Istanbul - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 66

Sea of Marmara

Natural Wonders &
Spectacular Views

★
Marmara Island is in the Sea of
Marmara to the south of Istanbul
and can be reached by boat (see
p. 59) although the journey time
can take a few hours. Unspoilt
and famed for its marble, it is
ideal as a break from the hustle
and bustle of the city. Take a pic-
nic, baby-changing equipment, a
buggy and perhaps even a change
of clothes for your little ones as
the island has few facilities and, if
going for the day, realistically it
will be several hours before you
return.
Sea of Marmara
An inland sea of around
11,500sq. km in size and lying to
the south of the European side of
Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara
links the Aegean Sea with the
Black Sea via the Bosphorus
strait. It has a collection of
islands, the Princes' Islands (see
p. 67), and the Marmara Island
(see above) which is famed for its

Marmara Island

Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is the stretch
of water that splits off from the
Bosphorus and runs inland
under the Galata Bridge and
Atatürk Bridge to the Jewish
areas of the city. Here, pleasure
craft can be seen bobbing on the
water, joggers in the green river-
side areas can be seen at all hours
of the day and a series of chil-
dren's playgrounds ensure it is a
'must' to visit during your stay.
Not far from here are the
remains of the old city walls.
Older children will love the
chance to explore them, although
be on your guard to avoid acci-
dents as they can be uneven in
places. In fact, not all areas are
accessible. It is probably best to
stop really young children from
attempting to explore as they
could easily lose their footing.

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