Istanbul with kids

Best things to do with kids

Experience · Eminönü

1.Bosphorus by ferry

The best way to see the Bosphorus is from the water. Şehir Hatları's Bosphorus tour from Eminönü runs up the strait past Dolmabahçe, Ortaköy, Rumeli Hisarı and the waterfront mansions, while ordinary commuter ferries from Eminönü, Karaköy or Beşiktaş to Kadıköy or Üsküdar give a 20-minute intercontinental crossing for the price of a transit ride.

Sit on the open upper deck on the left side heading north for the European shore, and buy tea and simit from the onboard vendors.

Time needed

20 minutes–2 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Iconic
• Views
• Kids
• Couples
• Photo spot

Museum · Hasköy

2.Rahmi M. Koç Museum

Housed in an Ottoman anchor foundry and a former shipyard on the Golden Horn, this industrial museum displays vintage cars, steam engines, aircraft, trams, boats and a submarine you can walk through. Many exhibits are hands-on, which makes it the best museum in the city for children.

Reach it by the Golden Horn ferry, which stops at Hasköy, and combine it with Balat on the same day.

Time needed

2–3 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Kids
• Rainy day
• History

Historic site · Sultanahmet

3.Basilica Cistern

This 6th-century underground reservoir held water for the Great Palace of Constantinople. A walkway leads through a dim forest of 336 marble columns, many recycled from older buildings, to two column bases carved with upside-down Medusa heads. Restored lighting and occasional art installations make it one of the most atmospheric stops in the Old City.

Visit first thing in the morning or late in the day; the stone walkway is slippery when damp, so wear shoes with grip.

Time needed

45 minutes

Cost

Mid-priced

• History
• Rainy day
• Architecture
• Kids
• Photo spot

Landmark · Üsküdar

4.Maiden's Tower

This small tower on an islet off Üsküdar has served as a lighthouse, quarantine station and watchtower, and reopened as a museum after a restoration completed in 2023. Short boat shuttles cross from the Üsküdar shore; even without visiting, the Salacak promenade opposite is one of the city's classic sunset spots.

Sit in one of the waterside tea gardens at Salacak at sunset and watch the Old City skyline turn gold behind the tower.

Time needed

1–1.5 hours

Cost

Mid-priced

• Views
• Couples
• Kids
• History

Park · Sultanahmet

5.Gülhane Park

Once the outer garden of Topkapı Palace, Gülhane is a shady, free park sloping down towards Seraglio Point, with plane trees, tea stalls and a view over the Bosphorus at its far end. In April its beds are planted with tens of thousands of tulips, a flower closely tied to Ottoman culture.

Walk through it after Topkapı to Seraglio Point and the tea terraces overlooking the Bosphorus.

Time needed

45 minutes

Cost

Free

• Free
• Outdoors
• Nature
• Kids

Palace · Sultanahmet

6.Topkapı Palace

The Ottoman sultans ruled from Topkapı for about 400 years. Its four courtyards lead to the Imperial Treasury with the Topkapı Dagger and the Spoonmaker's Diamond, the Sacred Relics rooms, tiled pavilions and terraces overlooking the meeting of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The Harem, the sultan's private quarters, needs a separate or combined ticket and is worth it.

Head straight to the Harem and the Treasury on arrival, before tour groups reach them, then finish on the fourth-courtyard terraces.

Time needed

3–4 hours

Cost

Mid-priced

Book ahead

Buying the ticket online or arriving at opening time avoids the longest ticket queues in summer.

• Iconic
• History
• Architecture
• Views

Rainy-day ideas

• Basilica Cistern — Visit first thing in the morning or late in the day; the stone walkway is slippery when damp, so wear shoes with grip.
• Rahmi M. Koç Museum — Reach it by the Golden Horn ferry, which stops at Hasköy, and combine it with Balat on the same day.

Where families should stay

Family travel tips

• Restaurants welcome children at all hours, and waiters often fuss over them.
• Plan sightseeing for the morning in July and August and spend hot afternoons on a ferry or in a museum.
• Many pavements are uneven and steep; a baby carrier is easier than a stroller in Galata, Balat and Beyoğlu.
• The Princes' Islands make a car-free day out with bikes and beaches.

Day trips for families

• Princes' Islands (Büyükada) (About 1.5–2 hours by public ferry) — A chain of islands in the Sea of Marmara where private cars are not allowed.
• Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle (About 1.5 hours by ferry from Eminönü) — The full-length Bosphorus ferry ends at the fishing village of Anadolu Kavağı near the Black Sea entrance.
• Şile (About 1.5–2 hours by bus) — A small Black Sea town with a hilltop lighthouse, a ruined Genoese castle on an islet and long sandy beaches.

When to go with children

The best months overall are April–June and September–October. June–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.

Questions travellers ask