A sometimes overlooked #reasonstolikeistanbul is the profusion of quirky museums.
Some famous Istanbul museums reflect the city’s ancient history, such as the Archaeology Museum (housing exhibits from both within and outside what is today Turkey) or the unparalleled Aya Sofya. These should be on the itinerary of any visitor.
But some of my favourite museums here are modern, quirky or both. Looking at #reasonstolikeistanbul tweets over the past four years, I’d highlight:
1) Borusan Contemporary: an office building during the week, an art gallery at weekends. A cool concept brilliantly realised:
2) The Bilgi University Energy Museum: unexpected and hands-on in a little-visited part of town:
3) The Sabanci Museum in Emirgan. Locally known as “The house with the horse” because of the statue outside, it features wonderful gardens; changing exhibitions (including a fine Anish Kapoor show in 2014) and an upmarket restaurant with fine views:
4) The Photography Museum in Fatih: little publicised but interesting. I enjoyed my visit there in 2015:
5) The Museum of Innocence the concept is so high as to be stratospheric. We surely need more museums which push the boundaries of what exactly a museum is. I have a visit planned there soon.
I’d welcome readers’ suggestions on other quirky or little known museums which are #reasonstolikeistanbul.
Follow Leigh Turner on Twitter @leighturnerFCO