Before heading out anywhere with a baby, the same questions always come up. Is there a lift, are the paths easy with a stroller, will we find a quiet corner to feed the baby? And of course, a coffee break for the grown-ups would be nice too. Those are exactly the questions we asked ourselves while putting this list together. From stroller-friendly indoor venues to free playgrounds and cafes where mum can catch her breath while the little one plays, here are the places to go with a baby on Istanbul’s Asian side, all of them addresses you can visit with peace of mind.
In short, the easiest places to go with a baby
- An indoor, baby-friendly day. Emaar Aquarium (free for 0–36 months) and Emaar SkyView, Emaar Square Mall, Üsküdar
- Play areas for little ones. MiniZone, Playland and the sand play area at Emaar Square Mall
- Free outdoor playgrounds. Üsküdar Children’s Village, Nakkaştepe public garden, Yoğurtçu Park, Orhangazi City Park on the Maltepe seafront and more
- Baby-friendly cafes. Nova Çocuk Play & Cafe (Feneryolu), Mom&City (Suadiye), Pükkan (Acıbadem), Filifu (Maltepe)
- Coffee break. Sky Cafe at SkyView for the view, Aquarium Cafe inside the aquarium for a quick breather mid-visit
What to Look For When Going Out with a Baby
A few details make the day much easier when you are choosing where to go with a baby.
- Stroller access. Venues with lifts, ramps and wide corridors are easy to get around with a stroller or pushchair.
- Baby changing room. Shopping malls are usually the most comfortable option here.
- Somewhere to pause. A corner where you can sit down to feed the baby or grab a coffee stretches the day.
- Transport. Venues with metro and Marmaray connections make getting there with a stroller easier.
- Free entry age. Many venues do not charge for babies under a certain age, so checking before you go is good for the budget.
A Baby-Friendly Day Under One Roof, Emaar Square Mall
Emaar Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
For babies, colourful fish and moving creatures are a celebration in themselves. Emaar Aquarium is easy to get around with a stroller and entry is free for babies aged 0–36 months. The baby just needs to come with an adult holding a full ticket, and you are asked to bring an ID showing the baby’s age. The tanks where sharks glide by, the curious meerkats and the adorable raccoons are among the stops that little visitors love most. Kumtopia inside the aquarium is a hands-on play and discovery zone, and babies aged 0–36 months enter free here too. You can take a break at Aquarium Cafe halfway through your visit.
Location Emaar Square Mall, Üsküdar. Open every day 10.00–22.00, last entry 21.15. There is a children’s ticket for ages 3–12, and online tickets come with a 10% discount. Current prices are on the Tickets page and the offers that change month by month are on the Campaigns page. Prices and campaigns apply to local visitors.
Emaar SkyView
For babies, the sky is an endless source of wonder. Clouds like cotton candy, buildings that look like toys down below, city lights slowly coming on in the evening… At Emaar SkyView you can take a closer look at the clouds and hunt together for the rabbit, the elephant and the teddy bear hiding in them. Emaar SkyView is on the 47th and 48th floors of Address Hotel and is stroller-friendly. After enjoying the city view from the glass-enclosed observation floor, you can treat yourself to a coffee at Sky Cafe on the 48th floor. A coffee with a view while the baby naps is a small but precious break for new parents. The entrance is on level -2 of Emaar Square Mall.
Open every day 10.00–22.00, last ticket 21.15. Sky Cafe every day 10.00–22.00.
Play Areas at Emaar Square Mall
Under the same roof as the aquarium and SkyView, Emaar Square Mall is one of the easiest ways to stretch the day for families with babies and small children. MiniZone on level -3 is an educational play area designed especially for the youngest age groups. Playland on level -2 appeals to slightly older children with its ball pits and games for different ages. The mall also has a paid sand play area where small children play with buckets and toy trucks under the guidance of an instructor. You can see all the play areas on the Emaar Square Mall entertainment page.
The mall also has a baby changing room, so there is no need to go outside to change a nappy or feed the baby in a quiet corner. On rainy and cold days, planning the whole day in one building like this is the most practical way to get out with a baby.
Free Playgrounds on Istanbul’s Asian Side
When the weather is good, the nicest plan with a baby is a large park that is easy to stroll around, with a safe playground for little ones inside it. Parks opened or renovated on the Asian side in the last few years have widened the options considerably. Entry to all the parks below is free. For babies who have just started walking, toddler play units with low slides and soft flooring are more suitable, so we recommend checking the age groups of the playground at the park you visit.
