This Istanbul walking tour takes you through Şişli, from Atatürk Museum to Ara Güler Museum in Bomonti and the cultural venues of Harbiye. The route makes a compact day in the area, with a flexible final stop and free admission to Ara Güler Museum.
- Start at Atatürk Museum, about a 1-minute walk from Halifaks Hotel.
- Ara Güler Museum is in the historic Bomontiada brewery complex.
- Ara Güler Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00.
- Harbiye offers a municipal theatre and an open-air theatre.
Start around Atatürk Museum
Begin at Atatürk Museum in Şişli, then make it your first stop before continuing toward Bomonti. The house museum offers a historical starting point for the walk; its background and visiting details are covered in this Atatürk Museum Şişli visitor guide.
Keep the morning’s plan simple: visit the museum, then head toward Ara Güler Museum at Bomontiada. The route connects two distinct parts of Şişli without needing to add an unsupported detour or a fixed schedule between stops.
Continue to Ara Güler Museum
Ara Güler Museum is in Bomonti, inside the historic Bomontiada brewery complex at Birahane Sokak No:1, F Blok, 34384 Şişli, İstanbul. The museum presents changing exhibitions drawn from Ara Güler’s photographic archive, and admission is free.
Plan this stop around its opening pattern: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00; Sunday, 12:00 to 18:00; closed Monday. Hours and admission details can change, so check the official site before you go. The museum’s archive and visit are the focus of this guide to Ara Güler Museum.
After the museum, continue toward Harbiye for the day’s cultural-venue stop. The walk shifts the route from Bomonti’s former brewery complex to the theatres and concert hall around Harbiye.
Walk toward Harbiye’s cultural venues
Harbiye brings together several cultural venues, including Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage, Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre and Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.
Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage is at Darülbedayi Caddesi No:3, 34367 Şişli, İstanbul, and has a seating capacity of 598. Public-transport options include bus lines 30A, 32T, 54K, 72T, 73, 89C and DT1, as well as the M2 metro line.
Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre is at Taşkışla Caddesi No:8, 34367 Şişli, İstanbul, with a seating capacity of 4,532. The municipal theatre’s institutional beginnings date to 1914, when Mayor Cemil (Topuzlu) Paşa secured a municipal decision to establish Darülbedayi-i Osmani.
The open-air theatre and surrounding stages form part of Harbiye’s cultural district, covered in this guide to Harbiye’s venues.
Finish with a flexible Şişli stop
Finish by choosing one more landmark that suits the time you have left. Vedat Tek Evi, MSGSÜ Bomonti Kampüsü and the Military Museum are options for a final stop, rather than a sequence to squeeze into the route.
For a shorter finish, stay around the Şişli streets near your starting point. If you choose another cultural stop, check its official information before setting out.
FAQs
Is Ara Güler Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free.
When is Ara Güler Museum open?
It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Monday; check the official site before you go.
Where is Ara Güler Museum?
It is in the historic Bomontiada brewery complex at Birahane Sokak No:1, F Blok, 34384 Şişli, İstanbul.
Which cultural venues are in Harbiye?
The route’s Harbiye stops include Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage, Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre and Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall.