Miniatürk Park, Istanbul — A Little Türkiye in the Heart of Istanbul

Miniatürk is one of Istanbul’s most unusual attractions, located on the north-eastern shore of the Golden Horn in the Sütlüce area. Covering more than 60,000 square metres, it is one of the largest miniature parks in the world — effectively a small-scale Türkiye featuring more than 130 historic and cultural landmarks.

History and Overview

Miniatürk opened in 2003 with the aim of presenting Türkiye’s history, culture and architecture in an engaging, compact way. Under the motto “a small model of a great country”, the park offers a short, symbolic journey across Türkiye in just a few hours.

Attractions and Highlights

At Miniatürk you can see 1:25-scale models of the most famous buildings of Türkiye and the Ottoman world — each real building is 25 times larger than its model in the park.

Some of the most notable models include:

  • Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
  • Bosphorus Bridge (Boğaziçi Köprüsü)
  • Beylerbeyi Palace
  • Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses (Rumeli & Anadolu Hisarı)
  • Haydarpaşa Railway Station (Haydarpaşa Garı)
  • The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
  • The Mausoleum of Rumi (Mevlana) in Konya
  • Atatürk’s House in Thessaloniki
  • Süleymaniye Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace in Istanbul
  • Models of ancient sites from Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Mount Nemrut

Overall, the exhibits fall into three sections:

  • Landmarks of Istanbul (about 60 models)
  • Landmarks of other Turkish cities (about 50 models)
  • Ottoman cultural heritage outside today’s Türkiye (about 20 models)

Leisure and Educational Facilities

Miniatürk is not only a cultural complex but also a family-friendly, educational environment.

Facilities include:

  • A small children’s amusement area
  • Boat rides on the park’s artificial lake
  • Istanbul Crystal Museum with 3D glass models
  • Café and restaurant overlooking the Golden Horn
  • Souvenir and handicraft shop
  • Theatre and open-air space for cultural performances

For children, the park is an exciting experience: in a short time they can learn about Turkish history and enjoy the colourful models.

Atmosphere and Experience

Miniatürk offers a unique experience for the whole family. Here you can get to know Türkiye’s rich history and culture in a short time and enjoy detailed, beautiful models of historic buildings.

For children it is an educational and entertaining place that introduces them to Turkish history, while adults can marvel at the precision and detail of the models.

Location

Address: Miniatürk Park, Sütlüce, north-eastern shore of the Golden Horn, Istanbul

Getting there: bus from the city centre | metro and tram | free parking | leisure and educational facilities