eminonu with Topkapi Palace in the background.

As we crossed the Sea of Marmara, we left the Maiden's Tower to port and Topkapi Palace to starboard

Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy, looking towards Bosphorus showing Maiden's Tower, First Bridge and (just visible) Second Bridge. A large cargo vessel is emerging from the Bosphorus


Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy: View of Topkapi Palace

By the time we approached the container port of Haydarpasa, we had crossed the Sea of Marmara, passing SeaLine 'Ro-Ro' Passenger/Cargo vessel 'Sea Partner' and container ship 'Warnow Beluga'.


Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy showing SeaLine 'Ro-Ro' Passenger/Cargo vessel 'Sea Partner' at Port of Haydarpasa.


Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy: Container ship 'Warnow Beluga' and container crane at Port of Haydarpasa.

I managed a decent picture of the Selimiye Barracks on the hill behind the port. Better known as Scutari, this was the location where Florence Nightingale started her remarkable work during the Crimean War.

Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy: Port of Haydarpasa (Asian side) with two blue-painted container cranes and orange Straddle Cranes. In the background, the massive Selimiye Barracks.

As we approached Kadikoy, I watched 'M/S Caddebostan' (built 1987 - brief information here) setting off back to the Istanbul.


Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy with ferry 'M/S Caddebostan' sailing behind the breakwater. Note on-shore grain silos.


Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy: Approaching Kadikoy with the fire-damaged Haydarpasa Railway Station visible extreme left.

Shortly before we docked at Kadikoy, we passed what was, until a serious fire in 2010, the busiest station in Turkey - Hydarpasa. The Ottoman-era neo-classical station building built in 1909 is now closed to trains, sheathed in scaffolding and being restored, its long-term future still unclear. There are plans for the new high-speed line from Ankara to join-up with the Marmaray Tunnel and provide a service to the European side but time scales appear fluid.


Istanbul's Ferries: Fire-damaged Haydarpasa Railway Station under restoration.

Ferry 'M/S ŞEHİT İLKER KARTER' left the berth as we approached Kadikoy. This ferry was built in 1980, also in a Turkish yard (brief information here). 'Sehit' means martyr - Ilker Carter (1943-1974) was a jet pilot in the Turkish Air Force, dying in Cyprus during operations following the Cypriot coup d'état.


Istanbul's Ferries, Eminonu - Kadikoy: Kadikoy ferry terminal with ferry 'S. Ilker Carter' departing as we arrive.

Related posts on other websites

The Marmaray Tunnel and railways

Marmaray Railway Engineering Project
Haydarpaşa railway station

Istanbul Ferries

Ferries in Istanbul (Wikipedia).
IDO fleet list.
Sehir Hatlari History.
Sehir Hatlari Modern ferry.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a number of posts describing my weekend in Istanbul, starting with Arriving in Istanbul.

Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the weekend in sequence. Next report

Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Istanbul reports' link displays all the posts on this weekend in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Istanbul reports.

My pictures

Istanbul, Turkey.
Istanbul's Ferries: Eminonu - Kadikoy.
All my pictures in Turkey.

Exploring Istanbul

Sunday 30th September 2018

The hotel served an excellent and varied breakfast in the ground floor restaurant which occupies a light and airy modern conservatory at the rear of the property. I'd purchased a Museum Pass from the helpful receptionist Utkan. This credit card sized pass gives entry to all the government museums in Istanbul for five days from first use. These museums open at 9.00 o'clock and I'd hoped to start early worrying that visitor numbers would increase later.

I determined to visit Hagia Sophia Museum first, which I estimated would be perhaps a 15 minute walk from the hotel. The site was already busy when I arrived but, having purchased a Museum Pass, I quickly gained entry.

Hagia Sophia Museum


Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul: The public entrance. Note the massive buttresses.

