11 Things to Do in Istanbul with Kids

Istanbul manages to dazzle children and adults alike: from classic activities such as sailing on the Bosphorus strait; going to the colourful markets; spending a day at the beach if the weather is nice, or visiting a theme park. Trust me: you won't have time to get bored. You definitely have a lot to see and do in Istanbul and the kids won't forget it.

Visiting Topkapi Palace as a family can be an excellent adventure full of history, an ideal plan for children to get acquainted with one of the places that reflects Istanbul's imperial era.

Topkapi Palace served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans. If you book a visit to Topkapi Palace you can tour the palace's imposing pavilions, see an extensive collection of jewellery and see the palace's vast harem. I recommend getting your tickets in advance to schedule your visit. Children under the age of 6 are free.

When you leave the Palace, I recommend a family stroll in Gülhane Park, the oldest park in the city, which is right next door. This place opened its doors to the public in 1912. After several restorations, today it is a meeting place for visitors and locals to relax and take a leisurely stroll.

Children, for the most part, love a day at the beach. From spring until well into autumn, a trip to Büyükada Island, the largest of the nine islands that make up the Princes' Islands, can be the perfect getaway to explore and enjoy one of the city's most popular seaside resorts.

In addition to the beaches, you can take a bike ride through its forests and sights or walk around the island as there is not a single motorised transport.

One advantage of booking a trip to the Princes Islands in spring or autumn is that you won't find dozens of tourists, who, like you, want a quiet day at the beach for the kids to enjoy the sand and sea. My recommendation is to get an early start on one of the available tours and set out to enjoy this Turkish gem.

Guided tours on the Istanbul sightseeing bus are suitable for children and also allow you to get an overview of the city and plan a route that suits your needs and time.

If you book the Istanbul sightseeing bus you will tour the city at your own pace, hopping on or off wherever you wish, an extremely convenient option for travelling with young children and allowing them to rest while they see the city.

Of all the options for tours and excursions in Istanbul, these tours usually have free admission to certain attractions included in the value of the ticket and have about 20 stops near the most striking points of the city, audio guides in several languages and are suitable for children, people with reduced mobility or disabilities.

An ideal plan to experience in Istanbul with the whole family is a zip line adventure overlooking the Bosphorus, an experience for groups of up to five people where you will reach no less than 80 kilometres per hour over a distance of 250 metres.

If you've never been on a zip line before, don't worry. Beforehand, you'll have an orientation session in which an expert will provide you with safety equipment while guiding you through the activity. This way, all you have to worry about is enjoying the breathtaking views of Nakkaştepe Park, the Bosphorus and the city in general.

Miniaturk is a proposal to get in touch with the culture of the city and appreciate the wonders of the whole of Turkey on a small scale in a fascinating tour of 60,000 square metres with green spaces, children's playgrounds, rest areas and interactive activities.

The models of some of the city's emblematic sites, such as the Blue Mosque, the Galata Tower, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, are full of detail and offer an entertaining tour of another hundred of the country's wonders, such as the hot springs of Pamukkale, the hidden city of Cappadocia and a replica of the Tower of Artemis.

Useful info

• Price: approximately €3 (50 Turkish Lira).
• Opening hours: daily from 9am-6pm.
• Address: Örnektepe Mahallesi, İmrahor Caddesi, No.7 Sütlüce 34445 Beyoğlu - İstanbul.

Aquariums, like zoos, are always a place that attracts the little ones. In Istanbul you can visit what is considered the fifth best aquarium in the world. The Istanbul Aquarium offers 17 themed rooms with information about the marine flora and fauna of the world's oceans. Here children can learn more about species such as turtles, jellyfish, sharks and more.

This visit also includes other attractions such as the world's longest marine tunnel, themed exhibitions on marine life and interactive activities.

Useful information

• Price: approximately €11 (180 Turkish Lira). This ticket allows you to enter the aquarium and stay as long as you like. The aquarium also offers a ticket valid for the aquarium and wax museum for €16 (270 Turkish Liras). Tickets are valid for 90 days after purchase.
• Opening hours: daily from 10am to 8pm.
• Address: Kocatepe Mah, Pasha Cad. 5/5, 34045 Bayrampaşa/İstanbul.

