Istanbul

Miniatürk

November 11, 2019 15 Mins Read

Last updated on April 24, 2024.

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.

Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Miniatürk

Introduction to Miniaturk

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.

Playground at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Playground

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.

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.

Entrance at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Entrance

Ticket booth at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Ticket 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.

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.

Aegean Region

Model of the Isa Bey Mosque, Selçuk, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Isa Bey Mosque, Selçuk, 14th century

Model of the Isa Bey Mosque, Selçuk, 14th century — Isa Bey Mosque, Selçuk, 14th century

Model of the Muradiye Mosque, Manisa, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Muradiye Mosque, Manisa, 16th century

Model of the Izmir Clock Tower, 20th century — Izmir Clock Tower, 20th century

Model of the Church of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, 5th century — Church of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus, 5th century

Model of the Library of Celsus, Ephesus, 2nd century — Library of Celsus, Ephesus, 2nd century

Model of the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, 6th century BC — Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, 6th century BC

Model of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Bodrum, 4th century BC — Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Bodrum, 4th century BC

Model of the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon, Bergama, 2nd century BC — Altar of Zeus at Pergamon, Bergama, 2nd century BC

Mediterranean Region

Model of the Fluted Minaret Mosque, Antalya, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Fluted Minaret Mosque, Antalya, 14th century

Model of Maiden's Castle, Kızkalesi, 12th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Maiden’s Castle, Kızkalesi, 12th century

Model of Taşköprü, Adana, 2nd century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Taşköprü, Adana, 2nd century

Model of Aspendos Theatre, 2nd century — Aspendos Theatre, 2nd century

Marmara Region

Model of the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Selimiye Mosque, Edirne, 16th century

Model of the Izmit Clock Tower at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Izmit Clock Tower

Model of the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, 20th century

Model of the Çanakkale Martyrs' Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, 20th century — Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, 20th century

Model of the Green Tomb, Bursa, 15th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Green Tomb, Bursa, 15th century

Model of the Tomb of Ertuğrul Gazi, Söğüt, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Ertuğrul Gazi, Söğüt, 14th century

Model of the Grand Mosque of Bursa, 15th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Grand Mosque of Bursa, 15th century

Model of Uludağ, Bursa at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Uludağ, Bursa

Model of the Yapı Kredi Bank Headquarters, Gebze, 20th century — Yapı Kredi Bank Headquarters, Gebze, 20th century

Cappadocia

Model of the Tomb of Aşık Pasha, Kırşehir, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Aşık Pasha, Kırşehir, 14th century

Model of the Alaaddin Mosque, Niğde, 13th century — Alaaddin Mosque, Niğde, 13th century

Model of the Döner Kümbet, Kayseri, 13th century — Döner Kümbet, Kayseri, 13th century

Model of the Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli Complex, Hacıbektaş, 14th century — Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli Complex, Hacıbektaş, 14th century

Central Anatolia

Model of the Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi), Konya, 13th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi), Konya, 13th century

Model of Anıtkabir, Ankara, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Anıtkabir, Ankara, 20th century

Model of Turkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Turkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th century

Model of Turkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th century — Turkish Parliament, Ankara, 20th century

Model of Ziraat Bank, Ankara, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Ziraat Bank, Ankara, 20th century

Model of the Hacı Bayram Mosque, 15th century, and Temple of Augustus, 1st century, Ankara at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Hacı Bayram Mosque (15th century) and Temple of Augustus (1st century), Ankara

Model of the Alaeddin Mosque, Konya, 12th century — Alaeddin Mosque, Konya, 12th century

Model of the Karatay Madrasa, Konya, 13th century — Karatay Madrasa, Konya, 13th century

Model of the Hatuniye Madrasa, Karaman, 14th century — Hatuniye Madrasa, Karaman, 14th century

Model of the Gök Madrasa, Sivas, 13th century — Gök Madrasa, Sivas, 13th century

Model of the Great Mosque of Divriği, 13th century — Great Mosque of Divriği, 13th century

Model of the Ince Minareli Madrasa, Konya, 13th century — Ince Minareli Madrasa, Konya, 13th century

Model of a Hittite castle, Alacahöyük, 14th century BC — Hittite castle, Alacahöyük, 14th century BC

Black Sea Region

Model of the Kıble Dağı Yusuf Hoca Mosque, Rize, 21st century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Kıble Dağı Yusuf Hoca Mosque, Rize, 21st century

Model of Safranbolu homes, 17th-19th centuries at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Safranbolu homes, 17th-19th centuries

Model of the Amasya Yalıboyu Houses, 19th-20th centuries at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Amasya Yalıboyu Houses, 19th-20th centuries

Model of the Amasya Yalıboyu Houses, 19th-20th centuries — Amasya Yalıboyu Houses, 19th-20th centuries

Model of Sumela Monastery, Maçka, 4th century — Sumela Monastery, Maçka, 4th century

Southeastern Anatolia

Model of the Zeynel Bey Mausoleum, Hasankeyf, 15th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Zeynel Bey Mausoleum, Hasankeyf, 15th century

