Four Iconic Istanbul Landmarks Will Be Open For Night Visits This Summer
Istanbul sees more than 18.6 million international visitors per year—many of which seeking out the biggest tourist attractions in the city, including the Galata Tower and the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum. However, with rising summertime temperatures, waiting in line to get into the hot spots in the city is not exactly attractive, which is why the culture and tourism board has made the decision to allow nighttime visits to certain spots.
'This summer, our museums and heritage sites will stay open at night in 27 locations across Türkiye,' said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, minister of culture and tourism. 'The program aims to welcome both domestic and international visitors who want to explore cultural heritage away from the daytime heat.
Here are the Istanbul hot spots open for nighttime visits, as well as a list of the other attractions across the country that will remain open late this summer:
The Galata Tower in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul draws over a million visitors per year and there's almost always a line snaking its way around the tower. Thankfully this year the tower will remain open to visitors until 11 p.m., allowing guests to catch a glimpse of the Istanbul skyline at nightfall.
The group of three Istanbul Archaeology Museums will each remain open until 10 p.m. throughout the summer months. The museums collectively have over a million artifacts from nearly all periods of world history.
You won't be able to visit the Hagia Sophia after dark—but you can visit the neighboring Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum. The recently opened museum companion to the famous Hagia Sophia will remain open until 10 p.m. all summer long. Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Sultanahmet Square was the first of its kind to display both Turkish and Islamic works of art together and is well worth a visit, especially if you're fascinated by calligraphy, tilework, and carpets. The museum will stay open until 10 p.m. throughout the summer months.
The rest of the country will also see nighttime museum and cultural sites opened late, including the following cities and attractions:
Ankara The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations will remain open until 9 p.m.
The Ethnography Museum will also remain open until 9 p.m.
Izmir In Izmir, the famous Ephesus will remain open until 11 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The Museum Izmir Culture and Arts Factory will be open until 9 p.m.
Antalya In Antalya, the Antalya Museum will remain open until 10 p.m.
The Alanya Museum will also remain open until 10 p.m.
Aspendos, Patara, Side, and the Nekropol Museum will also accept guests until 10 p.m.
Adiyaman Nemrut will be open from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Mugla The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology will receive guests until 10 p.m.
Aydin Didim will stay open until 9 p.m.
Denizli
Samsun The Samsun Museum will accept guests until 10 p.m.
Gaziantep In Gaziantep, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum will be open until 9 p.m.
Sanliurfa In Sanliurfa, the Sanliurfa Museum is open until 9 p.m.
The Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum will also be open until 9 p.m.
Nevsehir In Nevsehir, Zelve-Pasa Baglari will be open until 9 p.m.
The Derinkuyu Underground City, Kaymakli Underground City, and the Ozkonak Underground City will be open for guests until 9 p.m.
Erzurum The Erzurum Museum will also be open until 9 p.m.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Skift
2 hours ago
- Skift
Tourism in India Can Offset U.S. Tariff Losses, But Needs Big Investment
India should make tourism a national growth engine, according to former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, calling for at least INR 200 billion ($2.3 billion) to promote the country in global markets through a revamped 'Incredible India' campaign. 'A large country like India having a tourism budget of just INR 30 million ($361,000) is absurd,' Kant told CNBC-TV18, adding that a stronger tourism push could 'more than compensate' for the potential losses from proposed U.S. tariffs. The United States has suggested a 50% tariff on India in response to its imports of Russian oil. Kant, who spearheaded the original 'Incredible India' campaign and now sits on IndiGo's board as a non-executive director, sees this as a chance to offset the economic hit by unlocking tourism's full potential. 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring in radical reforms across sectors, make India more competitive, and use tourism as a growth engine,' he said. He add
Fox News
4 hours ago
- Fox News
Taliban lures young travel influencers four years after Afghanistan takeover
Nearly four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is continuing to welcome tourists and seeing a recent travel boost. Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration. Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year, with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year. "Tourism brings many benefits to a country," he said. "We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them." One of the first Afghan female tour guides recently led a group through the National Museum of Afghanistan – the group consisted of all women. Suzanne Sandral, an Australian in the group, told AP she was surprised. "It's not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of ... accusatory looks. Not at all." She said, "Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it's very different." Another woman in the group posted videos of her recent trip in June on TikTok. She captioned a video, "Exploring the nuanced and complex lives of Afghan women in context, and exploring all this beautiful land has to offer." The U.S. Department of State, however, is very clear. It lists travel to Afghanistan as "Travel Advisory Level 4: Do Not Travel" — warning of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities. "U.S. citizen travelers to Afghanistan have been wrongfully detained for months or even years," said a spokesperson. "We remind all U.S. citizen travelers that no adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." Other traveler influencers and regular tourists have shared their experiences on social media – with most showing the Taliban-run country in a positive light. A travel photographer posted a recap of her trip, saying she was "one of the first tourists to visit the country after the Taliban takeover." She added in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 56,000 times, "I was completely blown away by the incredible hospitality of the locals, amazing food and beautiful scenery." "No adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." A popular solo traveler and social media creator posted a video of his trip to Afghanistan, writing, "I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Afghanistan travel, but honestly, I had an amazing time there as a solo traveler." Another TikTok video that amassed nearly half a million likes shows an Australian traveler shopping at a food market. "Some of the best food I have had in all my travels was in Afghanistan," said the video's caption in part. Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban's promotion of tourism is an attempt at "image management." "As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women's lives in Afghanistan," said Bakhtari. She added, "The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime's public relations strategy." The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its human rights report in May, pointing out that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce and are unable to access services without a male relative — while girls are still deprived of their right to education. The State Department wrote in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices document that treatment of woman has become progressively worse. The new report stated that there has been "further restricted access to education, employment, and freedom of movement for women and girls – effectively removing them from public spaces." "By showcasing scenic landscapes and hospitality toward foreign visitors, especially influencers, they aim to create a narrative of stability and openness," said Bakhtari. Bakhtari noted she's seen a growing disconnect in global travel culture when it comes to adventure tourism. "The thrill of visiting the 'forbidden' or 'untouched' often outweighs concern for human rights … [It] becomes a form of voyeurism, one that prioritizes personal experience over the realities of those who live under oppression." Kelley Currie, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, discussed the danger of visiting Afghanistan, saying Americans should "buy travel insurance." The United States is "unable to provide consular services if something happens, especially if they are kidnapped and sold or given to other extremist groups," Currie told Fox News Digital. Adam Duckworth, Travelmation's president and founder, told Fox News Digital that travel companies take State Department advisories "very seriously." "If you are considering travel to a location in the higher levels, then do your research to understand why those places are on those lists," said Duckworth. Bakhtari said while Afghanistan is breathtakingly beautiful, "beauty should not blind us to injustice." "Travel should open hearts, not close eyes."
