The areas to consider
| Area | Advantage for children | Point of caution | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sultanahmet | Gülhane Park, monuments on foot | Cobbles, quiet evenings | T1 tram |
| Nişantaşı | Maçka Park, quiet streets | Few monuments nearby | M2 metro (Osmanbey) |
| Beşiktaş | Yıldız Park, ferries, Naval Museum | Slope up to the park, traffic | Ferries, buses |
| Kadıköy and Moda | Ferries, seafront promenade | A crossing for every visit | Ferries, M4 metro, Marmaray |
Sultanahmet: monuments without journeys
For children over six who walk well, Sultanahmet is the simplest choice: the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Gülhane Park are close to the hotel, so you can go back for a nap. Children under 7 travel free on public transport, and the Hagia Sophia visit is free for accompanied children under 8. The drawbacks are the cobbles, uncomfortable for a stroller, and a district with little going on in the evening. See the guide to the Sultanahmet district.
Nişantaşı: calm, with a park nearby
The upmarket district of Nişantaşı offers wide pavements, cafés and Maçka Park a few minutes away. It is served by the M2 metro at Osmanbey, one stop from Taksim. The major monuments are further away: allow a metro and tram journey for the old city. It is a comfort choice, for a family that prefers calm to being close to the sights.
Beşiktaş: ferries and Yıldız Park
Beşiktaş pier has ferries to the Asian side, which children enjoy. The Naval Museum, next door, and Yıldız Park, which is free, are within walking distance; the park's paths climb quite steeply, so use the lower gate with a stroller. Dolmabahçe Palace is very close. The centre of the district has no metro: see our guide to the Beşiktaş district. On match nights the surroundings are crowded.
Kadıköy and Moda: the Asian side
Kadıköy suits families who stay a week or already know the city: the Moda promenade, parks, cafés, the Tuesday market and the ferry to reach the old city. The crossing is an activity in itself, but it adds time to every visit, and ferry service stops late in the evening. The M4 metro goes to Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Our guide to Kadıköy and the Asian side details the area.
Family room, suite or apartment
- Family or connecting room: many hotels offer rooms for three or four people or two rooms linked by a door. State the number and age of the children before booking: free-stay policies for children depend on the establishment and are not set by law.
- Short-term apartment: handy for the kitchen and laundry, but the owner must hold a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and display the official plaque at the entrance (see where to stay in Istanbul). Without a plaque, do not book.
- Hotel with breakfast: the Turkish breakfast is generous; see our guide to Turkish breakfast in Istanbul.
What to check with children
- The lift. Many small historic hotels have none: ask before booking, and ask how many floors.
- Windows and balconies. Check that they are secure, especially in hotels with terraces.
- Walking distance to the tram, metro or ferry. More than ten minutes with a tired child becomes painful.
- Noise. Mosque loudspeakers sound before dawn and the night stays lively around İstiklal: ask for a room at the back.
- Slopes. Galata and Cihangir are built on steep hillsides; they are exhausting with a stroller.
- Summer. Working air conditioning is useful in July and August.
Daily journeys
Ferries, much loved by children, count as public transport: a single Istanbulkart can be validated several times for people travelling together, and how it works is detailed in our guide to transport in Istanbul. The T1 tram is often packed at rush hour. For taxis, see our advice on taxis in Istanbul.
Going further
To choose the visits, our guide Istanbul with children details fifteen, with prices and free-entry ages. For a first visit, see where to stay in Istanbul for a first visit, and for amusement parks and aquariums, our amusement parks and aquariums in Istanbul. The guide where to stay in Istanbul compares all the areas.
