A Little Bit of Everything at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum

How to Get There: The museum is located just up the hill from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and right across from the Ankara Castle entrance (Ankara Kalesi). While it’s not the hard to describe its location, any time you try to approach the castle on foot seems to be an inevitable uphill climb through a labyrinth of tiny shopping streets. Buses from Kızılay get close, and the nearest metro is the M1’s Ulus metro stop. From there, look up and keep climbing. We suggest you enjoy the journey and try not to focus on the sweat dripping down your back. If you’re driving, there is miscellaneous parking scattered around the hill. Best of luck.

Price: The tickets are about 6 tl, which is cheaper than the Anatolian one down the way, if that’s a factor in your decision making. However, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations takes the Museum Card, and this one does not.

Time: With the huge range of exhibit types and the countless nooks and crannies of more and more to see that keep unfolding in front of you (I swear it can rival even the twisting streets of Ulus outside), it would be easy to spend at least a couple of hours in this unassuming museum.

If asked to describe the Koç museum in one word, I’d have to say, “eclectic.”

A lot of the stuff on display come from the private collection of the Koç family, a wealthy business family over the past few generations in Turkey. But don’t get the wrong idea. There is are sections that deal directly with the popular family, but it’s not necessary to know nor care who they are (if you don’t want to) in order to enjoy this museum full of curiosities.

Want to see a bunch of Koç family heirlooms? Look no further. Is it time to brush up on your Atatürk history? They’ve got you covered.

But wait. Didn’t you say you were curious about old cameras, clock mechanisms, and bikes? No problem. Weren’t you just asking for some miniature ships and information on Turkish wool harvesting? They’ve got that too.

You have a hankering for hundreds of doll houses? Funny you should ask. Oh, you’re a Model T car guy and like old land surveying equipment? You’ve come to the right place.

Don’t miss the hallway full of Buddhas and the wax figure of Koç himself.

I’m not kidding. You were warned about the eclecticism. But it is a mishmash in all the right ways and has something for everyone. It also has information posted in both English and Turkish.

We’d give the museum two thumbs up, as it has gained the support from even Cheerleader Barbie.