Miniatürk

Touring Turkey The Lazy Man's Way

Opened on May 2, 2003, Miniatürk is a bizarre theme park that reproduces the wonders of Turkey in miniature. And it's exactly as kitschy and fun as you might expect. Found at the end of the Golden Horn, across from Eyüp, the park is worth a visit if you're in the mood for something totally different.

Miniatürk is split roughly half between the sights of Istanbul and the rest of Turkey. Even in miniature, the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are impressive, and Miniatürk allows you to see them from a bird's eye view. You can walk across a miniature version of the Bosphorus Bridge, listen to football chants at Atatürk Stadium, and even pay a lira to steer a model ferry across a mini-Golden Horn.