Istanbul is a great city to visit with little kids because it blends rich culture with family-friendly experiences. Kids love the fairy-tale-like architecture of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, taking scenic Bosphorus boat rides, and counting an infinite number of cats around the city. There are city parks that offer fun open spaces to run and play. Additionally, Turkish people are generally warm and welcoming to children, making restaurants and public places accommodating for families.
A few years ago, I visited pre-kids/family, and we visited Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, and Izmir. It was an incredible trip! My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit with our kids for a quick two day trip to Istanbul, and I’m glad we did it for the cultural exposure. It was short, and I can’t wait to take the kids for a more thorough trip around the country – Antalya and Bodrum are on my list, and re-doing Cappadocia with my family!
Turkish Airline Stopover Program in Istanbul
Turkish Airlines’ Stopover Program offers international travelers a complimentary hotel stay in Istanbul when they have a layover of at least 20 hours. For passengers departing from the U.S., economy class travelers receive up to two free nights in a 4-star hotel, while business class passengers can enjoy up to three nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel. Ground transportation and visa fees are not included, and the program cannot be combined with the airline’s TourIstanbul service, which offers guided city tours for shorter layovers.
Criteria to Qualify:
Flights must be round-trip and operated entirely by Turkish Airlines.
The layover has to be at least 20 hours.
Bookings should be made at least 72 hours in advance.
Travelers need to apply through the airline’s website or via the designated email for their country of departure.
In our experience, we were able to extend our layover by two full days, and receive a complimentary stay at a Hyatt Regency Istanbul Atakoy (with breakfast for all 5 of us included). It was a great deal, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who is interested!
Family Istanbul Airport and Turkish Airlines
I need to also talk about how family-friendly the Istanbul airport is, as well as the general policies of Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines Family-Friendly Policies
Turkish Airlines is known for its thoughtful family-friendly policies, making it easier and more comfortable for families to travel—especially those with young children. Here are some of the key policies and services that stand out:
Istanbul Airport Family-Friendly
The Istanbul airport is one of the most family friendly airports I have ever seen. Here are a few of the features that made it such a pleasant experience.
At the check-in counter, there are even step stools for the kids to stand on and be able to be a part of the check-in counter. This was our 34th country together, and I’ve never seen that before! Then for the security lanes, there is a section that was dedicated to families with children under five. We saw several people try to sneak in because the lines were significantly shorter, but the staff was very diligent on enforcing the rules – which made it much easier for us families with young kids.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Three great areas to stay in Istanbul, especially for families or first-time visitors, are:
With the Stopover program, you are able to select from a selected hotel list. There were a few that were in this area, but I wanted to stay at a Hyatt chain to further acrue points, so it was a bit further from these areas. When I visited a few years ago, pre-marriage/kids we stayed closer to the Sultanhmet area, where it was easy to walk to the main attractions. I recommend comparing the reviews and your preferences of hotels in Istanbul using Booking.com.
What to do in Istanbul
There are dozens of child oriented activities, but during our limited time we prioritized the sites that we wanted to see and got the kids to try to enjoy them with us. For example, as we walked from location to location, we got them ice cream and had them play a game “count the cats” to see how many cats they saw. If we had more time, we would have done some of the more child-centric activities, but for our two days, Im glad we focused on the leisurely exploring the main sites we wanted to see.
Blue Mosque:
Significance: The Blue Mosque is famous for its stunning blue İznik tiles, grand six minarets, and harmonious blend of Ottoman and Byzantine architectural elements. It’s a a great place to visit with kids because its vast open courtyard and stunning interior filled with colorful tiles and domes capture children’s curiosity and imagination.
Free Entry: Entry to the Blue Mosque is free, as it is an active place of worship. However, donations are welcome, and visitors are expected to dress modestly and respect prayer times.
Separate Entrance for Muslims: Blue Mosque has a separate entrance for worshippers (Muslims), especially during prayer times. Visitors who are there for tourism use a different entrance to avoid disturbing those attending prayers.
Significance: The Hagia Sophia is famous for its extraordinary architectural and historical significance, having served as a cathedral, mosque, museum, and now a mosque again over its 1,500-year history. It is renowned for its massive dome, stunning mosaics, and its unique blend of Christian and Islamic artistic elements, symbolizing the cultural crossroads of East and West.
Free Entry: Entry to the Hagia Sophia is free for visitors, as it is currently functioning as a mosque. However, access may be restricted during prayer times, and tourists are expected to dress modestly and respect the religious setting.
Separate Entrance for Muslims: The Hagia Sophia has a separate entrance for Muslims who are coming to pray. Tourists use a different entrance to ensure that worship activities are not disturbed. Clear signage and staff typically help direct visitors to the appropriate entry points.
Grand Bazaar
Significance: The Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, symbolizing the city’s rich history of trade and craftsmanship. With over 4,000 shops across dozens of streets, it has been a vibrant hub of commerce for centuries, offering everything from spices and textiles to jewelry and handmade goods, and showcasing the cultural and economic heart of Istanbul.
Free Entry: Entry to the Grand Bazaar is completely free. You can explore the market, browse shops, and enjoy the atmosphere without any admission fee.
Galata Tower & Streets
Significance: The Galata Tower is a historic symbol of Istanbul, originally built by the Genoese in 1348, offering panoramic views of the city and representing centuries of cultural and architectural heritage. Our family loved strolling the streets near the tower.
Kubbe Istanbul Viewpoint of Galata Tower Photoshoot: We did a photoshoot with Kubbe Istanbul with the Galata Tower and view of the city of Istanbul. You can arrange a professional photographer or pay for admission to the rooftop for a mobile shoot, which comes with one or two assistants who help take photos and videos of you.
Where to eat in Istanbul
There are so many great options of restaurants in Istanbul. We checked TripAdvisor and generally only visited places above 4.0. Our favorite Turkish foods are Iskender Kabob and Adana Kabob, and doner kabob sandwiches or platters. Lots of leisurely snacking on the pistachio desserts and Turkish Delights that are available throughout the city!
Nervous about traveling with your little kids in general? Check out my guide full of tips on flying your little kids here.
