Rahmi M. Koc Museum of Turkey
One of Turkey’s most comprehensive private museums, Koç Museum showcases the most unique works at its indoor and outdoor exhibition areas.
One of Turkey’s most comprehensive private museums, Rahmi M. Koç Museum showcases the most unique works at its indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. The museum, which opened its doors in 1994 featuring a special collection of distinguished works, is positioned on the shores of Haliç. Covering an area of 27 thousand square meters, this cultural treasure is comprised of three main sections.
Indeed, the museum hosts exhibitions that are replaced by new ones periodically. You may encounter numerous artifacts pertaining to the history and cultural values of Turkey at these historical buildings where many events, workshops, and training sessions are held.
Know more about Rahmi M. Koc Museum Turkey
This splendid museum is devoted to the history of transport, industry, and communications in Turkey. Founded by the top of the Koç industrial group, one among Turkey’s most prominent conglomerates, it exhibits artifacts from Istanbul’s industrial past and is very interactive, making it a very enjoyable destination for those traveling with children.
The museum's collection is extremely eclectic, giving the impression of it being a grab bag of cool stuff that's been collected over the decades or been donated to the museum by individuals, organizations, or companies that didn’t know what else to try to do with it. This might sound like we’re damning the place with faint praise, but this is often removed from the case—we definitely encourage a visit to this remarkable Turkish museum to appreciate its exhibits.
The museum is in two parts: a replacement building constructed around a 19th-century dockyard on the Golden Horn side of the road and a restored and converted Byzantine stone building called the Langerhans. The latter was used as a foundry by the Ottomans and now houses a planetarium and an outsized collection of model trains and boats. The exhibits concerned with type of transport are particularly fascinating: you'll be able to admire an enormous collection of mint-condition classic cars; climb aboard historic trams; take a cruise on a restored 1936 steam tug (summer weekends only).
Enter the cabin of a 1942 Douglas DC-3 Dakota; board a 1944 US naval submarine (advance bookings essential); or take a brief trip on a working narrow-gauge railway.
What not to miss at the Rahmi M Koc Museum
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On the initial floor, the most exhibit is the Calendar fog ferryboat which was in-built Newcastle upon Time, England in 1911.
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There are a variety of bikes on the bottom floor starting from penny-farthings to an early Royal Enfield motorbike.
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For a further 7TL, you'll board a moored WWII-era submarine, in-built Portsmouth shipyard, USA in 1944.
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The self-propelled Rail Car , "La Littering ” with its original 1930s fittings and accessories.
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The Discovery Sphere is Istanbul’s first stable planetarium which confers educational films.
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There are many hands on exhibits including a cut-away car, a Blanca airplane, and various science experiments.
Hidden Gems Most Visitors Miss
Secret wonders are concealed behind Rahmi M. Koc Museum's historical walls, ready to be discovered by curious visitors, an essential stop for your itinerary.
Lesser-known exhibits
Byzantine stones encase astounding treasures - meticulously built historic shops that transport visitors through time. Each storefront has a tale to tell: toy vendors display their wares, cobblers' tools are left half-finished, ship chandlers' shelves are loaded with nautical supplies, and chemists' bottles and optical instruments glimmer behind glass. Stars whirl overhead in the planetarium of the Lengerhane building, where miniature trains and boats share space with heavenly wonders.
Modern history also finds its niche. Microsoft's meticulously assembled display chronicles the exhilarating history of computing, each period piece indicating milestones towards our current age of digital refinement. Precious scientific instruments breathe history of courage - one being the very chronometer employed to chart Henry Morton Stanley's expeditions.
Interactive displays
Marvels are brought alive in the "How Things Work" gallery. Curiosity faces insight there through:
- Mechnaical principles revealed with the press of a button
- Domestic secrets exposed by open enclosures
- Light and mirror experiments beckoning to budding scientists
- Historic innovations brought back to life
Information flows through fingers along each gallery. Mechanical marvels expose their innards, automobiles yawn open their secrets, and household appliances lay bare their hearts. Stars spin around the planetarium dome as scuba gear tells tales of sea adventure.
Below the middle-level galleries, there is further investigation in the history area where kids and adults learn by opening mechanics secrets as controls respond to pressing buttons and lever flipping. Every artifact is an educator, and every exhibit is a window of technological heritage directly experienced.
Planning Your Visit to Koc Museum
The Rahmi M. Koc Museum opens from Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and stays open longer on weekends from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You won't find it open on Mondays or during major religious holidays.
The best time to visit is during spring and autumn. These seasons are perfect to learn about the museum's vast collection. You'll find fewer tourists around, which makes your visit more relaxed. Weekday mornings are usually the quietest times to examine the exhibits.
A regular ticket costs 700 TL, while students pay 350 TL. The museum runs independently, so the Istanbul Museum Pass doesn't work here.
You can reach the museum easily. Busses 47, 47E, 47Ç, or 47N from Eminönü take about 11 minutes. Visitors from Taksim can take busses 36T or 54NT. A scenic option is the Halic Hatti ferry that connects Eminönü, Karakoy, and Uskudar to the Haskoy pier near the museum.
Exceptional interpretive councils in Turkish and English are provided. There's also a Turkish restaurant right on the waterfront to try the Turkish cuisine, a restaurant during a renewed 1953 ferry boat, and a French restaurant within the Langerhans. Children’s playgrounds and carousels are successful with little ones.
FAQs
Q1. What are the opening hours of the Rahmi M. Koc Museum?
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and on weekends from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It's closed on Mondays and during major religious holidays.
Q2. How much does it cost to visit the Rahmi M. Koc Museum?
Adult admission is 700 TL, while students can enter for 350 TL. The Istanbul Museum Pass is not applicable for this museum.
Q3. What are some must-see exhibits at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum?
The museum offers diverse exhibits including vintage cars, a WWII-era submarine, historic aircraft, and maritime artifacts. Highlights include the 1898 Malden steam car, the TCG Uluçalireis submarine, and a Douglas DC-3 aircraft.