Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

With Kids İstanbul is a great destination for a family-friendly break. Children will be happy by the fantastic baklava, lokum (Turkish Delight) and dondurma (ice cream) on offer, as well as the castles, underground cisterns and parks waiting to be explored.

For Toddlers Playgrounds & Parks

There are good playgrounds in Gülhane Park and in the waterside park near the Fındıklı tram stop in Beyoğlu. Open areas such as the Hippodrome and Yıldız Park also offer loads of space in which toddlers can expend energy.

For Bigger Kids Rahmi M Koç Museum

Junior members of the family will go crazy (in a good way) when they encounter all of the trains, planes, boats and automobiles on exhibit at this museum in Hasköy. Grand Bazaar Scavenger Hunt Forget shopping – exploring the Grand Bazaar on a scavenger hunt offered by Alternative City Tours is much more fun. Basilica Cistern It’s creepy, and children can explore the walkways suspended over the water. Way cool. Princes’ Islands