The Istanbul Archaeology Museums consist of three museums - namely the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Museum of Islamic Art, which jointly hold a collection size of over one million artefacts. The museums were built in an effort to modernize Istanbul and was inspired by the archaeological museums in Paris when the then-Sultan visited the city in the mid-19th century. One key exhibition piece in the museum worth a look is the Alexander Sarcophagus that was believed to have been made for Alexander the Great. So, head on down for an intriguing history lesson, but do note that the museums are closed on Mondays.