Vibes Of Turkey with Kids

Hello Fellow Adventurers,

If your heart longs for more than just an average holiday; If you desire a massive adventure capable of stealing your breath, but also gentle enough to feed your children’s imaginations; then you are ready for Turkey.

Before embarking on our Family journey, I held only a few postcard images of Turkey in my mind. There were the silent cascades of hot air balloons, the illustrious curves of the domes from their mosques, creating genuine World Flight Vibes. However, that is only one tiny fraction of what is available in Turkey. It is not merely a location on a map. It is a thriving and living story written in vibrant tones of sunlight; flavourful through the many spices; and heartwarming to everyone who calls themselves a Turk.

Leave the stress of strict timetables behind. Forget about the hassles associated with travelling to this amazing place. This beautiful country awaits you and your family with open arms to delight your tour group with the beautiful tapestry of ancient wonders and unexpected delights. This guide contains stories, photos, and other fun things my family has put together for family travel in Türkiye. We hope to see everyone create a similar type of documentation for their own travels to Türkiye, as well as gain insight into different locations and cultures. This isn’t a ‘Travel Guide of Türkiye’ since it isn’t official; it is our way of sharing with others what we learned while planning our trip.

01.The Contrasting Riches of Turkey: The Ultimate Family Paradise

Turkey is full of contrasts and wonders. Istanbul has very old buildings (and lots of other places) and very recently you will fly over Fairy Chimneys (very cool rock formations) in the Cappadocia area! Swimming also (just like you were at Mother Nature’s spa) into hot springs after an exciting day watching these things! There is so much for your kids to see and do, they will never be bored!

But the real treasure of Turkey lies within the kindness of its people. I can tell you from first-hand experience that we were more comfortable and welcomed here than anywhere else in the world! I am continually amazed by how kind the Turkish people were to us and how much they loved my children. From the waiters who entertained my kids with their jokes and tricks, to the owners of the hotels who bought them extra pancakes at breakfast; the Turkish are crazy about children. It will make every family feel like royalty. Your entire trip to Turkey with kids will be based on their excellent hospitality. If you’re looking for the best place to visit in turkey with family, you’ve found it!

02.The Ideal Itinerary: The Ultimate Road Trip Plan

When planning a holiday with Kids, the most important consideration will be the timing of your trip. Turkey is a very large country; it covers Europe and Asia, and if you try to see everything in Turkey at once, you will likely be worn out before you reach your destination. Our answer was to make a good road trip plan with some internal flights along the way to break up long trips through the country.

Our plan is based on 4 major geographic areas within Turkey; it will allow us to experience the best of Turkish culture (as well as natural beauty, ancient history and time by the water on a beach) while we are away. We planned our trip in the springtime to take advantage of the milder weather (the heat during the summer months can be unbearable). The Spring weather allows for better viewing conditions for sightseeing. To successfully plan a trip to turkey, a paced itinerary is key.

03.Transportation and Timing: Find the Right Fit

Having a rental car was the most important part of our trip, allowing us to travel at our own pace. With the kids travelling in the car, we were able to stop where we wanted to take a break, sing our hearts out whenever we felt like it, and not have to comply with a rigid schedule. The roads in Turkey are some of the best in the world with excellent signs and are very well marked.

Our biggest travel hack was taking a direct flight from Cappadocia back to Istanbul. We figured that a seven hour drive would be a bit much for the kids; however, taking a domestic flight allowed us to check into our apartment in Istanbul just in time for dinner.  After that we were able to rest before heading out to see all the sights of the city.

04. Top attractions In Turkey

1. Cappadocia: A Wings-On Dreams

Cappadocia Is The Dream Of Turkey. The “Fairy Chimneys” & Surreal Landscape Of Cappadocia Are Like Being On Another Planet – A Place Where You Can Perform Your Greatest Dreams & Have Earth Under Your Feet Lift You Up Into The Sky. This is one of the best family places in turkey.

