Amasya Archeology Museum is a two-story museum located on Ziya Paşa Boulevard, near the city center, exhibiting artifacts from the Hittite to the Ottoman periods. Its collection, which includes Ilkhanid mummies and the Elmali Floor Mosaic, makes it one of Anatolia's important archaeological centers.
The Amasya Archeology Museum's origins date back to 1925: a small storage facility opened in the madrasa of the II. Bayezid Complex. The artifacts were moved to Gökmedrese Mosque in 1962, then to the current modern building in 1977, and the museum opened to visitors in 1980. Today, artifacts from thirteen different civilizations, starting from the Late Neolithic period and extending through the Hittite, Urartian, Phrygian, Scythian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods, are housed under one roof.
The most visited corner of the museum is the special section displaying 14th-century mummies from the Ilkhanid period. These were previously kept in the tomb of Seljuk Sultan I. Mesud, then moved into the museum. Visitors refer to this room as "the place where I saw real mummies for the first time," and some compare the craftsmanship of the mosaics to those in Zeugma. The upper floor is filled with Roman mosaics and wooden doors, while the ground floor features Bronze Age finds such as the Hittite Teshub figurine. In the museum garden, stone artifacts from Hittite to Ottoman periods are exhibited outdoors.
A frequent warning in comments is that tour groups can fill the museum on weekend afternoons, with guides giving loud explanations amidst the crowd. Those who prefer a quiet visit choose morning hours or weekdays.
Related discoveries: Historical Places, Amasya historical places, Historical Ferhat Water Canal.
Guide's Note
When to Visit
The museum is open every day from 08:15-19:00, but it is closed to visitors between 12:00-13:00. It is necessary to plan accordingly. A frequently repeated observation in visitor comments is that on weekend afternoons, tour groups fill the museum, and guides give loud explanations amidst the crowd, making the visit hectic. Those who go in the morning hours or on weekdays experience a calmer environment.
How to Get There
The museum is located in Amasya city center, in Üçler Neighborhood, on Mustafa Kemal Paşa Street. Thanks to its proximity to the center, it is possible to reach it on foot from the bus station or accommodation points within the city. For those coming by car, there is a municipal parking lot 200 meters from the museum; you can park there and walk a short distance to the museum.
How Much Time to Allocate
An average of 1-1.5 hours is sufficient for the two-story museum. The ground floor covers archaeological artifacts from pre-Ottoman civilizations, while the upper floor includes Roman period mosaics, wooden doors, and the section with Ilkhanid mummies. Some visitors state that they find the ground floor more ordinary and allocate more time to the upper floor.
Prominent Sections
The mummy room is the most talked-about corner by visitors. 14th-century mummies from the Ilkhanid period are displayed here in a special showcase. The Teshub figure from the Hittite period is also a striking piece; it is a bronze cast figurine found 4 meters deep in a tumulus in Doğantepe village. For the Roman period mosaics, comparisons to Zeugma are made in comments, which indicates the quality of the craftsmanship.
Where to Fit it into Your Amasya Itinerary
Since the museum is close to other historical points in Amasya (II. Bayezid Complex, Gökmedrese Mosque, Yalıboyu Houses), it usually fits easily into a city center tour. An early morning museum visit can be complemented by a walk along the Yeşilırmak river and a castle visit in the afternoon.
Things to Pay Attention To
The museum is closed during lunch break (12:00-13:00), so visitors arriving at this time may have to wait. On weekend afternoons, the density of tour groups increases; for a calm visit, morning hours or weekdays can be preferred. There are comments stating that the mummy room is a good opportunity for families with children to explain museum etiquette to them.
History of the Museum
The museum's story dates back to a small storage facility opened in 1925; initially, a small number of artifacts and Islamic period mummies were kept together in two rooms of the II. Bayezid Complex madrasa. In 1962, the artifacts were moved to Gökmedrese Mosque, in 1977, they were transferred to the current modern building, and the museum was reorganized and opened to visitors in 1980. Today, the Hazeranlar Mansion and Saraydüzü Barracks National Struggle Museum are also part of the museum's complex.
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