Audio GuideRahmi M. Koç Museum

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum stands on the edge of the Golden Horn in Istanbul, where echoes of industry meet a lively, modern spirit. As the first major museum of its kind in Turkey, it opened about three decades ago thanks to the vision of Rahmi Koç, a leading figure in the business world who was inspired by industrial collections in America and Europe. What began as a childhood passion for model trains became a living tribute to Turkey’s story—one shaped by invention and movement.

yoel winkler

The museum is spread across a number of historic sites. Among them are the Lengerhane, originally built in Ottoman times for casting anchors and chains for ships, and the Tersane, a former shipyard dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. Over the years, these spaces have survived fires, repairs, various different uses, and long periods of abandonment before Rahmi Koç restored them. Their sturdy stone walls and iron frames add to the sense of adventure as you explore the galleries inside.

HASAN KIRMIZI

Step through the doors and you will find a treasure trove of delights: classic cars polished to a shine, steam engines that once powered the country, trams from eras past, and even vintage aircraft suspended within easy reach. Many exhibits invite you to touch and explore—wander through a hall full of historic cars, climb aboard old planes, peer inside a real submarine moored by the shore, or discover machines that once pressed olives and kept Istanbul’s railway running. One gallery overflows with mechanical marvels, from early telegraphs and typewriters, to the first telephones and scientific gadgets. Families with children will find plenty of hands-on displays and activities, where curious visitors can press buttons, spin wheels, and watch the mysteries of engineering come to life.

Daria Parfenyuk

The museum’s collection is always evolving. New arrivals—often donated by the public—are restored in dedicated workshops. Among the most treasured pieces are a car like the one used by Atatürk at the Gallipoli front over one hundred years ago, and Kısmet, the yacht that carried Sadun Boro on his pioneering circumnavigation of the globe.

ilyas mutlu

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum offers much more than static displays. It comes alive with events, concerts, and acclaimed exhibitions from near and far, including reconstructions of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, making history an interactive, shared adventure. Branches in Ankara and on Cunda Island continue this spirit, inviting people across Turkey to rediscover the country’s industrial and cultural heritage.

Whether your fascination is with steam power, sailing ships, electricity, or tales of daring explorers, the museum forges a bridge between the inventiveness of yesterday and the curiosity of today. With every cobblestone path, vaulted hall, and lovingly restored artefact, you sense the eras in which vision, effort, and hope laid the foundations for Turkey’s future.