Istanbul'da muze saatlar

Okay, so the title basically says in pidgin Turkce, "Istanbul museum times". What I'm trying to highlight is that Istanbul's sights are not open everyday, 24/7. Rather inconvenient if you've worked out what you want to see, but then find out on Monday that the archaeological museum is closed on Mondays, or worse, at about 3.30pm on Tuesday, closes at 4pm in the winter. So here's a basic summary of the sights with closed days and opening times.

Aya Sofya

 - closed Mondays, open 9am-6pm, 30L entry, 20L audio guide (recommended)

Basilica Cistern

- open daily, 9am-6.30pm, 20L entry for yabanci (foreigners)

Topkapi Palace

- closed Tuesdays, open 9am-4pm (winter), 25L

Archaeological Museum

- closed Mondays, open 9am-4pm (winter), 10L

Blue Mosque

 - open all week, various opening times depending on prayer times, free entry

Suleymaniye Mosque

- open all week, avoid Friday lunchtimes (sermon), free

Chora Church

- closed Wednesday, 9am-4.30pm (winter), 15L

Dolmabahce Palace

- closed Mon, Thurs, 9am-6pm, 30L palace/20L harem

Grand Bazaar

- closed Sundays, 9am-7pm, free entry (everything else priced at whatever they think they can get away with, e.g. haggle! "chok pahaluh! ujuz, ujuz..")

Arasta Bazaar (pictired)
- open daily (I think), 9am-7pm, closes earlier in winter and Ramadan; housed in former stables adjacent to the Blue Mosque.

Spice Bazaar

- open daily, 8am-6pm, free entry

Istanbul Modern (art)

- closed Monday, 10am-6pm, late opening Thursday (free entry for Turkish residents, otherwise 17L

Sakip Sabanci Museum (art)

- closed Monday, 10am-6pm, late opening Wednesday (free entry!), otherwise 20L

Rumei Hisari ('fortress on the Roman side')

- closed Wednesday, 9am-4.30pm, 6L

Bosphorus Ferry Tour

- daily, 10.35am from Eminonu, 25L return