What is Wonderful for Kids:

• Hot Air Balloons: Whether or not you take an early morning flight (which can get very expensive) is not the most important thing to consider; witnessing hundreds of hot air balloons rising into the air above the valley is absolutely breath-taking and creates a moment of wonder for everyone. There are still conversations about the morning so many giant, colourful balloons floated into the sky peacefully and silently, as my kids watched from their hotel window.
• Cave Hotels: Sleeping in a bed in a cave created by normal means, and the solitude offered by such a night will not soon be forgotten. The cave room where I spent the night felt like a secret place or a “cave.” It was a mix of modern things and the historical “mystery” of caves; therefore, it was cool. 
• An Underground City: The experience of exploring an underground city (Derinkuyu and Kaymakli), is like being part of an Indiana Jones movie. The tunnels that make up these underground cities are winding, tight, and very, very cool, making the history contained in these places fun and real.

My suggestion is to plan a trip to turkey, have at least 3 full days of fun and excitement. The extra day will allow time for visiting areas, enjoying the awe of the valley and then relaxing during the remains of the day. A visit to Turkey with kids will provide you with lasting memories.

2. Pamukkale: Strolling on Cotton clouds.

Pamukkale appears in no way similar to other places we have been visiting so far. Pamukkale is reached by car over a winding road through hillsides which are covered by massive drifts of white snow. The Cotton Castle seems to be dripping with sunshine forming the most beautiful white landscape in the world!

The attractions that children will enjoy include:

• Thermal Pools – This is an excellent environment to swim and play in deep thermal pools. Children are able to run and play with their bare feet and splash around on white calcium deposits thus Pamukkale is a great attraction!
• Hierapolis and Cleopatra pool– It has ruins of ancient Roman Spa city of Hierapolis that is an immediate neighbor. One of the great attractions is the Antique Pool in which you can swim through the columns of a long-gone temple! The experience there is like no other under the surface of the Antique Pool, it gives an impression of underwater museum! These are great things to do in turkey with kids.

3. The Turquoise Coast: Our Coastal Playground

If you want to enjoy sunshine, relaxation, and a rich ancient history lapping the sand, the Turkish Riviera (also called the Lycian Coast) is one of the places you cannot miss out on while visiting Turkey. We settled in an area near Kalkan, but this entire area (including places like Fethiy, Kas and Oludeniz) is absolutely beautiful for families. Reasons Why It is Amazing For Children:

• The Beaches: The famous Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz is a gorgeous shade of turquoise and has very calm waters; so it’s a great beach for swimming and playing safely. The best gift for your children is a trip to Patara, Turkey. Not only is Patara the longest beach in Turkey, but it’s also the softest beach in Turkey, surrounded by ancient ruins and, when you step on to the beach, you will feel as though you are in the Sahara Desert meets the Ocean.
• Fethiye’s Hidden Gem: I should tell you all about Şehit Fethi Bey Parkı in Fethiye. It is, by far, the best kids’ playground we have ever seen it is HUGE, extremely well-equipped, and a great place for kids to let off some steam after a long drive.
•  Kas: The quaint little cobbled streets of this picturesque town are absolutely gorgeous with lots of sweet ice cream shops and are perfect for long  leisurely walks in the afternoon.

4. Where the Continents Embrace: Istanbul

After our journey, Istanbul stands first and foremost among many other cities in the world, as it rests on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, which connects Europe and Asia. Istanbul is the perfect best place to visit in turkey with family.

What makes it great for kids?

• The Grand Bazaar is imposing, literally speaking! There are a million colours and smells around with spices, lanterns, ceramics, and (obviously) Turkish Delights, it is as though it were in one of the Arabian Nights stories! This is the wonderful place given by kids to have a holiday money spent on something small and shiny/bartley!
• Bosphorus Cruise: Boat riding through the strait will be the most beautiful experience of the Istanbul skyline, many palaces, and mosques. Cruise is fun and it offers one a chance to relax and spend time in serenity, and also gives one a breathtaking scenery that one will not forget, regardless of their age.
• Icons: The c and Blue Mosque are incredible, and every child should witness how massive and beautifully built they are.

