There is no doubting Istanbul’s appeal as a short break destination, with its dizzying array of museums, palaces and mosques, a tantalising choice of restaurants, dazzling nightlife and unrivalled shopping. It’s easy to forget, however, that there is plenty of scope for those planning a family holiday in Istanbul too. Those visiting Istanbul with children will find a warm welcome - Turkish culture is refreshingly focused on the family and the number of attractions opening up specifically catering for children is increasing all the time. 

Miniaturk in Beyoglu pays homage to Turkey’s greatest sites and archaeological feats on a scale that event the smallest child will be able to appreciate: 1/25^th to be exact. The 60,000 square metre site contains some 105 models including gems such as Hagia Sophia, the Sumela Monastery and a reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis. The park, which also contains an open-air theatre, playground, life size chessboard and a maze, is open daily from 9am to 5pm and entrance is around 10TL, which works out at just under £4.

The Princes' Islands are, of course, ideal for those visiting Istanbul with children, with lots of open space, playgrounds and beaches. Cars are banned, so the best way to get around is by bicycle, readily available for hire, or by leisurely horse-drawn cart. Even the journey to the Princes' Islands is part of the experience - in fact children will love the short ferry ride - so you certainly won't have to suffer the usual cries of 'are we there yet?'.

Although the thought of trailing round a museum probably won’t appeal to many children, a detour from the City’s established museum circuit will be rewarded as two of Istanbul's lesser known museums are designed specifically to appeal to children. Istanbul's Toy Museum in Goztepe on the Asian side of the City, a stone’s throw from Kadikoy, even looks like a doll's house from the outside. The 4-storey restored Ottoman mansion houses a collection of two thousand toys, lovingly brought together by famous Turkish poet and author Sunay Akin. The Museum’s exhibits are arranged according to theme in thoughtfully designed rooms and highlights include the puppets of the Karagoz shadow theatre from the period of Sultan Abdulhamit II. The Istanbul toy museum is closed on Mondays. Meanwhile, over on the European side near Sisli, Istanbul's Science Centre is a tad more hands-on, bringing together a mix of education and fun with scientific games, maths puzzles, exhibitions and workshops.

The Istanbul Modern lays on workshops for children, usually in Turkish, but some are suitable for non-Turkish speakers too. Check the website for details of the current programme.

In Istanbul, children will love the fact that there are plenty of parks, with playgrounds dotted along the waterfront. Parkorman in Maslak is the place to be on April 23^rd as a host of events and entertainment are usually laid on in honour of National Children’s Day. Feshane Entertainment Park near Eyup is within easy reach of the centre of town and is also heavily geared towards children.