🌍 Our Istanbul Adventure With Kids: A Journey of Beauty, Chaos & Unexpected Magic

Traveling as a family of four is always an adventure — especially when your troop includes a highly curious 7-year-old (Azlan) and a 1.4-year-old toddler (Afsheen) who believes the whole world is her playground.

This time, our destination was the timeless city of Istanbul, a place where continents meet, history rises from every corner, and baklava tastes like heaven. Our trip wasn’t perfect — far from it. But it was unforgettable.

✈️ From Dhaka to Istanbul — The Long-Awaited Journey Begins

We took an early morning flight from Emirates Airlines, flying from Dhaka to Istanbul via Dubai. Emirates Airlines has always been reliable for us — good food, friendly service, and a smooth experience even with kids.

The extra range Boeing jet taking us to Istanbul via Dubai

Azlan was glued to the in-flight entertainment, while Afsheen… well, she made sure she explored every inch of the seat area before napping like a tiny queen.

Landing at Istanbul Airport instantly filled us with excitement. The adventure was finally real.

🛫 The Missed Flight That Changed Our Trip — And Made It Better

We were supposed to catch a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri for our next adventure… but with kids involved, things rarely go perfectly.

We missed the flight.

For a moment, frustration hit us — schedules, bags, tired kids.
But then we looked at each other and decided: Let’s not waste this day.

And that decision gave us one of the best memories of our entire trip. We decided to stay at Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi.

🌊 A Serendipitous Bosphorus Cruise — From the Asian Side

Since we had unexpectedly found ourselves with a free day, we booked a Bosphorus cruise departing from close to our hotel near the
Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi (Asian side of the city).

The moment we stepped onto the boat, all the stress melted away.

Cool breeze.
Seagulls gliding beside us.
Minarets piercing the skyline.
The Bosphorus Bridge lighting up as the sun dipped lower.

Afsheen stood mesmerized by the waves.
Azlan pretended to be a ship captain.
We sat shoulder-to-shoulder as a family — tired but happy.

It was quite an evening as we have sailed like forever going up and down the Bosphorus strait. The hotel booked us on a marvellous tour.

Good was good with traditional Turkish dance performanes.

Sometimes missed flights create the best memories.

🕌 Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque — Awe, Beauty, and Baby Steps

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

Stepping into the iconic Hagia Sophia felt surreal. The towering dome, marble floors, ancient mosaics… it’s the kind of place that makes you whisper without even meaning to.

But whispering is not a concept Afsheen understands. So while we admired the architecture, we simultaneously did toddler-chasing cardio.

Azlan, on the other hand, asked a new question every 15 seconds:
“Baba, how old is this?”
“Baba, did giants build this?”
“Baba, how many chandeliers are here?”

The wonder in his eyes made it all worth it.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

Right across the square stood the equally gorgeous
Blue Mosque — famous for its blue İznik tiles, calm courtyards, and graceful minarets.

Inside, the serenity was incredible, but keeping kids quiet in a functioning mosque is… challenging. Still, walking through the soft light filtering in through stained glass, I felt a rare mix of peace and joy.

🛍️ Grand Bazaar & The Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed — Color, Chaos & Culture

From the historic calm, we dived straight into the electric atmosphere of the
Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets.

Crowds, lanterns, carpets, spices, jewelry… it was overwhelming and beautiful at the same time.
Pushing a stroller through the bazaar felt like navigating a maze during rush hour, but we survived — thanks to simit breaks and strategic pauses.

Just a short walk away, we visited the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I, a calm and spiritual spot where the great Sultan Ahmed rests. It was a peaceful contrast to the bazaar’s buzz.

🏯 A Walk Through Royal History — Topkapı Palace

The next day, we explored the vast Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans.
Courtyards, views of the Bosphorus, ancient artifacts, shimmering treasures — it felt like stepping into a history book.

But cobblestones + stroller + toddler = a full-body workout.
We took turns carrying Afsheen and letting Azlan roam responsibly. Despite the challenges, the place was breathtaking.

🍨 Taksim Square, Shawerma & Faruk Güllüoğlu Baklava

Later, we hopped over to the ever-busy
Taksim Square, where modern Istanbul comes alive.

A street vendor performed the classic Turkish ice-cream “trick show” for Azlan — the teasing, the spinning cone, the disappearing scoop. Azlan laughed so hard, people around us joined in.

Then we went for one of Istanbul’s best sweets at Faruk Güllüoğlu.
The pistachio baklava was heavenly — rich, flaky, buttery, and absolutely diet destroying.