Model of Balıklıgöl, Şanlıurfa, 18th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Balıklıgöl, Şanlıurfa, 18th century

Model of the Great Mosque of Diyarbakır, 11th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Great Mosque of Diyarbakır, 11th century

Model of the Tomb of Ismail Fakirullah and Ibrahim Hakkı (1730-1780), Tillo, 18th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Ismail Fakirullah and Ibrahim Hakkı (1730-1780), Tillo, 18th century

Model of the Veysel Karani Mosque and Tomb, Veyselkarani, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Veysel Karani Mosque and Tomb, Veyselkarani, 20th century

Model of the Malabadi Bridge, Silvan, 12th century — Malabadi Bridge, Silvan, 12th century

Model of the stone houses of Mardin — Stone houses of Mardin

Model of the Kirazlık Dam, Siirt, 21st century — Kirazlık Dam, Siirt, 21st century

Model of the Atatürk Dam, Euphrates River, 20th century — Atatürk Dam, Euphrates River, 20th century

Eastern Anatolia

Model of Ishak Pasha Palace, Doğubeyazıt, 17th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Ishak Pasha Palace, Doğubeyazıt, 17th century

Model of the Tomb of Emir Bayındır (15th century) and Seljuk cemetery (11th-16th centuries), Ahlat at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Emir Bayındır (15th century) and Seljuk cemetery (11th-16th centuries), Ahlat

Model of the Twin Minaret Madrasa, Erzurum, 13th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Twin Minaret Madrasa, Erzurum, 13th century

Model of the Somuncu Baba Complex, Darende, 17th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Somuncu Baba Complex, Darende, 17th century

Model of the Mount Nemrut Statues, 1st century BC — Mount Nemrut Statues, 1st century BC

Misc. Works of Anatolia

Model of the Baştarda 1657, Ottoman galley, 17th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — 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).

Model of Atatürk Olympic Stadium, İkitelli, 21st century — Atatürk 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.

Model of the Bosporus Bridge, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Bosporus Bridge, 20th century

Model of the Bosporus Bridge, 20th century — Bosporus Bridge, 20th century

Model of Atatürk Airport, Yeşilköy, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Atatürk Airport, Yeşilköy, 20th century

Old City and Fatih

Model of the Süleymaniye Mosque, Süleymaniye, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Süleymaniye Mosque, Süleymaniye, 16th century

Model of the Tomb of Mimar Sinan (c. 1490-1588), Süleymaniye, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Mimar Sinan (c. 1490-1588), Süleymaniye, 16th century

Model of Istanbul City Hall, Saraçhane, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Istanbul City Hall, Saraçhane, 20th century

Model of the Valide Sultan Mosque, Aksaray, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Valide Sultan Mosque, Aksaray, 19th century

Model of the Pertevniyal High School, Aksaray, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Pertevniyal High School, Aksaray, 19th century

Model of Sultanahmet at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Sultanahmet

Model of Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet, 6th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet, 6th century

Model of the Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamam, Sultanahmet, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamam, Sultanahmet, 16th century

Model of Sultanahmet Square — Sultanahmet Square

Model of the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet, 17th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet, 17th century

Model of the Hippodrome at Sultanahmet — Hippodrome at Sultanahmet

Model of the Tomb of Sultan Ahmed I, Sultanahmet, 17th century — Tomb of Ahmed I, Sultanahmet, 17th century

Model of Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet, 15th century — Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet, 15th century

Model of Hagia Eirini, Sultanahmet, 4th century — Hagia Eirini, Sultanahmet, 4th century

Model of the Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet, 6th century — Basilica Cistern, Sultanahmet, 6th century

Model of Soğukçeşme Street, Sultanahmet, 19th century — Soğukçeşme Street, Sultanahmet, 19th century

Model of the Fountain of Ahmed III, Sultanahmet, 18th century — Fountain of Ahmed III, Sultanahmet, 18th century

Model of the Grand Post Office, Sirkeci, 20th century — Grand Post Office, Sirkeci, 20th century

Model of the Ahrida Synagogue, Balat, 15th century — Ahrida Synagogue, Balat, 15th century

Model of Chora Church, Edirnekapı, 11th century — Chora Church, Edirnekapı, 11th century

Model of Darüşşafaka High School, Çarşamba, 19th century — Darüşşafaka High School, Çarşamba, 19th century

Model of the Molla Gürani Mosque, Vefa, 11th century — Molla Gürani Mosque, Vefa, 11th century

Model of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, 5th century — Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, 5th century

Model of the Golden Gate, Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, 5th century — Golden Gate, Theodosian Walls of Constantinople, 5th century

Model of Yedikule Fortress, Yedikule, 15th century — Yedikule Fortress, Yedikule, 15th century

Model of Istanbul High School, Cağaloğlu, 19th century — Istanbul High School, Cağaloğlu, 19th century

European Side of Istanbul

Model of Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Eyüp, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Eyüp, 19th century

Model of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Eyüp, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Eyüp Sultan Mosque, Eyüp, 19th century

Model of Kabataş High School, Ortaköy, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Kabataş High School, Ortaköy, 20th century

Model of Çirağan Palace, Beşiktaş, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Çirağan Palace, Beşiktaş, 19th century

Model of Dolmabahçe Palace, Dolmabahçe, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Dolmabahçe Palace, Dolmabahçe, 19th century

Model of the Harem at Dolmabahçe Palace, Dolmabahçe, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Harem at Dolmabahçe Palace, Dolmabahçe, 19th century

Model of the Dolmabahçe Clock Tower, Dolmabahçe, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Dolmabahçe Clock Tower, Dolmabahçe, 19th century

Model of Rumeli Fortress, Rumelihisarı, 15th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Rumeli Fortress, Rumelihisarı, 15th century

Model of the Northern Sea Area Command, Kasımpaşa, 19th century — Northern Sea Area Command, Kasımpaşa, 19th century

Model of Saliha Sultan Fountain, Azapkapı, 18th century — Saliha Sultan Fountain, Azapkapı, 18th century

Model of the Stone Barracks, Gezi Park, 19th century — Stone Barracks, Gezi Park, 19th century

Model of the Maçka Arsenal, Maçka, 19th century — Maçka Arsenal, Maçka, 19th century

Model of the Galata Tower, Galata, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Galata Tower, Galata, 14th century

Model of the Galata Tower, Galata, 14th century — Galata Tower, Galata, 14th century

Model of St. Antoine Church, Istiklal Street, 20th century — St. Antoine Church, Istiklal Street, 20th century

Model of the Republic Monument, Taksim Square, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Republic Monument, Taksim Square, 20th century

Model of Galatasaray High School, Istiklal Street, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Galatasaray High School, Istiklal Street, 19th century

Asian Side of Istanbul

Model of Anatolian Fortress, Anadolu Hisarı, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Anatolian Fortress, Anadolu Hisarı, 14th century

Model of the Anatolian Fortress, Anadolu Hisarı, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Anatolian Fortress, Anadolu Hisarı, 14th century

Model of Maiden's Tower, Üsküdar, 18th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Maiden’s Tower, Üsküdar, 18th century

Model of Kuleli Military High School, Çengelköy, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Kuleli Military High School, Çengelköy, 19th century

Model of Kaymak Mustafa Pasha, Çengelköy, 18th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Kaymak Mustafa Pasha, Çengelköy, 18th century

Model of Beylerbeyi Palace, Beylerbeyi, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Beylerbeyi Palace, Beylerbeyi, 19th century

Model of the Khedive Palace, Çubuklu, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Khedive Palace, Çubuklu, 20th century

Model of the Sadullah Pasha Seaside Mansion, Çengelköy, 18th century — Sadullah Pasha Seaside Mansion, Çengelköy, 18th century

Model of the Haydarpaşa Railway Station, Haydarpaşa, 20th century — Haydarpaşa Railway Station, Haydarpaşa, 20th century

Model of the Küçüksu Pavilion, Küçüksu, 19th century — Küçüksu Pavilion, Küçüksu, 19th century

Misc. Works of Istanbul

Model of the Topkapı Ferry, 20th century — Topkapı Ferry, 20th century

Model of the Ertuğrul Frigate, 19th century — Ottoman frigate *Ertuğrul*, 19th century

Model of the 40 Fountains Aqueduct System, 16th century — 40 Fountains Aqueduct System, 16th century

Model of an Ottoman water level — Ottoman water level

Works from Overseas at Miniaturk

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 Overseas at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Works from Overseas

Model of the Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Damascus Gate, Jerusalem, 16th century

Model of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 7th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 7th century

Model of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th century

Model of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th century — Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, 8th century

Model of the Tomb of Gül Baba, Budapest, Hungary, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Gül Baba, Budapest, Hungary, 16th century

Model of the Tomb of Murad I, Kosovo, 14th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Tomb of Murad I, Kosovo, 14th century

Model of Atatürk's birthplace, Thessaloniki, Greece, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Atatürk’s birthplace, Thessaloniki, Greece, 19th century

Model of the Mostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Mostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th century

Model of the Mostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th century — Mostar Bridge, Bosnia, 16th century

Model of the Ajyad Fortress, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 18th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Ajyad Fortress, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 18th century

Model of the Tomb of Gazi Ali Pasha, Romania, 17th century — Tomb of Gazi Ali Pasha, Romania, 17th century

Model of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th century

Model of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th century — Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo, Egypt, 19th century

Model of the Damascus Railway Station, Syria, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Damascus Railway Station, Syria, 20th century

Model of the Hamidiye Clock Tower, Tripoli, Lebanon, 20th century at Miniatürk in Istanbul, Turkey — Hamidiye 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.

War scene in the Victory Museum — War scene

Village scene in the Victory Museum — Village 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.

Map of Miniaturk

Author nomadicniko

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.