Art is everywhere in Istanbul, from ancient frescoes at Hagia Sophia to creative street art adorning the crumbling walls of the city’s hip neighborhoods. On my visit, I first reveled in history in Sultanahmet, revisiting the ornate artifacts at Topkapı Palace and eerie underground ruins of the Basilica Cistern. But beyond Sultanahmet, the city’s modern culture is thriving. I moved on to Beyoğlu where I explored the city’s contemporary art scene, finding three museums worth visiting.

Next time, I’d like to plan my trip to coincide with Contemporary Istanbul, an art fair that takes over the city’s historic shipyards with exhibitors from all over the world each autumn.

Istanbul Modern

Part of the dazzling Galataport development on the banks of the Bosphorus, Istanbul Modern is a hub for modern and contemporary art. We visited on a rainy weekday morning and practically had the place to ourselves. It took about an hour and a half to see the whole museum and enjoy its paintings, sculptures, photographs and interactive displays.