5 activities for children in Istanbul

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  1. The Museum of Illusions, new on Istikklal!

In the summer of 2019, a new and very playful museum was set up on Istikklal Avenue in Istanbul. The Museum of Illusions! It probably can be one of the famous places in Istanbul. The concept is not new since there are already about fifteen museums of Illusions around the world. And he should open one soon in France, in Paris.

So we visited the Museum of Illusions in Istanbul with my 8-year-old son and some friends of his, one afternoon on the way out of school.

The principle is based on the phenomena of optical illusions. So there is both an educational side (about our senses, our perception) but at the same time very fun. Several workshops allow you to take a break for some pretty amazing photos! It is therefore more than advisable to have your smartphone or camera with you and well charged!

The Museum of illusions is relatively small, so you can go around it in 1 hour. But the children were really delighted and asked to go back. So it’s a validated experience! Be careful, however, on weekends and holidays, the museum is quickly crowded (so noisy, and more difficult for photos).

Getting to the Museum of Illusions in Istanbul

Its location is very convenient, because directly on Istikklal Avenue, a stone’s throw from the M2 metro, exit Sishane. (5 minutes walk from the Pierre Loti school!).

Address: Narmanli Han – Istiklal Cadessi n°180 – Beyoglu – Istanbul

Prices of the Istanbul Museum of Illusions

The price is 49TL per adult, 35TL per child, but with possible packages for families at 130TL (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children).

  1. LEGOLAND, a nice park!

Legoland is the first amusement park we tested, as soon as we arrived in Istanbul in 2016. Very convenient because right next to Ikea in Bayrampasa!

Legoland park, lego construction of the Istanbul model and amusement park

Model of Istanbul at Legoland

Legoland Park is very friendly to spend a good 1/2 day with the kids on the theme of Legos!

The attractions on offer are diverse and of high quality, for the whole family: 4D cinema (several films of 15-20min each), an attraction with laser gun (like Buzz L’eclair at Disneyland!), legos models of Istanbul and the most famous monuments of the world, thousands of small briquettes to build endlessly…

And parents can wait in the lounge area while the children have fun!

Getting to Legoland Istanbul Park

Legoland is located in the Mall Forum Istanbul in Bayrampaşa. It can be reached by metro M1, exit Kocatepe. (about 45min from Taksim). Or you can book a hotel near Legoland in Istanbul. For example at https://karta.com 

Address: Forum Istanbul, No:3 Kocatepe Mah. Paşa Cad.34045, Bayrampaşa, Istanbul

Legoland Istanbul Park rates

I highly recommend you to buy your ticket online to benefit from better rates (-20%). After reduction it will cost you 60TL / adult and 47TL / child.

For even more interesting rates you can combine it with other attractions (which I talk about below) and that you can do on the same day or later: the Sea Life Aquarium and the Tussauds Museum.

It is also possible to take an annual subscription (143TL/child/ year)!

  1. AQUARIUMS, a great success!

In Istanbul, you have the opportunity to visit 2 very beautiful aquariums, very well equipped and fun! They will make you discover the marine fauna and flora of the 5 continents!

SEA LIFE is located in Bayrampaşa in the Mall Forum istanbul. Next to Legoland Park, if you want to couple the two in the same day (or not).

You will see in particular a very beautiful shark tunnel!

Getting to the Sea Life Aquarium in Istanbul

Its advantage over the Istanbul Akvariyum is that you can get to it directly by metro M1, exit Kocatepe.

Address: Kocatepe Mah. Paşa Cad. 5/5, 34045 Bayrampaşa/Istanbul

Istanbul Sea Life Aquarium rates

For prices, save 20% on your tickets by purchasing them online at 64TL/adult and 47TL/child. Several Family package formulas are also possible (e.g. 250TL for 2 adults + 2 children + interactive booklet).

You can pair with Legoland and/or Madame Tussauds for even more discounts (usable within 90 days of purchase).

It is also possible to take an annual subscription (154TL/adult /year and 124TL/child / year).

Istanbul Akvaryum to Florya

The ISTANBUL AKVARYUM, is located on the side of the old Atartürk airport, in the Mall Florya from which you will admire the beautiful panorama of the Sea of Marmara, with its cloud of ships waiting for their crossing of the Bosphorus!

