Archaeological Museum of Izmir
Archaeological Museum of Izmir
Archaeological Museum of Izmir
4
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
This museum houses many fine sculptures and antiquities discovered in Izmir and other neighboring ancient cities.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Archaeological Museum of Izmir and nearby attractions
The area
Address
How to get there
- Konak • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,187 within 3 miles
Attractions
132 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
191 reviews
Excellent
67
Very good
77
Average
36
Poor
9
Terrible
2
RebeccaTravels Culture Seeker & Foodie
181 contributions
Feb 2020
The museum collection is nice but the museum is very small, and you may see more interesting artefacts in other museums (ie in the museum of ephesus). A huge mosaic can be seen on the basement, and two floors of the museum are for the collection of mainly roman statues and coins, as well as few impressive copper statues (lion, woman and boy). Right outside you get a nice view of the sea, and can continue down to a series of remains, including from the temple of Dionysus(?) and gravestones- including both byzantine and Jewish ones.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marco_Polo499
Milan, Italy274 contributions
Oct 2019
When I visited this museum about 15 years ago, I found it interesting and reasonably well stocked. In the meantime, many other archaeological museums have been created or have been renewed in this part of Turkey and, in comparison, the Izmir archaeological museum now appears rather modest. What is more, no effort has been made to build a narration around the pieces on display, and the museum appears as an exhibit without a soul, just a row of items. It is inevitable that the mind will go to the wonderful museums of Ephesus, Burdur and Aphrodisias, and even to the other archaeological museum of Izmir named "History and Art Museum".
This museum contains two collections: 1) sculptures of the Greek and Roman periods and 2) ceramics. Several pieces are located in the garden.
The collection of sculptures is located on the entrance floor of the museum. It contains some dozens of statues and other smaller sculptures, all of them about two thousand years old. Some statues are remarkable for their beauty and workmanship, but too many are of little significance, being often headless or armless and anonymously labelled as "a Roman man" or “a Roman woman”; more interesting are the disconnected heads, all remarkable for the beauty of the portraits. The pieces are well displayed and well lit, but the collection appears rather informal and without guidelines; this is quite surprising, since Izmir is in the middle of a geographic area dotted with archaeological sites from which an enormous quantity of remains has been recovered. Little effort has been made to accompany the exhibition with notes, explanations or other information linking the various objects exposed to the history of the sites where they were found and to the cultural environment in which they were produced. All in all, I found this part of the museum only moderately interesting.
The ceramic collection of is on the upper floor. Although pottery may be a less seductive topic, it nevertheless seemed to me as the better part of the museum. There are objects dated from 3000 BC to the Byzantine period. Many pieces are very beautiful, but they can be expected to attract the attention of specialists rather than the general public. The material was organized systematically and is accompanied by a fair amount of information.
The museum is very close to the Konak metro station: when you leave the station go to the hill in front of you; after less than 100 meters you will reach a multi-lane highway; do not cross it, but follow it to the left for about 100 meters; at the traffic lights there is a pedestrian crossing and the museum is located on the opposite side of the road. The museum is open 7 days a week, from 8:30 to 17:30 in winter and from 8:00 to 19:00 in summer. Admission is 14 Liras (in October 2019; a little more than 2 €). There are restrooms. The visit can be completed in less than one hour. If you are interested in archaeology, I suggest that you pay a visit also to the “History and Art Museum”, at the Kulturpark: it is similar to this one, but much more attractive.
This museum contains two collections: 1) sculptures of the Greek and Roman periods and 2) ceramics. Several pieces are located in the garden.
The collection of sculptures is located on the entrance floor of the museum. It contains some dozens of statues and other smaller sculptures, all of them about two thousand years old. Some statues are remarkable for their beauty and workmanship, but too many are of little significance, being often headless or armless and anonymously labelled as "a Roman man" or “a Roman woman”; more interesting are the disconnected heads, all remarkable for the beauty of the portraits. The pieces are well displayed and well lit, but the collection appears rather informal and without guidelines; this is quite surprising, since Izmir is in the middle of a geographic area dotted with archaeological sites from which an enormous quantity of remains has been recovered. Little effort has been made to accompany the exhibition with notes, explanations or other information linking the various objects exposed to the history of the sites where they were found and to the cultural environment in which they were produced. All in all, I found this part of the museum only moderately interesting.