Üsküdar Children’s Village (Küçüksu, Üsküdar)
Opened by Üsküdar Municipality in March 2024, Üsküdar Çocuk Köyü (Children’s Village) is a free space of around 82,000 square metres designed entirely for children. The village has two themes. The education-themed section has a village square, children’s playgrounds, an amphitheatre, a pond, a vegetable garden, a water mill, children’s workshops and a horse farm. The forest-themed section has playgrounds, picnic areas, a viewing terrace, a waterfall and an adventure park. Children can see horses, donkeys, cows, sheep and chickens up close and join workshops such as pottery and bread making. For babies, just watching the animals is an outing in itself. Entry is free, parking is paid. Address Küçüksu Mahallesi Metin Sokak No 9. We recommend checking the municipality’s channels for visiting hours and the workshop programme before you go.
Nakkaştepe Public Garden (Kuzguncuk, Üsküdar)
This 90,000 square metre public garden with a Bosphorus view is one of the best-equipped parks to visit with a baby on the Asian side. Besides an outdoor children’s playground there is also an indoor children’s play area, which makes it a free option even on rainy days. The park has a biological pond, a nature explorer workshop, an adventure course, a viewing terrace and picnic areas. Open every day 08.00–22.00, entry is free. Buses 14M, 15F, 15U, 256 and 522 stop at Nakkaştepe, and the park is about a 15 minute walk from Bağlarbaşı metro station. Parking is paid and it gets crowded at weekends, so going early helps. The Kuzguncuk waterfront and its cafes are within walking distance.
Yoğurtçu Park (Kadıköy)
Within walking distance of central Kadıköy, Yoğurtçu Park reopened in 2022 after renovation by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Set on 26,000 square metres of first-degree protected natural land, the park has a children’s playground, cycling and running paths, a sports area and a cafe. The flat ground is easy with a stroller, and the walking path along the Kurbağalıdere stream is perfect for lulling the baby to sleep. Close to the Moda seafront and Kadıköy Market, it fits easily into a Kadıköy day.
Orhangazi City Park (Maltepe Seafront)
Built on reclaimed land on the Maltepe seafront, Orhangazi Şehir Parkı is one of the large coastal parks on the Asian side. With children’s playgrounds, a skate park, a roller skating rink and plant gardens, the park has a long, flat walking path along the sea that is ideal for a stroller. The wide lawns are also good for a picnic. The seafront can be chilly on windy days, so an extra layer for the baby is a good idea.
Anadolu Public Garden (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mahallesi, Ümraniye)
Opened by Ümraniye Municipality in June 2026, the 40,000 square metre Anadolu Millet Bahçesi has 3 separate children’s playgrounds. The park also has a multi-purpose sports court, an event area, fountains and more than 400 seating units.
Eda Erdem Park (Atatürk Mahallesi, Ataşehir)
Named after Turkish national volleyball player Eda Erdem, the park opened in September 2024 at the junction of Dicle and Fırat avenues in Ataşehir’s Atatürk neighbourhood. The park of around 5,000 square metres has a children’s playground, a volleyball court, a walking path, an ornamental pool and seating areas. A comfortable neighbourhood option for families living in Ataşehir.
Esatpaşa Park (Ataşehir)
One of the 30 parks Ataşehir Municipality renovated between 2024 and 2026. The 5,240 square metre Esatpaşa Park reopened in July 2026 after a complete renovation, with children’s playgrounds, fitness equipment and seating areas.
Sarıgazi Korupark (Sancaktepe)
Opened by Sancaktepe Municipality in August 2026, Sarıgazi Korupark covers around 13,000 square metres on Kule Sokak in the Sarıgazi neighbourhood. The long-unused site was redesigned with children’s playgrounds, walking and running paths, basketball and football courts, gazebos and picnic areas. A new breathing space for families living in this part of Sancaktepe and Ümraniye.
Yeşil Kıyı Park (Tuzla Seafront)
Opened by Tuzla Municipality on Mother’s Day in May 2026, Yeşil Kıyı Parkı spreads over around 29,000 square metres on the Tuzla seafront. It has children’s play units, a 1,600 metre cycling path, sports areas and newly planted trees. The seafront path is flat and wide, easy with a stroller. A playground by the sea for families on the Tuzla and Pendik side.