Since its inauguration in 537 A.D. as a Byzantine Christian Cathedral, it has variously served as a Roman Catholic Cathedral, Greek Orthodox Cathedral and, for 478 years, as an Ottoman Mosque until turned into a museum by the secularist Kemal Ataturk in 1935. There is currently a movement to restore its religious use.

Entering the nave, I was I immediately impressed with the sheer scale of the building and its huge main dome.


Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul: The blue scaffolding is used for ongoing conservation work. Note how the weight of the windowed dome is transferred by 'pendentives' (3-sided portions of a sphere) onto four main pillars. In the background, one of two abutted 'semi-domes' resulting in a rectangular nave area.


Foreground: Omphalion (place of coronation of Emperors), rear: Muezzins' Loge, Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul


Minbar (pulpit for Imam), Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul


Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul: showing Flying buttresses.

I could have spent much longer here but I was anxious to move on before I became too tired.

Topkapi Palace Museum

It didn't take me long to walk from Hagia Sophia to the adjacent Great Square with the Sultan Ahmet III Fountain in front of the imposing Imperial Entrance to the gardens of the walled First Courtyard of Topkapi Palace.


Great Square, Istanbul: Left rear: Imperial Gate (leading to First Courtyard) Right foreground: Sultan Ahmed III Fountain.

Sultan Mehmed II conquered Istanbul in 1453 and commissioned the building of Topkapi as a Palace and Administrative Centre, replacing (or incorporating) earlier construction. Its irregular layout with disparate buildings and pavilons was unlike other European or Oriental palaces. The site is divided into four courtyards and the Harem but during my exploration I didn't have the useful 5-page plan which can be found on the official website here.

Topkapi was used by the Ottoman Rulers from 1478 to 1853 but, in 1843, Sultan Abdulmecid I decided that a medieval palace was no longer appropriate and he commissioned the building of the Dolmabahce Palace overlooking the Bosphorus in the European Rococo style.


Bosphorus Cruise: Dolmabahce Palace in the European Rococo style, built between 1843 and 1856.

As soon as the new palace was completed in 1856, Topkapi became accommodation for 'ranked officers'. With independence in 1924, Kemal Ataturk made Topkapi a public museum, in an action signifying a 'new beginning' for Turkey.

In the First Courtyard I found quite a 'scrum' of people buying admission tickets but, with my Museum Pass, I was able to skip this and head directly through the electronic admission gate at the Gate of Salutation where there was a cursory, friendly security check and then I was free to explore.


The Gate of Salutation, leading to Second Courtyard, Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul

Sultan Mehmed II established protocols to ensure his seclusion, including strict silence in the inner courtyards and, even today, I found the gardens of the courtyards pleasant and tranquil (although I admit I tended to avoid the busier areas like the exhibitions in the Outer Treasury).


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: Second Courtyard L: Imperial Council, R: Outer Treasury, Rear: Tower of Justice.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: Imperial Council Building.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: Entrance to the Third Courtyard through the Gate of Felicity.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: The Third Courtyard. The white, domed building is the Library of Ahmed III with the Audience Chamber to the right.

For some reason, admission to the Harem is not included in the basic 'Topkapi' ticket but with my 'All Areas' Museum Pass, that was not a problem. However, whilst I hope I'm not a strident feminist, I do have a problem with both the historic and current position of women in some societies although the Harem is currently presented as private accommodation for the Sultan and his extended family. So I was keen to visit the Harem. It's a large, rabbit-warren of a place with over 300 rooms and, in general, lower standards of decoration seemed to apply although rooms used by the Sultan were fairly grand. Some of the areas struck me as more gloomy and gaol-like than the tranquil courtyards I'd enjoyed earlier (or perhaps my prejudices are showing).


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: The Harem.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: The Apartments of the Queen Mother.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: Imperial Hall with Throne of the Sultan.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: Privy Chamber of Sultan Murad III. Built in 1578, it is an important example of Ottoman architecture.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: The Courtyard of the Favourites in the Harem.


Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul: The 'Golden Road' passage in the Harem.

It would take days to do justice to this museum but I did form the impression that the Ottoman Rulers enjoyed quite an agreeable lifestyle in the pleasant surroundings of Topkapi. Because of its strategic location, controlling the trade route connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul has always been important, during Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and modern eras. The detailed history is very complex but I afterwards found a fascinating animation on YouTube here titled 'The History of Anatolia - Year by Year'. 'Anatolia' is roughly similar to modern Asian Turkey and was the homeland of what expanded to become the Turkish or Ottoman Empire. However, worried that I would become over-tired touring Topkapi Palace, I decided to leave after just a fascinating glimpse, with the intention of walking back to my hotel to rest. It was pleasant walking through the old streets but, when I came upon the entrance of the archaeological museum the principle of "I may never pass this way again" kicked-in and I decided I should at least make a brief visit.

Archaeological Museum

Opened in 1891 this is a large museum with over one million Greek, Roman and Byzantine artifacts. It's currently undergoing fairly major reconstruction limiting what is on display but I nevertheless found it fascinating. It's very much a 'traditional' museum - exhibits you can walk right up to, with just a card in Turkish and English by way of interpretation. Being rather old-fashioned this suited me very well.


Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul

In the museum grounds, there was a reconstruction of a 9th century trading ship 10m long, lateen rigged, based on evidence from a shipwreck excavated in Theodosian Harbour. The lateen rig is used in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Egypt on the felucca design, so I was reminded of the felucca trips I'd enjoyed in Egypt (posts here and here).


Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul: A reconstruction of a 9th century trading ship 10m long, lateen rigged, based on evidence from a shipwreck excavated in Theodosian Harbour.

The were displays on various topics - the perennial water supply problems, the Golden Horn Chain, the 19th century restoration of Hagia Sophia by the Fossati Brothers.

Elaborate aqueducts were originally used to bring in water, feeding hundreds of open and enclosed cisterns with tubular carved stone water mains.


Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul: Sections of carved marble water mains.

The Golden Horn Chain was a large chain pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata to prevent unwanted ships from entering the Golden Horn Moorings.


Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul: Remains of the Golden Horn Chain, used to close-off the moorings of the Golden Horn to enemy ships and a painting showing fortified Constantinople.

Various artifacts from different periods were on display, such as this section of a Babylonian ceremonial procession street featuring repeated lions in relief. The original was 300 metres long.


Section of Babylonian ceremonial procession street featuring repeated lions in relief.

Perhaps most impressive was the profusion of Greek and Roman statuary. There were so many important works (and so many visitors) that I'm afraid I didn't attempt photography. So I reluctantly left the museum and slowly walked back to my hotel (pausing to top-up my Instanbulkart with some help from a friendly local in the hope that my energy level would revive). The hotel restaurant was able to provide a wonderful soup with a selection of fresh bread and a Coca-Cola, after which I felt much better and started to plan more exploration for the afternoon.

Related posts on other websites

Hagia Sophia Museum

It's worth looking at the Wikipedia article here and the Hagia Sophia Museum Website here (in particular, the links at the bottom of the home page to History/Interior/Exterior).

Topkapi Palace Museum

For more information, see the Wikipedia article here (there's a detailed plan of the Harem and a number of excellent photographs here) or the Topkapi Palace Museum Website here (there's a brief history here, an architectural summary here, information on the various collections here) and a 5-page plan of the site here.

Archaeological Museum

There's a Wikipedia article here.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has a site here.

Related posts on this website

This is one of a number of posts describing my weekend in Istanbul, starting with Arriving in Istanbul.

Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the weekend in sequence.
Next report.

Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Istanbul reports' link displays all the posts on this weekend in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Istanbul reports.

My pictures

Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul.
Topkapi Palace Museum.
Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul.
All my pictures in Turkey.