Istanbul › Kid-Friendly Hotels
Updated: January 9, 2023
By Santorini Dave
The 7 Best Hotels for Families in Istanbul
1. Four Seasons Bosphorus (luxury)
Two kid-friendly pools (one outdoor with great views, one indoor). Spa and fitness center are top-notch. Restaurants, staff, and hotel vibe are very family friendly. Rooms are large, suites comfortably sleep families of four or five. One and two-bedroom suites even bigger. Big plus: almost feels like a resort. But: not a very central location for seeing the sites, so plan on taking taxis a fair bit.
2. CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel (luxury)
Delightful luxury hotel with a nice pool and wonderful location near iconic Iskital Street (pedestrian/tram only, packed with shops and restaurants). The 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments have full kitchens. The 5-bedroom Superior Aparment can sleep a small army.
3. Grand Hyatt Istanbul (luxury)
Great outdoor pool and central location near Taksim Square. Suites are large. The three-bedroom apartment is great for a family of six or seven. Hotel has tennis courts, sauna, fitness center, spa.
4. Ritz-Carlton Istanbul (luxury)
Large indoor pool makes it perfect for winter (outside pool is smaller but situated on a beautiful terrace). The spa is pure luxury. Suites are large. Close to Taksim Square and tram line.
5. Hotel Sumengen (midrange)
Large triple and family rooms. In the heart of the Old City and close to Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. The best hotel for families staying in the Sultanahmet. Good buffet breakfast. Friendly staff.
6. Sultanahmet Suites (midrange)
Suites are large and have fully-equipped kitchen. Great location in quieter residential area but still close to sites like Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar. Great bakery right next door.
7. Prestige Hotel Old City (budget)
Good value hotel. Very spacious triple rooms, family rooms, and connecting rooms. Small outdoor pool. Turkish Bath just up the street.
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Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in 
Hi,
I am traveling end of March for about 5 days with my mother and my 5-year-old son. Is Istanbul a better option or somewhere in Europe for them? Would appreciate all the guidance that I can get.
Thanks
Istanbul is a wonderful city with lots to see and do. It’s not a particularly kid-friendly city but not inappropriate either. Barcelona is probably a better choice for most people traveling with young children. But nowhere in Europe will be warm enough to swim in the ocean.
Dear David,
We are heading to Budapest, from Australia, for a week in mid August (2 adults, 3 children – 7, 5, 9 months) to visit family. We are planning to spend about 4 weeks in total in Europe (working around the week in Hungary, where our travel dates are fixed). What destinations would you recommend with young children please? My initial thoughts are 3-4 days each in London and Paris. My husband and I were in Western Europe 20 years ago, so even though our priority is a child-friendly holiday, it would be nice to go somewhere that we haven’t been. Wondering about Turkey, Romania? Not sure where else to consider. Planning to fly into one city and out of another, as I think we will cover more ground this way. Also, your opinion on travelling by campervan, or hiring a car and staying in campsites v staying in apartments/hotels or housesitting please?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks so much, Julie.
Paris and London are certainly two of the highlights for Europe and both have lots of kid-friendly attractions which make them great for families. There are no shortage of places and everything you mention would be great. I would also throw the Greek Islands into the mix as they have an easy-going feel, kid-friendly vibe, great beaches (of course), wonderful food, and are just really fabulous. Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, and Crete are a few of the best for kids – but you really can’t go wrong with any of the islands. Campervan and camping are great if that’s your interest but I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t something you specifically had a passion or interest for. Hotels are just a lot easier and more efficient for getting the most done and seen.
We’re planning on visiting Istanbul this summer during a family trip to Italy and Greece. We have 2 kids, ages 9 and 14. Both are good travelers though lots of walking in the heat can bring out some grumpiness. Our plans are still in flux so it’s possible we have 1, 2, or 3 full days in Istanbul.
Three questions:
What’s the best area of Istanbul to stay for kids?
Of the top sites, what are the 2 or 3 that are most kid-friendly?
Are there any restaurants that are both authentic and kid-friendly? (Perhaps lots of visual activity and energy.)
Thank you!
You may be best off staying in Sirkeci, next to Gulhane Park. That way your 9-year-old can run around the park and take advantage of its playground. And your 14-year-old can check out the Turkish fast-food eateries and sweets shops in the nearby Hoca Paşa quarter. From here, you are within an easy walk of Sultanahmet (for the major sights) and Eminönü (for the ferries). Along with the kid-friendly hotels listed above the Sirkeci Mansion Hotel is excellent and very family friendly, so it would be a great choice.
Kids love visiting the Basilica Cistern, an underground and slightly spooky structure in Sultanahmet. They also enjoy taking a ferry trip up the Bosphorus, particularly if a visit to the medieval castle Rumeli Hisarı is included on the way back. They may also enjoy going on a guided scavenger hunt in the Grand Bazaar with Alternative City Tours. As you’re there in the height of summer, it may be worth spending the money for a day pass to one of the Bosphorus hotels with a large swimming pool and eateries (the Çirağan Palace has a wonderful pool with an amazing view, as does the Four Seasons Istanbul on the Bosphorus).
Most eateries in istanbul are family friendly. Consider taking them to eat kebaps at Hamdi in Eminönü – book ahead and request a table on the rooftop terrace so that they can watch the action on the Bosphorus and Golden Horn (if you stay at Sirkeci Mansion email ahead and ask its concierge to make the booking for you). You may also like the extremely ‘authentic’ restaurants in or near the Kadınlar Pazarı (Women’s Market) in Fatih, which are usually a hive of activity. The pide (Turkish pizza) at Fatih Damak Pide is excellent for lunch, and the meat dishes at Siirt Seref Büryan Kebap and Sur Ocakbaşı are great at both lunch and dinner. Whatever hotel you stay in will be able to tell you how to get there on the tram or metro.