Santral Istanbul Energy Museum

Santral Istanbul Energy Museum is a free museum housed in a decommissioned electric power plant located on the grounds of Istanbul Bilgi University, just north of the Golden Horn. Originally the Silahtaraga power station, established in 1914 during the Ottoman period to supply electricity to the city, the site preserves the original machinery and layout, featuring turbines, dynamos, control rooms and boiler sections that showcase Istanbul's early electrification history.

The facility offers both static exhibits and interactive demonstrations. The upper floors display the massive generating equipment, including some machinery cut open to reveal internal mechanisms, while the lower level features hands-on electrical experiments and informative games popular with children. The museum sits within a peaceful university campus that also offers cafes and restaurants. It is accessible by public transportation, with a free shuttle bus available from Kabatas station.