The ceramic collection of is on the upper floor. Although pottery may be a less seductive topic, it nevertheless seemed to me as the better part of the museum. There are objects dated from 3000 BC to the Byzantine period. Many pieces are very beautiful, but they can be expected to attract the attention of specialists rather than the general public. The material was organized systematically and is accompanied by a fair amount of information.
The museum is very close to the Konak metro station: when you leave the station go to the hill in front of you; after less than 100 meters you will reach a multi-lane highway; do not cross it, but follow it to the left for about 100 meters; at the traffic lights there is a pedestrian crossing and the museum is located on the opposite side of the road. The museum is open 7 days a week, from 8:30 to 17:30 in winter and from 8:00 to 19:00 in summer. Admission is 14 Liras (in October 2019; a little more than 2 €). There are restrooms. The visit can be completed in less than one hour. If you are interested in archaeology, I suggest that you pay a visit also to the “History and Art Museum”, at the Kulturpark: it is similar to this one, but much more attractive.
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Süphan Erkan
Konya, Türkiye12 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
İZMİR ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM 8500 İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean, witnessed many civilizations, from the Hittites to the Ionians, from the Lydians to the Persians, from the Hellenes to the Romans, and from the Byzantines to the Ottomans, and this has long been a trace of the province. Izmir, which was known as “Smyrna” in the past and is said to choose its name from an Amazon queen, can choose to choose İzmir Archeology Museum from Konak Square, where the heart of the city is located, to visit İzmir Archeology Museum.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trotter41
Oslo, Norway14 contributions
As others have noted, Ephesus is a better experience, if you can go there. However, this museum is well worth the if you are in Izmir, and even more so if you can't make the trip to Ephesus. It displays a fair selection of artificacts, and is good reminder of how rich Turkey is in archeological findings. The display is not very pedagocial, and not everything is translated to English.
Written October 6, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia Țuclea
Bucharest, Romania20 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
I was not impressed by this museum. Considering what Smyrna meant in antiquity, this museum is not representative. It is small, with insufficient explanations.The Byzantine period is almost absent from this museum.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TubaKoseogluOkcu
Istanbul, Türkiye6,659 contributions
Dec 2019
The collection of this museum is very impressive for archeology addicts: findings from the nearby archeological sites, mainly from Metropolis site. The collection covers the Bronze Age of the area and includes Clazomenian sarchopagi which are very impressive. The explanatory notes are both in Turkish and English and there is also audio guide available. However, the museum itself is very neglected: everything is old in the building, corridors are not tidy. Though there are plenty of place there is not even a museum shop inside. It's a pity that such a collection is displayed without any care.
There is a free parking lot of around 20 cars if you come with your own car. The museum card is valid.
The ethnography museum is at the same complex (in fact, it's just the adjacent building) but it's currently closed due to renovation.
There is a free parking lot of around 20 cars if you come with your own car. The museum card is valid.
The ethnography museum is at the same complex (in fact, it's just the adjacent building) but it's currently closed due to renovation.
Written December 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mjcturk
Arlington, VA20 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
After we passed the first security checkpoint (unmanned) and entered the grounds of the museum, two big dogs ran towards us and gave loud deep barks. They were at the top of the stairs, barring our way to the museum door. I went far around them and entered the museum to ask for help, while my wife and kid waited. The security guard told me that it is not his problem as they were not inside the building. He claimed he had previously called the municipality about the dogs and they didn’t do anything. (Actually I think he feeds them...). So big dogs are “guarding the museum against visitors,” doing so on museum property, and no one is responsible. The man at security is unfortunately rude as well.
Written October 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy W
Scarborough, UK160 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Did the day trip up from Marmaris which included this museum. Some wonderfull historical artifacts here. Its not a big place and can be walked round inside an hour. Cheap to get in as well.
Written April 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JillConnecticut
United Kingdom1,386 contributions
We could only peak in some rooms and read the overall description of the history since we did not have enough Turkish lira to enter. About $4 and we had spent what lira we had on the taxi to town.No credit cards, no euros, no dollars and no attempt to help. A pity since the area has been occupied since prehistoric times. Does not seem to be very well run. Hard to reach by foot with the entrance away from the road. Shares a driveway with the ethnological museum. Neither one are well marked.
Written May 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amber G
Connecticut9 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
I've found the museum very simple and the tickets are very expensive. Okay they show you very old stuff but presentation is not good so you dont get in the atmosphere.
Written February 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Closed on Mondays, from memory, but open from 10am until 5pm the rest of the week. I think!
Written September 26, 2016
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing