With approximately 11,000 square feet of exhibition space, the new Istanbul Airport Museum offers an alternative to shopping and airport lounges for long-stay travelers.Opening for the first time in July 2020, the museum brings together hundreds of objects from museums across Turkey. It is designed to allow travelers to experience a comprehensive overview of history, art, and culture in one visit.Passengers should pay close attention to the signs directing them to the museum, which is located on the second floor of the main concourse. After walking down a long corridor decorated with beautiful photos of Turkey, visitors will enter a modern, technologically advanced museum. Ancient objects are placed in context through interactive video projections, and the entire experience is intensified by striking artistic lighting.The museum's first exhibition was titled "Treasures of Turkey: Faces of the Throne" and covered more than 3,000 years of history. A highlight of the exhibit was the Treaty of Kadesh, the world's first peace treaty signed in 1259 B.C. between the Egyptians and Hittites. The museum version is in Hittite, the language of the ancient Anatolian Kingdom of Hattusa. The Egyptian versions, located in Thebes, are written in hieroglyphics in two temples belonging to Pharaoh Ramses II.Commenting on the opening, Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya described the museum as having the "most modern technological facilities, exhibiting the thousands of years of experience of Anatolia and Istanbul." He also added that the new museum is the city's 90th.The new Istanbul Airport itself replaced the old Ataturk Airport in October 2018, with a full transfer of flights in April 2019. Although the entire airport plan will not be completed until 2025, the new facility will eventually accommodate 150 million travelers, with potential expansions to serve more than 200 million.With so much to offer, it is safe to say that the new museum is not an ephemeral operation.Before you go:The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission costs 10 euros, with free admission for visitors under 8 years old.
