Energy Museum Santralistanbul Istanbul for free

Istanbul Energy Museum by C.Kremenak CC
The Energy Museum Istanbul at Santralistanbul is one of the few free museums in Istanbul. And sadly often overseen by visitors as it is not along the typical tourist routes people take while visiting Istanbul. Nevertheless it is well worth a visit. Especially as not only the entry is free, there is even a free shuttle service.

Energy Museum Santralistanbul

Originally called Silahtaraga it was a power plant providing Istanbul with energy from 1914 until 1983. Being assigned to the Bilgi University in 2004 it was converted into a campus in 2007 and received its new name "Santralistanbul". Becoming a centre for arts, culture and education and Turkey´s first industrial archeology museum.
Santralistanbul by P. Sten CC
The museum itself is located in the area where once the turbine-generators and the steam boilers where situated. In the Energy Museum one can see turbine-generators from companies like Siemens and AEG, and the stunning control room, used for the power distribution to all the areas of Istanbul.

On top of that there are regular art exhibitions and cultural events alongside with workshops.


Other sights close to the Museum

And for all of you who want to explore more, the famous Pierre Loti Cafe in Eyüp is close by the museum and can be visited on the way there or back. Being, except for the usual cay one likely will drink there, free too. Another sight in the area is the Miniatürk, a miniature park, one of the largest of the world, featuring 122 miniatures of Turkey, unfortunately not free.

How to get to Santralistanbul

Inside the Santralistanbul by G.Ziegler  CC
Santralistanbul is located almost at the end of the Golden Horn and can be reached by various means of transportation. The easiest is likely the free shuttle service provided by the Bilgi University which runs several times a day from Kabatas (at the port, in front of Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa Fountain) and Mecidiyeköy (Trump Towers) - shuttle times.
Alternatively there are various busses running to the stops Bilgi University and Silahtar, from Sisli, Taksim and Eminönü. And for those fancying to use one of the ferries, take the line Üsküdar-Karaköy-Eminönü- Eyüp to Eyüp and take a short walk long the shore of the Golden Horn.

santralistanbul
Eski Silahtarağa Elektrik Santrali
Kazım Karabekir Cad. No:2
Eyüp 34060 İstanbul Türkiye


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