Located near Karaköy, one of Istanbul's most recommended neighbourhoods, the Istanbul Toy Museum offers a guaranteed fun plan for children and adults alike, in one of the most traditional places on the eastern side of the city.

The collection of toys on display at the museum features classic and modern pieces from the 20th century, as well as masterpieces, more than 4,000 in total, carved by artisans from all over the country. It is also known as the Sunay Akın Toy Museum, after its creator.

The museum has scheduled activities with workshops on wood painting and paper figure making.

Useful information

• Price: General admission tickets for adults cost approximately €2.45 (40 Turkish Liras). Children from the age of 3 pay approximately €1.50 (25 Turkish Liras).
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6.30pm.
• Address: Dr. Zeki Zeren Sokağı No:17 Göztepe, İstanbul.

There's nothing like a refreshing ice cream, especially if you're visiting Istanbul in summer. The Turkish version is known as dondurmas, an ice cream made with a special artisan technique, based on goat's or cow's milk and served in biscuit cones.

The texture of this typical ice cream is a little different from what you may be familiar with, with an elastic and gelatinous consistency, and you can find it in the food stalls of the big Turkish shops such as the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar. In addition, the little ones will have fun with the acrobatics of the ice cream makers, who put on quite a show when serving it.

Also known as the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, this space offers details about the influence of transport, industry and communications in shaping the history of mankind.

Ships, planes, trains, cars, submarines and other great human inventions that were carefully selected by Rahmi M.Koç, a businessman belonging to one of the wealthiest families in Turkey and where you can admire thousands of items in a perfect state of preservation. For the youngest visitors, a visit to the cockpit of an aeroplane, a submarine, the planetarium or the playground will be an educational and inspiring experience.

A visit that will give you the perfect excuse to enjoy the maritime sunset on the strait, enjoy a good cruise and enjoy a family dinner with the best Turkish dishes and a traditional dance show.

Useful information

• Price: a general admission ticket costs approximately €5.50 (90 Turkish Lira). Students pay €2.45 (40 Turkish Lira).
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am-5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm.
• Address: Rahmi M. Koç Müzesi, Hasköy Cad. No: 5 Hasköy 34445 - İstanbul.

Located in the European part of the city, in the Bayrampaşa District, Legoland Istanbul offers everything a child could want. Games, 4-D cinema, models of the **city'**s great monuments in Lego version, access to themed exhibitions and areas to put the pieces together make for the perfect plan for a few hours of family entertainment.

The space has a cafeteria and rest areas inside. Be warned, you will be amazed by the themed toilets.

You can get double tickets to attend this attraction in combination with the Istanbul Aquarium, to give young travellers the chance to experience a day they won't soon forget.

Useful information

• Price: a general admission ticket costs approximately €11 (180 Turkish Liras).
• Opening hours: daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
• Address: Forum Istanbul, No:3 Kocatepe Mah. Pasha Cad.34045, Bayrampaşa, Istanbul.

Isfanbul Theme Park, located in the European part of the city, has more than 20 rides and attractions, including a huge roller coaster on a waterfall, for an adrenaline-filled family experience.

The park's themed areas allow young visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture by recreating traditional Turkish children's stories and tales in the style of sultans and magical characters. There are food areas and many of the attractions are accessible to people with reduced mobility or disabilities.

Useful information

• Price: children approx. £36 (589 Turkish Liras), adults approx. £37 (599 Turkish Liras).
• Opening hours: daily from 10am to 6pm.
• Address: Yeşilpınar, Şht. Metin Kaya Sk. No: 11/1, 34065 Eyüpsultan/İstanbul.

Istanbul offers a lot to see and do. It has tourist attractions in all directions and almost 15 million inhabitants. Therefore, I recommend that you plan your daily activities as much as possible, leave early, be flexible and careful, especially if you are travelling in high season and with very young children, and that you book the Istanbul Tourist Pass.

With this card you can visit 85 attractions for free. Visit the Istanbul Tourist Pass website and find out which attractions are included.