05.Little Things, Big Memories: Kid-Friendly Activities

Often, the best part of a family holiday is not the tourist attractions, but all the small treasures discovered along the way.  Turkey with kids is full of these small joys.

1. The following are some of the meals that our children laughed at:

The Joy of Turkish Cuisine

Because of the close relationship family members have with the Turkish Culture, the food is generally kid friendly since they are not spicy, and there are numerous fresh ingredients. The following are three meals that we find acceptable, due to their taste being good and being friendly to the kids.

•  Pide: Pizza is substituted with Pide which is a real Turkish substitute. Pide is a type of dough in the shape of a boat that is topped with half-melted cheese and either spinach or minced lamb. The children will certainly be fond of it.
• Kumpir– The huge potato of Turkey! These massive, giant and tasty potatoes are boiled, blended with butter and cheese, and loaded with everyone and everything toppings! They are a cheap though fulfilling meal.
•  Kofte: Delicious meatballs that all kids will love! These easy meals are some of the best things to do in turkey with kids (and for their parents).
  
  

Dondurma – Turkish Ice Cream

An essential thing to do is purchasing Turkish ice cream (Dondurma) from a traditional vendor. However, what many people do not realise is that it is more than just food it is also part of the entertainment! What makes these vendors special is their skillfulness maintained through years of practice (some may say it’s a form of art). Vendors delight their patrons, especially children, by performing tricks with their ice creams. The children wait in anticipation as the vendor stretches the sticky, stretchy ice cream and alternatively holds it back from them until they receive the ice cream cone. These vendors provide amusement, create memories, and are worth the wait. This is a must-do for Turkey for kids!

2. Turning History into a Game

Providing that you have enough time, you might wish to visit one of the ancient cities (Hierapolis, Ephesus, etc.) with your children and make them become Juniors Archaeologists. You may give them a small notebook and organize a scavenger hunt on them during the visit to the ruins (i.e. Find the column with three carvings, draw a picture of the biggest theatre, etc.). This approach makes the city ruins a creative discovery. Turkey for kids makes history come alive.

3. Road Trip Rest Stops

When you are considering the self-drive, you will find out that the big service areas have huge small play areas where children can play as you take a break or have a snack. The brief, frequent, impromptu breaks helped the kids to disperse some of the accumulating energy before they were forced to enter the vehicle again to continue the other leg of the journey. A road trip through Turkey with kids is surprisingly easy thanks to these amenities.

06.Final Thoughts About Booking Your Accommodations.

When evaluating your accommodation options when traveling in Turkey, think about the way you want to stay in Turkey. While many will choose hotels on the coast, and all-inclusive resorts have a lot of appeal, we chose a different option. Our preference was to stay in small family-run pensions, so being able to stay with a family gave us an opportunity to see and experience a different side of Turkey that you would not get staying at a big resort. We spent one night at a pension on the shores of Lake Eğirdir to break up a long drive from the coast to Cappadocia. The view from our lakeside pension was absolutely stunning and it provided us with an opportunity to stay in a completely authentic location, highly recommended!

Children will have a great time travelling through Turkey as it is an excellent place for slow travel. Planning a holiday to Turkey with kids demands a flexible approach. When you plan a trip to turkey, consider these local stays as part of your perfect Turkey itinerary.

Slow Travel is more than having a rigid schedule. It is learning to be flexible and allow for breaks when children express a need and allowing them to experience the kindness of strangers and be inspired by the colour, history and heart of Turkey. To truly appreciate Turkey with kids, embrace the slow travel philosophy.

To the Journey Ahead – As you begin your journey, keep in mind that it will redefine how your family sees the world. So, take a deep breath and drive safely, fill your stomachs, and expect to fall madly in love with Turkey and all it offers!

For official travel advice, cultural information, and family-friendly destination guidance, the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism also offers helpful resources.

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