The Pera Museum is a private art museum opened in 2005 by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation in the former Bristol Hotel in Tepebaşı, just off İstiklal Avenue. It is best known for its Orientalist painting collection, which includes Osman Hamdi Bey's famous The Tortoise Trainer, along with collections of Anatolian weights and measures and Kütahya ceramics, and for its international temporary exhibitions. It's also one of the best rainy-day options in Beyoğlu.
On this page5
From grand hotel to art museum
The building was designed by the architect Achille Manoussos and opened in 1893 as the Bristol Hotel, at a time when Pera was the district of embassies and grand hotels for European travellers. In the early 2000s the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation converted it into a museum, keeping the historic façade while completely redesigning the interior to modern museum standards.
Since opening in 2005, the museum has become one of Istanbul's leading art institutions, with temporary exhibitions that bring major international artists to the city, alongside film programmes and publications.
The Tortoise Trainer and the Orientalist collection
The star of the collection is Osman Hamdi Bey's The Tortoise Trainer, painted in 1906. In the interior of an old Ottoman building, an elderly man in a red robe, with a small drum on his back and a ney flute in his hands, gazes down at tortoises nibbling leaves on the floor. It is often read as a gentle satire on the slow pace of reform, and many see the figure as a self-portrait. Besides painting, Osman Hamdi Bey founded the Istanbul Archaeology Museums and the empire's first school of fine arts.
The Orientalist collection covers several hundred works from the 17th to the early 20th century, showing the Ottoman world through European eyes: embassy receptions, views of Istanbul, scenes of palace and bazaar life. The selection on display changes from time to time, so paintings are not always hung the same way, and The Tortoise Trainer itself is occasionally off view.
Other collections and programmes
- Anatolian Weights and Measures: Scales, weights and measuring tools spanning thousands of years, a surprisingly engaging story of trade that often fascinates children.
- Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics: A colourful selection of cups, jugs, bowls and tiles made in the workshops of Kütahya between the 18th and 20th centuries.
- Temporary exhibitions: Changing shows on the upper floors, sometimes featuring world-famous artists.
- Film and learning: Film programmes plus workshops for children and families; content changes through the year.
Planning a visit with the family
The Pera Museum is compact: an hour and a half to two hours is usually enough for the permanent collections and one temporary exhibition. There are lifts between floors, so visiting with a stroller is easy. The museum may close one day a week; check current opening days, the exhibition calendar and ticket options on its official website.
With children, ask them to count the tortoises in Osman Hamdi Bey's painting, or to choose the strangest set of scales in the weights and measures rooms. For more indoor ideas, see our rainy-day guide and our tips for Istanbul with kids.
Getting there from Sareban Hotel
From the Sultanahmet or Çemberlitaş stop near our hotel, take the T1 tram to Karaköy and ride the Tünel funicular up to Beyoğlu. From the upper station, it's a short walk towards Meşrutiyet Street and Tepebaşı.
You could start with the Galata Mevlevi Lodge, continue to the museum and finish with a stroll along İstiklal Avenue. For the wider district, see our Beyoğlu and Taksim guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Tortoise Trainer at the Pera Museum?
Yes, Osman Hamdi Bey's 1906 version is in the museum's collection. It is occasionally off display, so check before you go.
How long do I need at the Pera Museum?
About one and a half to two hours for the permanent collections and one temporary exhibition.
Is the Pera Museum good for children?
Yes. It's compact, has lifts, and sections like the weights and measures collection appeal to curious kids.
Do museum passes work at the Pera Museum?
It's a private foundation museum, so passes for state museums generally aren't accepted. Check the museum's website for current ticket options.