Kadıköy’s Seafront Parks
Fenerbahçe Park, Kalamış Atatürk Park, Göztepe 60th Year Park and Özgürlük Park are also safe choices for families with babies, with free playgrounds and stroller-friendly paths. You can find the details of these parks in our guide to the Top 15 Places to Visit with Kids in Kadıköy and Üsküdar.
Baby-Friendly Cafes and Cafes with Play Areas on the Asian Side
Sometimes the best plan is a few hours in a cafe where your child plays safely in front of you and you can drink your coffee before it goes cold. Most of the cafes below have play assistants looking after the children in the play area. The play area is usually charged separately, so we recommend confirming prices and hours with the venue before you go.
Nova Çocuk Play & Cafe, Feneryolu
A bright, airy space surrounded by glass. In the large play area inside, children play under the eye of staff while parents have breakfast or a coffee and a moment to themselves.
Address Bahçeler Sokak, Feneryolu, Kadıköy. Hours cafe every day 09.00–22.00, play area 10.00–21.00.
Mom&City, Suadiye
A small, warm baby-friendly cafe. The play area is separated from the cafe section, with a play assistant looking after the children inside. Families with babies who are not yet walking also come here often. The space is small, so arriving early at weekends helps.
Address Çolak İsmail Sokak, Suadiye, Kadıköy. Hours every day 10.00–19.00.
Gözde Şarküteri Kahvaltı, Caddebostan
The breakfast venue on Bağdat Avenue of the well-known delicatessen that has been in Kadıköy Market since 1986. While you enjoy a traditional Turkish spread breakfast, children spend time in a separate play area with a play assistant, and high chairs are available. Open mornings and lunchtime only. Parking and valet service make it convenient for families coming by car.
Address Bağdat Caddesi No 290, Broyt Hotel 1st floor, Caddebostan, Kadıköy. Hours every day 07.30–16.00.
Pükkan, Acıbadem
One of the Asian side’s well-known children’s cafes, with a large free-play area and workshops. You can see the play area easily from where you sit. While children ride toy cars and join workshops, parents take a break with coffee and homemade treats. Play groups for ages 18–36 months are also held on Friday and Saturday mornings, and you need to contact the venue to register.
Address Ahududu Sokak, Acıbadem, Üsküdar. Closed on Mondays, we recommend confirming the hours by phone before you go.
Pandadu House and Little Friends Coffee, Kozyatağı
Two child-friendly cafes on the same street in Kozyatağı. Pandadu House stands out for its play assistants and home cooking, Little Friends Coffee for its teacher-supervised play area and children’s menu.
Address Kaymakam Kemal Sokak, Kozyatağı, Kadıköy. Little Friends Coffee every day 09.00–23.00, play area 09.00–20.00.
Little Family Kids Cafe & Play, Fenerbahçe
A friendly cafe run by a family of educators, opened in August 2026. The play area is designed for ages 3–6, and children spend time there with a play supervisor while adults sit back and relax. Also loved for its fresh cakes and coffee.
Address Gazi Mehmetçik Sokak No 15, Fenerbahçe, Kadıköy. Hours cafe every day 08.30–21.00, play area 10.00–20.00.
DC Kids, Kalamış
Part of Dalyan Club, DC Kids offers a play and activity area for children from 18 months. While the children are inside, parents can sit at Arkhe Restaurant in the same complex.
Ages 18 months to 14 years. Hours DC Kids 09.30–17.30, Arkhe Restaurant 09.00–23.00.
Filifu Cafe N’ Play, Maltepe
Designed for ages 0–12, this play cafe has a trampoline, slides, a ball pit and a two-storey wooden playhouse. Children play with trained play assistants while parents take a break in the cafe section with a view of the sea and the Princes’ Islands. The venue also has a salt room and private parking.
Address Zümrütevler Mahallesi Hacı Bayram Veli Caddesi No 19/E, Maltepe. Hours every day 08.00–24.00. Ages 0–12.
Sky Cafe and Aquarium Cafe, Emaar Square Mall
For those who want a break during an aquarium or SkyView visit, there are two options in the same building. Aquarium Cafe is good for a quick breather mid-visit, and Sky Cafe on the 48th floor is perfect for a coffee with a view while the baby naps.
