Istanbul Archaeological Museum but Tiled Kiosk, the Department of Ancient Oriental Works are closed

I visited the Archaeological Museum 9 years ago, and so I don't really remember exactly where everything was. I don't think I visited the Tiled Kiosk. (I had to slip out of the tour early to get my friend to a doctor's appointment.) If I recall correctly, the Department of Ancient Oriental Works houses the section from the Gates of Ishtar, which is one of the highlights of the museum. The other big highlight for me was the original Treaty of Kadesh, and I don't recall where that was in the museum.

It's a great museum and well worth visiting, even some sections are closed.

I visited the museum with our RS Best of Istanbul guide, Mert. He made the sarcophagi and statues come alive with his descriptions. We were all snapping photos and leaning in to have a closer look.

I'm not sure I would have gotten as much out of it without our amazing guide.

Both those parts of the museum were closed at the time of my September 2023 visit, and I still thought the museum was worthwhile. I didn't find there was much to see in the nearby church Aya Irini, however.

The Topkapi Palace has a lot of different exhibition areas, some of which are very museum-like. You might want to spend more time there than the tour allows. (I say that as someone who hasn't taken the tour; I'm just guessing.)

There's also the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum not far from Aya Sofia. That was interesting, too, but after seeing the first two it might be overkill unless you have a lot of time in Istanbul.

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your input.