Kids in Turkey. Photo courtesy of Sulukule Çocuk Atölyesi via Flickr.
Parents know all too well that a vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare when traveling with kids in a land that is not child-friendly. Those traveling in Turkey, however, are in luck. Many parts of the country are enthusiastically child-friendly, with a wide variety of activities on offer that will allow everyone in the family to relax and have fun.
Here are some of Turkey’s best kid-friendly destinations:
Istanbul
With its castles, towers, palaces, fantastic shows and ferryboats, Istanbul has plenty to set a child’s imagination on fire. Their are plenty of kid-friendly attractions on offer, including Miniatürk, an open-air miniature park; the slightly creepy underground Basilica Cistern; and the Princes Islands, where the whole family can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride around an island that is off-limits to cars. Children also tend to be rather fond of the cacophony of sounds and abundance of exotic and colorful souvenirs at the Grand Bazaar.
Cappadocia
If you have kids, Cappadocia is probably the best place to visit in Turkey. Besides the obvious kid-freindly activities like the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the extensive underground cities, you can also take your kids to swim in the waterfall at Ihlara Valley, practice pottery at one of the many pottery workshops, or go hiking, horseback ridiing or bycicling through the fascinating landscape. The highlight, however, would have to be a ride in a hot-air ballon.
Bodrum
With a real crusader castle and plenty of sailing yachts for hire in the harbor (for those interested in cruising or swimming), Bodrum has plenty to offer to families with children. It’s an elegant resort town with plenty of beaches and children’s facilities with water-sport activities.
Çıralı
Çıralı is a very small rural village located an hour’s drive southwest of Antalya. It boasts a beautiful two-mile secluded beach and the ruins of ancient Olympos, and it is a short drive from the eternally-burning Chimaera gas vents. Çıralı is a perfect place for parents who want to relax for a few days without having to worry about their children.
Fethiye
Fethiya is another perfect Mediterranean destination for the whole famiy. Plenty of beaches dot the Fethiye area, the most well-known being Ölüdeniz and Patara. One popular option for the Fethiye area is to take one of the many 12-island boat cruises leaving from Fethiye harbor, or you could bring your kids to jump on the massive trampolines at Olgun Trampolin.
Kuşadası
Kuşadası is home to Adaland, the largest water park in Europe. Kuşadası is also a resort town with plenty of beaches, and is located just next to Dilek National Park, one of the best national parks in Turkey.