Istanbul Aquarium and Bakirkoy Bazaar in One Day

Yes — Istanbul Aquarium and the Bakırköy bazaar are easy to combine in one day: both sit on the same Marmaray line, and the ride between them is the same one you would take from Bakırköy to the aquarium. The most practical split is to give the morning to the aquarium and the afternoon and evening to Bakırköy Freedom Square and Istanbul Caddesi.

If you are staying in Bakırköy, the plan works even better: at the end of the day your accommodation is a 6-minute walk from the square and the bazaar, so getting back with shopping bags is quick.

Why this order?

• Aquarium in the morning: with the children's energy still high, the long indoor walk is more enjoyable.
• Bazaar in the afternoon: Istanbul Caddesi and the surrounding streets come to life towards evening; food and shopping fit into one walk.
• Short way back: at the end of the day you walk home to your accommodation.

The reverse order works too, though a late return from the aquarium can land you in the Marmaray at rush hour.

Step-by-step plan

Aquarium opening hours and ticket details can change by season; check the official site for current information and set your start time accordingly.

What will you find in the Bakırköy bazaar?

The centre of Bakırköy is Bakırköy Freedom Square (Özgürlük Meydanı). Around it you find Istanbul Caddesi, a pedestrian shopping street, plus the bazaar, cafés and restaurants. Shops here range from clothing to everyday essentials, and there are places to eat for different budgets.

If you would rather stay indoors, Capacity shopping mall is a 9-minute walk from the accommodation. On a mild evening the Bakırköy seafront and İDO ferry pier is another option at 14 minutes on foot; a short walk by the water is a calm way to close the day.

Tips for families with children

• Take the break after the aquarium. The accommodation is 8 minutes from the station and 6 minutes from the square, so you can drop in and rest before heading to the bazaar.
• Istanbul Caddesi is pedestrian. That makes walking with a stroller and small children easier.
• Plan for crowds. Weekend afternoons can be busy in the bazaar; keep hold of little hands.
• Eat dinner early. Shifting the meal to an earlier hour keeps the wait short with tired children.
• Leave the shopping for last. Do your shopping at the end of the day instead of carrying bags to the aquarium.

How much time should you allow?

A simple rule works: leave enough time to see the aquarium without rushing, and keep the bazaar flexible. If you stay at the aquarium longer than planned, cutting the bazaar short is easy, because your accommodation is within walking distance on the way back. Finish early and you can add an evening stroll on the Bakırköy seafront.

Two different paces

The relaxed pace suits families with small children; the full pace suits older children with plenty of energy and groups of adults. On the full pace you see the water twice in one day: at Florya around midday and in Bakırköy in the evening. On the relaxed pace, a midday return to the accommodation makes the evening walk through the bazaar more enjoyable.

On your arrival and departure days

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 11:00. On your arrival day you can take in the bazaar in the afternoon and visit the aquarium the next morning. If you would rather put the aquarium on your departure day, ask about luggage and a late check-out when you book; both depend on availability.

Where to stay

This plan works most smoothly for guests staying in Bakırköy. Two-bedroom apartment (2+1) and One-bedroom apartment (1+1) suit families, Studio apartment (1+0) suits couples; the options are on the apartments page. The building has a lift and security cameras, so carrying shopping bags and a stroller upstairs is easy. You can find the details of getting to the aquarium in How do I get from Bakırköy to Istanbul Aquarium?; the area around the accommodation is shown on the location page. Tell us your dates and how many of you are coming: 0532 655 43 32.

Common questions