Many say that if you only have time for one museum in Istanbul, it should be the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. Housing over 40,000 artifacts, this museum is located on the Hippodrome across from the Blue Mosque. With fascinating displays from the Mamluk, Seldjuk, and Ottoman periods, this engaging museum will give you some deep insights into the profound religious and cultural history of Turkey. The visiting exhibitions on the first floor are invariably of high quality, and the upstairs café is a great place to relax your tired feet and look out across the Sultanahment area.