Contrary to most of Istanbul’s other museums, which tend to focus on artwork and architecture, the Rahmi Koç Museum is all about the history of Turkey’s transportation, industrialisation, and communication from past to present. The founder, Turkish billionaire businessman Rahmi Koç, was inspired after himself touring the Henry Ford Museum in the United States.

Thankfully, rather than being a self-promotional history of Koç’s business ventures, the museum is comprised entirely of items from his private collection, which includes a Sultan’s carriage from the 1800’s. Vintage racing cars, locomotives, motorcycles, convertibles, even antique utility and commercial vehicles, many of which date back to the first few years of the 1900s. Old boats, aircraft, and even a submarine, plus all sorts of various parts, engines and accessories to further expand each exhibit.

And that’s just the transportation section. There are also exhibits dedicated to communication, engineering, and scientific instruments. One of the most surprising was the original telegraph model patented by Thomas Edison in 1876. Who would ever expect to find that in a museum in Istanbul? There is even a planetarium and hands-on exhibits for kids. Did I mention that these are just a taste of the permanent exhibits? There are also occasional temporary exhibits.

Get Cultured: Don’t plan on an hour or two here, plan on an entire day here.
*Not part of IMP* 12.5 TL + 7 TL for the submarine interior tour