Istanbul’s New Bosphorus Museum in Kabataş Ferry Terminal
There is a new museum in Istanbul - more precisely in Kabataş on the Bosphorus, just below Taksim. It is the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) that is behind the new Istanbul Bosphorus Museum, located on the second floor of the large new terminal building at the Kabataş ferry landing, where trams, buses and ferries meet. And it is actually quite large.
This is not a traditional history museum, so of course I had to take a closer look. And I was pleasantly surprised, because it is not a classical art museum either. Rather, it is a museum that tells history through art, where the history of the Bosphorus and Istanbul is presented through art, photographs, maps and other visual material.
A Story of the Bosphorus
The first and currently featured exhibition is called "We Carried the Moonlight Along the Waters - A Story of the Bosphorus" (Mehtabı Sürükledik Sularda: Bir Boğaziçi Hikâyesi) and runs until April 2027. There is also a permanent part of the museum, although when I visited, it was not entirely easy to tell what was permanent and what was not.
There are photographs, paintings, prints from different periods, historical maps and other material that together tell the story of the Bosphorus and the life that has unfolded around the strait over the centuries.
It is not simply a collection of old pictures. The exhibition explores the relationship between the city and the water - people, transportation, buildings and the role the Bosphorus has played in Istanbul's history.
İBB Has Become Very Good at This
And this is where I think İBB has become incredibly good at presenting history and culture. Not just at this museum, but at many of the places where the city has restored, opened and reimagined historic buildings and environments in recent years.
These include the former Baruthane complex, the old Feshane factory by the Golden Horn, the historic houses in Fener and the former gasworks in Gazhane, which is now a large cultural and arts centre.
One of the things I really think İBB has managed to do is make art and culture accessible in a way that leaves room for different ways of experiencing it. It can be 10 minutes, or several hours.
It can be a visit focused on a particular exhibition, or something more spontaneous - simply walking in and seeing what might catch your interest. There is no particular way it has to be experienced.
The Bosphorus Is Right Outside
From the museum, there is a view over the ferry landing and the Bosphorus. Ferries come and go while, inside, there are historic images and maps of the very same waters.
It creates a nice connection between the exhibition and the place where it is located.
And on top of the terminal building, there is a large public area that functions almost like a panoramic park overlooking the ferry landing and the Bosphorus.
And It's Free
Admission to the museum is free.
In recent years, Istanbul has gained a number of new museums and cultural spaces, and the Bosphorus Museum is another one that can be visited without an admission fee.
I also brought my camera and filmed a walk through the museum, so there is a video showing more of both the museum and the current exhibition.
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Bosphorus Museum
Opening hours:Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-19:00. Closed on Mondays.
Admission:Free
Accessibility:An elevator is available for visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users.
