Family Big Short Break in Istanbul

After a breakfast of champions, comprised of cured meats, cucumbers, eggs, fresh cheeses and bread, you’ll head to the Grand Bazaar for a tour and exhilarating treasure hunt. Armed with a map, a camera and a few pennies, your ‘mission’ (should you choose to accept it) is to use clues to find, barter and buy items renowned in the Bazaar.

If, after lunch, your young travellers still have steam they need to blow off, head to Maçka Park. A slender green oasis in central Istanbul, it's beloved by locals seeking respite from the city’s crowds and chaos. There’s a children’s playground and adult outdoor exercise machines so all the family can get in on the action.

Don’t work out too hard, though. By 5pm you’ll be back in the cool and quirky Karaköy, for a trip on the Bosphorus strait just in time for sunset. Sail past the Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi palaces and Galatasaray University, discovering their histories and secrets with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide en route. Toast the cruise with a glass of wine before winding your way to another of Istanbul’s esteemed restaurants for mouthwatering meze and pistachio baklava.

Ignite you and your children’s inner historian on a day-long tour of the Cistern Basilica and Topkapi Palace. The subject of more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together, you’ll take a deep dive into the lives of lascivious sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs at the palace. Ogle at opulent pavilions, once haute harems and a jewel-filled treasury at Topkapi, and discover the underground Byzantine cistern, which dates back to the sixth century. Afterwards, we recommend simply wandering around the Sultanahmet (old town), soaking up the city’s glorious past.

Spend today learning about Turkey’s traditions, including ebru or Turkish paper marbling. Spend the morning learning the unique techniques of this UNESCO-listed art form that dates back to Ottoman times. Create your own colour patterns and leave with the ultimate souvenir – a beautiful, self-created piece of art.

Reward your efforts with a trip to the Turkish Kili Ali Pasa Hamami in the city’s busy waterfront district, Tophane. The hammam is known for its majestic dome, which stands at 59ft tall, but the main event is its heated marble slab, scrub and bubble massage. And with your complimentary slippers, sponge, soap, olive oil and lotion, it’ll be tough leaving here not feeling completely relaxed. Come nightfall, it’s all about Bomonti. Join locals at its bohemian arts, music and entertainment hub. Grab a pint at its Populist brewpub and order some street food favourites from its market.