Istanbul International Airport Opens Historic Museum

Istanbul International Airport (IST) is opening a new museum to be of interest to international travelers, whether they have taken an in-depth, whirlwind tour of Turkey and want to add context to all they have experienced or whether they are transiting through Istanbul and want to get an up-close sense of the country’s breath of history as the crossroads of civilization.

The new Istanbul Airport Museum is kicking off with the “Treasures of Turkey: Faces of the Throne” exhibition. This elevates the airport from a global hub with outstanding passenger service to a venue for culture and art, presenting pieces from throughout Turkish history for travelers to explore. Istanbul Airport joins other airports such as San Francisco or Amsterdam in hosting its museum.

“Treasures of Turkey: Faces of the Throne” is displaying 316 different pieces from 29 Turkish museums. The exhibition is a collection that consists of several fascinating artefacts such as the “Kadesh Treaty”, the first peace treaty in recorded history. The exhibition comprises pieces of the prehistoric Göbeklitepe and Çatalhöyük eras, along with historic artefacts belonging to Anatolian civilizations and the many other periods.

“We want to turn the time spent at the airport into an unique experience. Our aim is to turn our passengers attention on art and culture,” said Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of İGA Airport Operation Inc. “With this museum, we have been able to gather some original artifacts under a single roof, which would otherwise be impossible to set eyes on at a single time.”

The museum also offers introductory information on 18 places in Turkey listed as World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

The museum is open between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. Daily. Admission is €5, free admission to visitors under 8 years.