Miniatürk is a theme park featuring several 1:25 scale miniatures of important historic buildings in Istanbul and Turkey. It’s a popular destination for both locals and foreigners, and great for families.
Miniaturk opened to the public on May 2, 2003. It’s spread out over 15,000 square meters and is one of the world’s largest miniature parks. In addition to the miniatures, there’s a restaurant, cafeteria, playground, arcade, two museums, and souvenir shop.
MiniatürkPlayground
Getting to Miniaturk
Miniaturk is located in the Sütlüce neighborhood of the Beyoğlu district in Istanbul. You can get there by taking a public bus to the Miniatürk stop just outside the park. Bus lines include the 47, 47Ç, 47E, and 47N from Eminönü; the 54 HŞ from Mecidiyeköy and Şişli; and the 36T from Taksim.
Miniatürk
Visiting Miniaturk
Miniatürk is open daily throughout the year from 9am to 7pm. Admission for foreigners is 200₺ (as of August 2023). All of the information on the miniatures is presented in Turkish, English, and Arabic. You can spend an hour or two admiring them, and more if you use the other facilities.
EntranceTicket booth
Organization of this Post
Photos of the miniatures are grouped in the region of the country or are of Istanbul in which they’re located. I’ll only provide labels without any detailed information. If I’ve visited the landmark and written a post about it, I’ll add a link.
Some of the miniatures have changed between visits with features added or removed. A few of the miniatures are no longer on display at the park. Photos were taken during two separate visits in September 2011 and November 2019.
Miniatürk
Works of Anatolia at Miniaturk
The first section at Miniaturk covers Works of Anatolia. It includes historic Seljuk, Ottoman, and modern structures as well as recreations of ancient buildings and natural sites.
Tomb of Aşık Pasha, Kırşehir, 14th centuryFairy chimneys of CappadociaFairy chimneys of CappadociaFairy chimneys of CappadociaAlaaddin Mosque, Niğde, 13th centuryDöner Kümbet, Kayseri, 13th centuryHacı Bektaş-ı Veli Complex, Hacıbektaş, 14th century
Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi), Konya, 13th centuryAnıtkabir, Ankara, 20th centuryAnıtkabir, Ankara, 20th centuryAnıtkabir, Ankara, 20th centuryAnıtkabir, Ankara, 20th centuryTurkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th centuryTurkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th centuryTurkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th centuryZiraat Bank, Ankara, 20th centuryHacı Bayram Mosque (15th century) and Temple of Augustus (1st century), AnkaraHacı Bayram Mosque, 15th century, and Temple of Augustus, 1st century, AnkaraAlaeddin Mosque, Konya, 12th centuryAlaeddin Mosque, Konya, 12th centuryKaratay Madrasa, Konya, 13th centuryHatuniye Madrasa, Karaman, 14th centuryGök Madrasa, Sivas, 13th centuryGök Madrasa, Sivas, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryGreat Mosque of Divriği, 13th centuryInce Minareli Madrasa, Konya, 13th centuryHittite castle, Alacahöyük, 14th century BC
Zeynel Bey Mausoleum, Hasankeyf, 15th centuryBalıklıgöl, Şanlıurfa, 18th centuryBalıklıgöl, Şanlıurfa, 18th centuryGreat Mosque of Diyarbakır, 11th centuryGreat Mosque of Diyarbakır, 11th centuryTomb of Ismail Fakirullah and Ibrahim Hakkı (1730-1780), Tillo, 18th centuryVeysel Karani Mosque and Tomb, Veyselkarani, 20th centuryMalabadi Bridge, Silvan, 12th centuryStone houses of MardinStone houses of MardinStone houses of MardinKirazlık Dam, Siirt, 21st centuryAtatürk Dam, Euphrates River, 20th centuryAtatürk Dam, Euphrates River, 20th centuryAtatürk Dam, Euphrates River, 20th century
Eastern Anatolia
Ishak Pasha Palace, Doğubeyazıt, 17th centuryIshak Pasha Palace, Doğubeyazıt, 17th centuryTomb of Emir Bayındır (15th century) and Seljuk cemetery (11th-16th centuries), AhlatTwin Minaret Madrasa, Erzurum, 13th centuryTwin Minaret Madrasa, Erzurum, 13th centurySomuncu Baba Complex, Darende, 17th centuryMount Nemrut Statues, 1st century BCMount Nemrut Statues, 1st century BC
Misc. Works of Anatolia
Baştarda 1657, Ottoman galley, 17th century
Works of Istanbul at Miniaturk
The next section covers Works of Istanbul . It includes historic Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern structures. The exhibit begins with a Mini Stadium, where football fans can play the anthem of one of four clubs – Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, or Beşiktaş. The same display was once occupied by a model of Atatürk Olympic Stadium (Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadı).
Mini StadiumMini StadiumAtatürk Olympic Stadium, İkitelli, 21st centuryAtatürk Olympic Stadium, İkitelli, 21st century
The rest of the Works of Istanbul section at Miniatürk includes several historic landmarks situated around a replica Bosporus Bridge that visitors can walk across. There’s also a huge model of Atatürk International Airport.
The Works from Overseas section is next to the Golden Horn. It’s the smallest section at Miniaturk and covers structures from former Ottoman lands.
Works from OverseasDamascus Gate, Jerusalem, 16th centuryDamascus Gate, Jerusalem, 16th centuryDome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 7th centuryDome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 7th centuryAl-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th centuryAl-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th centuryAl-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th centuryTomb of Gül Baba, Budapest, Hungary, 16th centuryTomb of Murad I, Kosovo, 14th centuryAtatürk’s birthplace, Thessaloniki, Greece, 19th centuryMostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th centuryMostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th centuryAjyad Fortress, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 18th centuryTomb of Gazi Ali Pasha, Romania, 17th centuryMosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th centuryMosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th centuryDamascus Railway Station, Syria, 20th centuryDamascus Railway Station, Syria, 20th centuryHamidiye Clock Tower, Tripoli, Lebanon, 20th century
Museums at Miniaturk
In addition to the miniatures, there are two small museums at Miniatürk.
Victory Museum
First is the Victory Museum (Zafer Müzesi), which contains miniature scenes from the Turkish War of Independence. It features scenes from the actual fighting as well as the efforts and sacrifices made by Turkish citizens.
MuseumsVictory MuseumVictory MuseumWar sceneVillage sceneVillage scene
Crystal Museum
Next is the Crystal Museum (Cristal Müzesi), which contains 3D images of important landmarks cut by lasers. They’re lit from underneath with colors that change every few seconds.
