Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

Ortaköy Mosque & the Bosphorus (Martyrs of July 15) Bridge | VOLANTHEVIST/GETTY IMAGES ©

ASKERI MÜZE ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Military Museum; % 0212-233 2720; www.askerimuze.tsk.tr; Vali Konağı Caddesi, Harbiye; adult/student & child ₺ 10/free; h 9am-5pm; g Cumhuriyet Cad) For a rousing museum experience, present yourself at this little-visited military museum 1km north of Taksim to view the militaria dating from Ottoman to recent times. Try to visit in the afternoon so that you can enjoy a concert by the Mehter military band, which plays most days between 3pm and 4pm. The large museum is spread over two floors. On the ground floor are displays of weapons and Turkish military uniforms through the ages, as well as glass cases holding battle standards, both Turkish and captured, including Byzantine, Greek, British, Austro-Hungarian, Italian and imperial Russian standards.

MUSEUM