Fox News
11 hours ago
- Fox News
Taliban lures young female travel influencers four years after takeover
Nearly four years after Afghanistan fell to Taliban control, the Islamic country is continuing to welcome tourists and seeing a recent travel boost. Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021, following the chaotic withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration. Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) recently that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year, with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year. "Tourism brings many benefits to a country," he said. "We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them." One of the first Afghan female tour guides recently led a group through the National Museum of Afghanistan – the group consisted of all women. Suzanne Sandral, an Australian in the group, told AP she was surprised. "It's not what I expected at all. I expected to feel rather fearful. I expected to be given a lot of ... accusatory looks. Not at all." She said, "Wherever you go in the streets, if you smile at someone and give them a little nod or say hello, you get a terrific response. So it's very different." Another woman in the group posted videos of her recent trip in June on TikTok. She captioned a video, "Exploring the nuanced and complex lives of Afghan women in context, and exploring all this beautiful land has to offer." The U.S. Department of State, however, is very clear. It lists travel to Afghanistan as "Travel Advisory Level 4: Do Not Travel" — warning of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and limited health facilities. "U.S. citizen travelers to Afghanistan have been wrongfully detained for months or even years," said a spokesperson. "We remind all U.S. citizen travelers that no adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." Other traveler influencers and regular tourists have shared their experiences on social media – with most showing the Taliban-run country in a positive light. A travel photographer posted a recap of her trip, saying she was "one of the first tourists to visit the country after the Taliban takeover." She added in a TikTok video that has been viewed over 56,000 times, "I was completely blown away by the incredible hospitality of the locals, amazing food and beautiful scenery." "No adventure or vacation is worth the price of your freedom." A popular solo traveler and social media creator posted a video of his trip to Afghanistan, writing, "I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Afghanistan travel, but honestly, I had an amazing time there as a solo traveler." Another TikTok video that amassed nearly half a million likes shows an Australian traveler shopping at a food market. "Some of the best food I have had in all my travels was in Afghanistan," said the video's caption in part. Manizha Bakhari, ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria, told Fox News Digital the Taliban's promotion of tourism is an attempt at "image management." "As someone who has lived and worked in Afghanistan, I can say this: What these female influencers experience is not representative of women's lives in Afghanistan," said Bakhtari. She added, "The Taliban treat foreign women differently, and often with exaggerated politeness, because they serve a purpose in the regime's public relations strategy." The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released its human rights report in May, pointing out that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce and are unable to access services without a male relative — while girls are still deprived of their right to education. The State Department wrote in its 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices document that treatment of woman has become progressively worse. The new report stated that there has been "further restricted access to education, employment, and freedom of movement for women and girls – effectively removing them from public spaces." "By showcasing scenic landscapes and hospitality toward foreign visitors, especially influencers, they aim to create a narrative of stability and openness," said Bakhtari. Bakhtari noted she's seen a growing disconnect in global travel culture when it comes to adventure tourism. "The thrill of visiting the 'forbidden' or 'untouched' often outweighs concern for human rights … [It] becomes a form of voyeurism, one that prioritizes personal experience over the realities of those who live under oppression." Kelley Currie, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Economic and Social Council, discussed the danger of visiting Afghanistan, saying Americans should "buy travel insurance." The United States is "unable to provide consular services if something happens, especially if they are kidnapped and sold or given to other extremist groups," Currie told Fox News Digital. Adam Duckworth, Travelmation's president and founder, told Fox News Digital that travel companies take State Department advisories "very seriously." "If you are considering travel to a location in the higher levels, then do your research to understand why those places are on those lists," said Duckworth. Bakhtari said while Afghanistan is breathtakingly beautiful, "beauty should not blind us to injustice." "Travel should open hearts, not close eyes."
