Istanbul Modern is Turkey's leading museum of contemporary art, relocated to a striking new waterfront building in Karaköy designed by Renzo Piano and reopened in 2023. The permanent collection covers Turkish art from the early 20th century to the present, with particular strength in works from the 1950s to 1980s — a period when Turkish abstraction and expressionism developed in productive tension with both European modernism and traditional forms.
The building's position on the Bosphorus is part of the appeal: the upper floor cafe has some of the best waterfront views in the city, and the museum's design makes the most of the light. Temporary exhibitions have included major international names alongside Turkish artists who remain little-known outside the country. Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed Monday.