Suggestions by Age for Babies and Toddlers
0–1 Years
At this age the most valuable things for a baby are new sounds, colours and movement. The colourful tanks at the aquarium, the clouds seen from SkyView and a calm baby-friendly cafe stimulate the baby without wearing out the parents. Outdoors, parks with flat walking paths such as Yoğurtçu Park and the Maltepe seafront are the most comfortable with a stroller.
1–2 Years
Babies who have started walking love touching, exploring and roaming freely. Safe play areas designed for the youngest ages such as MiniZone, cafes with play assistants and the lively animals at the aquarium are big favourites at this stage. In parks, go for the toddler play units and the lawns, and the animals at Üsküdar Children’s Village are a real thrill for this age.
Places to Visit with a 2–3 Year Old
Children aged 2 and 3 want to get right into the game. Sand play areas, Playland with its ball pits, children’s cafes with play assistants and the large playgrounds at Nakkaştepe and the Children’s Village are good choices for this age group. For neighbourhood by neighbourhood suggestions, see our guide to the top 15 places to visit with kids in Kadıköy and Üsküdar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go with a baby on Istanbul’s Asian side?
For an indoor, baby-friendly day you can combine Emaar Aquarium, Emaar SkyView and the play areas at Emaar Square Mall in one visit. If the weather is good, free parks such as Üsküdar Children’s Village, Nakkaştepe public garden and Yoğurtçu Park are good options, and if you want somewhere you can take a break while your child plays, the baby-friendly cafes in Kadıköy and Üsküdar are a good choice.
Where are the free playgrounds on the Asian side?
Üsküdar Children’s Village, Nakkaştepe public garden, Yoğurtçu Park in Kadıköy, Orhangazi City Park on the Maltepe seafront, Anadolu public garden in Ümraniye, Eda Erdem and Esatpaşa parks in Ataşehir, Sarıgazi Korupark in Sancaktepe and Yeşil Kıyı Park in Tuzla are among the parks with free children’s playgrounds. In Kadıköy, Fenerbahçe, Kalamış, 60th Year and Özgürlük parks also have free playgrounds.
Do the municipalities run free play groups?
District municipalities’ family and children’s centres occasionally open parent and child play groups and workshops for ages 0–3, but these programmes are seasonal and have limited places, so you need to follow the current announcements on the municipality’s own website and social media accounts. The free workshops at Kadıköy Municipality’s Halis Kurtça Children’s Culture Centre are announced in a monthly bulletin and joined by reservation.
Is Emaar Aquarium free for babies?
Yes, babies aged 0–36 months enter Emaar Aquarium free with an adult holding a full ticket. An ID for the baby is requested at the entrance. Details are on the Tickets page. The aquarium is stroller-friendly.
Can I take a stroller up to Emaar SkyView?
Yes, Emaar SkyView is stroller-friendly. The entrance is on level -2 of Emaar Square Mall.
Where are the baby-friendly cafes on the Asian side?
In Kadıköy, Nova Çocuk Play & Cafe in Feneryolu, Mom&City in Suadiye, Gözde Şarküteri Kahvaltı in Caddebostan, Little Family in Fenerbahçe and Pandadu House and Little Friends Coffee in Kozyatağı are among the cafes with play areas. In Üsküdar, Pükkan in Acıbadem stands out, and in Maltepe, Filifu Cafe N’ Play. At Emaar Square Mall, Aquarium Cafe and Sky Cafe are close to the play areas.
Where can I go with a baby on a rainy day?
Emaar Aquarium, Emaar SkyView and the play areas at Emaar Square Mall offer an indoor day in a single building. If you are looking for a free option, the indoor children’s play area at Nakkaştepe public garden can be used on rainy days too.
Which places are free to visit with a baby?
Emaar Aquarium and Kumtopia are free for babies aged 0–36 months. Entry to all the parks in this guide is free. For other free options, see our guide to free museums, exhibitions and activities for children in Istanbul.
On your next outing with the baby, you can start with the colourful tanks at Emaar Aquarium, look down on Istanbul from SkyView and end the day with a coffee at Sky Cafe. If the baby sleeps, the coffee stays hot. If not, the view is still beautiful.
Last updated November 2026. Opening hours and prices may change, so we recommend checking before you go.
