Travelling in Istanbul with children is a mix of delight and logistics. The ferries, the gulls and the street food are a hit. The queues at the big monuments, the hills of the old city and the summer heat are less so. After a few days of mosques and museums, most kids want one thing. Somewhere to run around.
This guide starts with a short list of family favourites in the city, then lays out a full day in the north of Istanbul, where the forest meets the Black Sea and children can meet horses up close.
Family favourites in the city
There is plenty to do with kids in central Istanbul. A few ideas that tend to work well.
Ride a ferry. A public ferry across the Bosphorus is cheap, easy and often the highlight of the trip for young children. Sit outside, watch the gulls and spot the two continents.
Rahmi M. Koç Museum. On the Golden Horn in Hasköy, this museum is full of cars, trains, planes and boats. Children who like anything with wheels or engines usually love it.
Miniatürk. An open air park in Sütlüce with scale models of famous buildings from Turkey and beyond. Good for a sunny afternoon.
Parks and groves. Emirgan Grove on the Bosphorus and Yıldız Park are the best known green spaces inside the city. Emirgan is especially busy in April during the tulip season.
All of these get crowded at weekends. If your children need space and quiet, it is worth heading north for a day.
Why go north
Head north from Sarıyer and the city thins out quickly. Belgrade Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) is a large area of protected woodland, and beyond it the land runs down to the Black Sea coast near Kilyos. For children this means soil, trees, animals and open air.
Kerem Bey Horse Farm is in this corner, in Uskumruköy, Sarıyer, on the edge of Belgrade Forest and close to Kilyos and Zekeriyaköy. It is 5-10 minutes from the Uskumruköy toll gates on the Northern Marmara Motorway. For more ideas in the area, see our guide to things to do in Belgrade Forest.
Getting there from the city centre
Public transport to this part of Istanbul is limited, so most families come by taxi, ride hailing app or rental car. From Taksim or Sultanahmet you head north towards Sarıyer, and the drive time depends heavily on traffic. Leaving in the morning on a weekend is usually easier than a weekday afternoon. Show your driver the address, Uskumruköy, Ayvacık Sk., Sarıyer, or message us on WhatsApp and we will send you the map pin.
A family day at the farm
The farm is open from 09:00 to 19:00, every day except Thursday. Here is a simple plan you can shift to suit your family.
Morning, start with breakfast
Arriving early means cooler air and a quieter farm. Start with a Turkish village breakfast at the farm’s own restaurant, served as a spread of small plates for the table. There are garden tables outside, so children can get up and look around when they have had enough of sitting. The menu and prices are on the restaurant page.
Meeting the horses
For many children this is the first time they see a horse this close. A guide shows them how to approach, where to stroke and how to stay calm. It helps to explain two rules before you arrive. Never walk behind a horse, and no shouting near it.
Some children want to climb on straight away. Others prefer to watch from a distance first. Both are fine.
The arena ride
For young children the best first ride is the arena ride. In an enclosed arena, with a guide walking next to the horse, your child rides 4 laps. It costs 500 TL, and helmets and equipment are provided.
Four laps may sound short, but for a first ride it is just right. If your child is hooked, you can try a longer ride next time. For lessons, packages and how a child’s first lesson works, read our guide to horse riding for kids.
Rides for older kids and parents
If older children or the parents want to ride too, the guided beginner rides are a good fit.
- Forest ride, 30 minutes, 1,500 TL, on shaded trails in Belgrade Forest.
- Lake ride, 45 minutes, 2,000 TL, through the forest to a lakeshore with a stop for photos.
A suitable horse is chosen for each rider by height, weight and experience. More details on our horse riding tours page.
Afternoon, slow down
There is no need to rush off after the ride. Have a tea in the garden, order something from the grill and let the kids unwind. Many families finish with a short walk by the sea on the way back. Most children fall asleep in the car.
Sample budget
For a family of four, with two young children on the arena ride and two parents on the forest ride.
| Activity | Who | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Arena ride (4 laps) | 2 children | 2 x 500 TL = 1,000 TL |
| Forest ride (30 min) | 2 adults | 2 x 1,500 TL = 3,000 TL |
| Lake ride (45 min), optional | per person | 2,000 TL |
| Breakfast | family | see menu |
In this example the riding comes to 4,000 TL. Food prices are on the online menu, and the full list is on our prices page.
What to bring
- Closed, flat shoes. Sandals and flip flops are not suitable for riding.
- Long, comfortable trousers for everyone who rides.
- A change of clothes. Dust, mud and spilled milk all happen.
- A light jacket. The north of the city is often cooler and windier than the centre.
- Sun cream and hats in summer.
- Wet wipes and water for hands after stroking the horses.
Our guide on what to wear for horse riding has a fuller checklist.
Birthdays and groups
If you would like to celebrate a birthday at the farm or come with a few families together, we organise family and group events with a personal quote. See the events page for details.
Booking
Fill in the booking form, which turns your choices into a ready WhatsApp message, or write to us directly on WhatsApp at +90 546 414 00 89. English is fine. Include the date, the number of people, the children’s ages and heights, and whether anyone has ridden before. The farm is open every day from 09:00 to 19:00 and closed on Thursdays. In bad weather, rides are moved to another day for safety.