Istanbul Toy Museum is a place that allows children to have a great time, while giving nostalgia to adults. Located on the Asian Side, the museum stands out among the fun things to do in Istanbul.
In this article, you can find information about the history and artifacts of the Istanbul Toy Museum. In addition, the museum entrance fee and visiting hours are noted on the bottom lines.
History of Istanbul Toy Museum
Established in 2005 by the poet and writer Sunay Akin, Istanbul Toy Museum hosts the most outstanding examples of toy history from the 1700s to the present.
Located in a historical mansion on the Asian side of Istanbul, the museum exhibits the collection that Sunay Akin brought together in 20 years. The toys in the museum were meticulously purchased from collectors, antique dealers and auctions in more than 40 countries.
The Toy Museum is not only the first toy museum in Turkey, but also pioneers international organizations. For example, TOYCO-2012 (European Toy and Children’s Museums Association Meeting) was held in Turkey with the efforts of this museum.
In this way, Istanbul Toy Museum became a pioneer in the establishment of the World Association of Children’s and Toy Museums and earned Istanbul the title of “Capital of Toy Museums”.
Many new generation museums have been opened in Istanbul since the beginning of the 2000s, and although they are new, they have taken a place in the cultural life of the city.
Among these young museums, the most successful at first glance are the Istanbul Modern (Karakoy), Pera Museum (Beyoglu), Rahmi Koc Museum (Golden Horn) and Sakip Sabanci Museum (Emirgan).
The Toy Museum has gained an important place among these museums with its performance in recent years. Visiting this museum can be very fun for families visiting Istanbul with their children.
Things to See at Istanbul Toy Museum
Among the things to see at the Istanbul Toy Museum are toys representing different cultures from different parts of the world. The decoration of the museum, where three generations can spend time together, was designed by stage design artist Ayhan Dogan.
In Istanbul Toy Museum, which is a first in the world in many fields, all visitors, children or adults, can feel like they have taken a journey in a time machine. I would even say that the older ones will be more impressed than the younger ones.
1. Space Toys Section
The Space Toys section is about humanity’s effort to reach the Moon. As it is known, between 1957 and 1975, there was a great competition between the USA and the Soviet Union to send manned aircraft into space. The results of this competition were reflected in everything from TV programs to toys.
At the same time, those born in the 70s and 80s may find this section very interesting. Because the childhood of these generations passed with the influence of productions such as Star Trek and Star Wars. For this reason, seeing space toys will give adults a nice nostalgia.
2. Train Toys Section
The Train Toys section introduces rail transportation vehicles that make a great contribution to the transformation of the world. Trains, which made possible the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, almost changed the face of the world. You can rediscover the impact of this great change through toys.
You can also visit the Rahmi Koc Museum on the European side of Istanbul about industrial developments in history. Because Koc Museum (near Golden Horn) focuses especially on this period. These two museums are beneficial for children as they complement each other.
3. The Museum Cafe
The Museum Cafe, located on the ground floor of the museum, makes its visitors feel like they are inside a doll’s house. The cafe of the museum also hosts various celebration and birthday events. There are also some cultural events in the garden of the museum where writers and poets participate.
In addition to cultural activities, there are also educational ones. These include a printing workshop, a rag doll making workshop, and a creativity workshop. Istanbul Toy Museum also supports school trips in Istanbul.
Istanbul Toy Museum Entry Fee 2024
Istanbul Toy Museum entrance fee is 420 Turkish Liras in 2024. The discounted ticket price for children over 3 years old and students is 360 TL. The information on the ticket price was last updated on June 4, 2024.
It should also be noted that the Museum Pass Istanbul, which is valid in many state museums in Istanbul, is not valid in Istanbul Toy Museum, which is a private museum.
Istanbul Toy Museum Opening Hours 2024
Istanbul Toy Museum opening hours are between 11:00 in the morning and 18:00 in the evening. Please also note that the Toy Museum is closed on Mondays. Information on visiting hours was last updated on June 4, 2024.
The entrance hours of museums in Istanbul may change depending on events and renovations. Before going to the museum, I recommend you to visit the official website of the museum and review the latest situation.
How to Get to The Museum?
For those coming from the European side, the most logical way is to reach Kadikoy first. Kadikoy is easily accessible from both Sultanahmet and Taksim. Now let’s detail how to get to the Istanbul Toy Museum from these touristic centers.
You can take the ferry from Eminonu (near Spice Bazaar) to go from Sultanahmet (Old City) to Kadikoy. Alternatively, you can take the Marmaray (a metro crossing under the Bosphorus) from Sirkeci.
To get from Taksim to Kadikoy, you can first take the F1 funicular from Taksim Square to Kabatas. You can take one of the ferries from Kabatas to Kadikoy and cross to the Asian Side in 20 minutes.
Many public buses (IETT) departing from Kadikoy go to Goztepe, where the Istanbul Toy Museum is located. You can take one of the buses with codes 10B, 10S, 14Ç, 17, 17L, 19F, 19M, 19S.
In fact, all vehicles going into the interior of the Asian Side via Minibus Street (aka Minibus Caddesi) pass through Goztepe. You can reach Goztepe in 15 minutes by taking a bus or minibus to Bostanci, Maltepe or Pendik.
Conclusion
Istanbul Toy Museum is located in Kadikoy, the most popular district of the Asian side. After visiting the museum, you can explore Kadikoy’s Fish Market and its surroundings.
While exploring this delightful district of the Asian Side, the article Things to do in Kadikoy can guide you. In addition, if you want to shop around the district, the Shopping Streets in Kadikoy may be useful for you.
Written by Serhat Engul
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