Istanbul, Turkey
Located in North-western Turkey, along the Bosphorus Strait sits Istanbul,
the largest city in the Middle East. An extremely vibrant city with a
rapidly-growing economies, Istanbul is a really interesting city with a lot
to see and do, even with Children. Read on to find out what you can do
with the kids in Istanbul, Turkey.
In this review:
* A little bit about Istanbul
* 5 things to do with the children
* How to get there
* Where to stay
* Some beautiful pictures of Istanbul
The weather in Istanbul is beautiful and mild pretty much all year round.
The summer (June-August) can reach averages of 27degrees (80 F) and
be as low as 5 degrees (41 F).
Where is Istanbul?
Istanbul is located in North-Western Turkey.
Coordinates:
41°00′49″N 28°57′18″E
Click on the map to the Right to zoom in to the Town using Google Maps.
A quick history lesson on Istanbul...
Founded on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. For nearly sixteen centuries following its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, it served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922).[5] It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the last caliphate.[6] (courtesy of Wikipedia)
Five (5) things you can do in Istanbul with the kids includes:
1. Take a Cruise along the Bosphorus
If the weather suits, take the children for a ride on one of the Cruise boats along the Bosphorus Strait. I think it is one of the most beautiful waterways in the World. You can view the Ancient Walls and enjoy a relaxing ride along the wide straight that separates the Europe/Middle East and Asia. Bosphorus Tours offers a good afternoon Cruise.
2. The Topkapi Palace
Overlooking the entire Strait of Bosphorus is Topkapi Palace. A former Royal Residence of Sultan Mehmed II (the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople), Topkapi Palace began constructed in 1459. At the end of the Ottoman Empire, the Palace was transformed by a government decree (1924) into a museum.
Note: This museum has cultural significance for Muslims as it contains important holy relics including Muhammed's cloak and sword.
Read more about Topkapi Palace's history here.
3. The Istanbul Aquarium
The entire family will love the Istanbul Aquarium. The unique thing about this aquarium is that it is categorised into 16 themes; covering Oceans, Seas and Canals throughout the Earth.
This is worth a visit, and is located in Florya.
For more about how to get there and what to expect... read here
4. Miniaturk
Miniaturk is an open-air miniature park on the Golden Horn, containing scale models at 1/25 of the original Istanbul, Anatolian and Ottoman structures. There is also a life-sized chessboard, a labyrinth and a playground. It is open from 9am to 5pm (and later in Summer). English guides are available.
5. Visit the Bazaar (Souq/Markets)
Whether it be Locus (Turkish Delights), gold, jewellery, carpets , toys or spices, the Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world. Covering 60 streets and 5,000 shops it is a huge attraction in Istanbul. Read more for what to see and how to get there.
Of course, the above recommended attractions are most suitable for visiting Istanbul with Children, however, some of the best attractions and for us must-see attractions also include:
* The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
* Hagia Sophia
Two of the most beautiful constructions in the world, we think!
How to get there?
Find some options on how to get to Istanbul.
Where to stay?
We have many options for where to stay in Istanbul.
