Istanbul - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 77

For Active Families
Tuzla Outdoor Karting
Ankara Asfaltı, Tuzla Piyade Okulu
Yanı, Tuzla, Istanbul. b [phone]
31 18.

Shopping
To find some of the smartest
shops selling everything from
designer clothing to art, head for
Istiklal Street . While younger
children might be bored visiting
these types of shops, teenagers,
especially your girls, will love it.
It was formerly the Grande Rue
De Pera where Istanbul society
would gather a few decades ago
and parade in their finery. In
recent years it has seen massive
redevelopment and today has
smart cafes and restaurants that
sit side by side with art galleries,
all with a backdrop of embassy
and government buildings.
Everyone will love the atmos-
phere of the Grand Bazaar , and
to haggle for a souvenir to take
home is all part of the fun. Your
children will enjoy trying their
luck for one of the tiny ceramic
bowls that, because of their
bright colours, you can't miss in
the bazaar. They would make an
ideal trinket bowl for their bed-
room back home. Tiny slippers,
too, would make a great buy.
Your children will love haggling
for them, and then proudly
wearing them later. There are
around 4,000 tiny shops selling
everything from crafts and jew-
ellery to leather goods and
antiques, and because Istanbul is
such a child-friendly city, don't
be surprised if the shopkeepers
want to play and chat with your
children. It can be difficult to
get away and move on without
offending. A small purchase of
sweets or a little necklace should
do the trick. Be sure to visit the
Book Bazaar and the Spice

The only track approved by the
International Automobile
Federation, the Tuzla's 930m-
long track hosts international
karting races, the Turkish
Championships and the city's
karting marathon events. Great
fun for all the family.
Open 9am-5pm Sat and Sun. Price
30 YTL adults, 20 YTL children.

Hammams

Cagaloglu Hamami

Cagaloglu 34110, Istanbul. b +90
212 522 24 24; www.cagaloglu
hamami.com.tr

It is said that no visit to Istanbul
would be complete without a
hammam experience, but
whether you would deem a trip
to a Turkish Baths as appropriate
for a family outing is question-
able, and certainly not one for
babies and toddlers. However,
maybe one of you could take
some time out at the hammam,
while the other takes the chil-
dren karting? If you're planning
to visit a hammam, however, one
of the most authentic is the 300-
year-old Cagaloglu Hamami,
which was named in the New
York Times as one of the '1,000
Places to See Before You Die'
world wonders list.
Open 8am-10pm daily. Admission
33 YTL.

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