Its strong point according to me is the tropical area which is absolutely superb! and the Arctic zone with its penguins that we don’t have at Sea Life.

Getting to the Istanbul Akvaryum from Florya

The weak point of this aquarium is its accessibility by public transport. No metro, no tram! Plan to go there by car or taxi, if not by bus…

Address: Senlikkoy Mahallesi, Yesilkoy Halkali Cad. No: 93 – Florya, Istanbul

Rates of the Istanbul Akvarium du Florya

Once again, buying online is highly recommended! This will save you 10%. So count 89.10TL /adult and 62.10TL /child.

A family package is also possible at 280TL for 2 adults + 2 children.

  1. KIDZANIA and KIDZMUNDO

The most beautiful discovery was for us the Kidzania park which is the reconstruction of a city totally adapted to children, to allow them to learn a variety of professions. Airplane pilot, mechanic, pastry worker, surgeon, driving school inspector … there is no shortage of choices!

As soon as they arrive, the children go to the Bank which gives them their first pay (in fake currency)! With their tickets in their pocket, they can, for example, participate in chocolate-making workshops (which they will then taste while taunting us!). But they can also earn money by becoming the space of 1/4 hour: firefighter, policeman, midwife … or even by participating in prevention workshops on seismic risk! Really very very playful. I loved it, as much as the children themselves!

Each workshop is carried out with animators. So the language used is Turkish, but it’s not too inconvenient for children who are very comfortable with it!

You can largely plan to spend a full day there!

Created in Mexico, the concept has developed in about thirty cities around the world. When is France coming?!!

Getting to Kidzania on the Asian shore

Kidzania is located on the Asian shore of Istanbul, in Acıbadım, in the Akasya Mall. You can get there by metro M4, exit Ünalan.

Address: Akasya, Çeçen sok. No: 25A Acıbadem Üsküdar 34660 Istanbul

Prices of Kidzania, on the Asian shore

Tickets can be purchased online. The price is 110TL per child and 40TL not adult.

KidzMundo, on the European shore

Kidzmundo, is a more local version of Kidzania. Also very good but a little below Kidzania. On the other hand, it has the advantage of being in Europe so it is more easily accessible for those who live on this side of Istanbul.

Getting to KidzMundo, on the European shore

KidzMundo is located in the Trump Tower Mall in Şişli. It is a 5-minute walk from the M2 metro station, exit Şişli-Mecidiyeköy.

Rates from KidzMundo, on the European shore

Rates vary depending on the date, but a 10% discount is applied if you buy online.

Several types of Family packages are possible. For example, count 219TL for 2 adults + 2 children.

  1. Madame TUSSAUDS Istanbul, finally very fun for children!

In 2017, the famous Museum of the no less famous Madame Tussauds (which I learned was actually French and not English! cocorico!!!) opens its doors in Istanbul on Istikklal Avenue!

I hesitated several months before taking my children there, not knowing if the encounter with wax statues representing characters that only the “old” like us know could interest them…

In fact, there really is something for every taste and age! And above all, the staging and the accessories made available to us allow us to make a lot of very funny photos!!! In the end my kids loved it and So did I! Long selfie sessions …

Madame Tussaud’s Museum in Istanbul Turkey

Pretending to be Mozart at Madame Tussauds

… with the timeless ones (Mozart, Einstein, etc.), the local historical characters (Suleiman the Magnificent, Ataturk, …), the movie stars known to children (Johnny Deep = Captain Jack Sparrow!!!), cartoon characters (Shrek!), the sportsmen of the moment (Neymar!), the well-known international singers (Mickael Jackson …) or Turkish (whom we would have loved to have known so much …).

Getting to Madame Tussauds Istanbul

Access to the Madame Tussauds Istanbul Wax Museum is very simple since it is right in the middle of Istikklal Avenue. So you can get to it by metro M2, Taksim station.

Address: Grand Pera Istiklal Cad. No: 56/58 Beyoğlu / Istanbul

Madame Tussauds Istanbul rates

For tickets, buy them online with 20% discount at the price of 64TL/adult and 47TL per child.

And I remind you that you will be able to buy combined tickets with the SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND.