Aquarium at Forum in Istanbul

The Istanbul Aquarium is adjacent to a large shopping center (mall)--in fact you can walk from one to another without going outdoors.

A couple of the large tanks have some sharks. There were lots of school children there during our visit so it was almost impossible to get near to them ;)

The path through the aquarium is nicely designed as a loop. At the end you can either exit the way you entered or go through the mall. We spent about three hours there plus another two hours in transport (tram, metrobus and taxi) to and from where we were staying in Fatih (fairly near Sultanahmet).

Some other places I very recently visited in Istanbul that are very good for children: The Koç Transportation Museum and Miniaturk. Both are along the eastern shore of the Golden Horn--close enough (with good footpaths) to walk between the two. The public ferry from Eminönü to Eyup stops right at the Koç Museum--you can't miss it as there is big old Diesel submarine floating there. Miniaturk is a few hundred km to the north along the same road that fronts Koç Museum.

Thanks swampeastmike. I can get to the aquarium straight by train can't I? The train that goes to Ataturk airport - yes?

I've actually been to the Forum shopping centre myself but I never saw any signs for the aquarium that time (mind you I was there for shopping).

I found what you are looking for. It is the Istanbul Sea Life Aquarium aka Turkazoo While I've been to the mall I haven't been to the aquarium. It is located at the Karteltepe-Kocatepe stop on the M1 metro line that runs between Atatürk Airport and Yenikapı.

Istanbul Aquarium (the one I mentioned) is much larger but not as easy to access via public transportation.

Yes Swampeastmike that's it I meant Turkazoo not the new aquarium that has opened. I think with small kids it will be easiest to get to from Fatih.

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