Fun for Kids

Some ideas of what younger visitors might enjoy:

Topkapi Palace
Set in gardens so lots of space to run around.

Haghia Sophia
Awe-inspiring dome amazes children.

Rumeli Hisar
A genuine medieval fortress to explore on the shores of the Bosphorus.

The Princes Islands
No cars on the islands, making them a peaceful place to walk or bicycle. You can rent
bikes near the ferry landing and cycle around the island or even bring a picnic.
Also fun to take a ride in the horse drawn carriages that are used on the islands.

Rahmi Koc Museum
A collection of old cars, nautical equipment, toy trains and other mechanical
inventions. Great location of the Golden Horn with two excellent, although rather
pricey restaurants. A submarine, airplanes, old streetcars and olive oil factory make this
a great place to spend the day with children.

Miniaturk
100 miniatures of Turkish monuments and historical sites. Kids love it.
Continue past Rahmi Koc Museum to find it. Open 10-6.

Istanbul has several pleasant parks in which to walk,
most of which have playgrounds for children.

Gulhane Park –in Sirkeci, at the bottom of the road leading past the Archeological
Museums up to Topkapi Palace – is an oasis of green. Usually full of vendors selling
hot or cold drinks and snacks.

Macka Park stretches up and down the hills between Taksim/Elmadag to
Macka/Tesvikiye, linking the buildings of Istanbul Technical University.  One can
enter across the street from the Hyatt Hotel and take the chairlift (teleferik) across to
the other side or walk up and down the hills.  Several small cafes on the
Macka/Tesvikiye side sells drinks and snacks.  

Yildiz Park, the former imperial gardens, can be entered across from the Ciragan
Palace Hotel on the Bosphorus between Besiktas and Ortakoy.  Two 19th century  
imperial pavilions sell drinks and simple food. Both have wonderful terraces with
views of the Bosphorus.

Emirgan Park, further out the Bosphorus, is perhaps Istanbul’s best park,
full of leafy old trees and pleasant walking paths.
Two old wooden houses in the park serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Golden Horn.  A strip of a park on the Old City side of the waterway provides
walking paths, playgrounds and an open green area for the area’s low income residents.

Marmara Sea.  The park coastal strip from Bakirkoy to Zeytinburnu is filled to
capacity on hot summer days with families grilling meat and making tea on the grass.