Five things to do with your kids in Istanbul this autumn

After several days of exploring Turkey's largest city, it's a perfect time to unwind at home and explore the newly-launched Fisher-Price Virtual Toy Museum, which launched on Instagram on October 16. In what the company describes as “the ultimate trip down memory lane for people of all ages,” the entire family can enjoy viewing 90 years of toy history in a sleek, digital environment. The museum will bring back memories of favourite Fisher-Price toys while providing a window into a fun-filled past that many of us have not previously witnessed.

No visit to Istanbul is complete without traversing the Bosphorus by ferry, even if it's just the short yet spectacular ride from Eminönü on the European side to Kadıköy on the Asian side. Those aiming for a day-long Bosphorus excursion can also board a ferry in the morning at Eminönü, which gracefully ambles up the strait until the edge of the Black Sea, stopping at the Anadolu Kavağı village at noon. Passengers have enough time to hike up to the remains of the ancient Byzantine Yoros Castle, which gazes out blissfully over the Black Sea. A nice lunch can be enjoyed in Anadolu Kavağı before boarding the ferry at 3pm back to the city.

Nestled in the heart of the old city nearby some of its most famous sites is the leafy, expansive Gülhane Park, one of the biggest in the city that is lined with towering old trees and flower gardens. The park is the perfect place to enjoy a stroll amid a rare green oasis in the crowded, dense city while snacking on corn on the cob or fresh roasted chestnuts. It also provides respite after a busy day of exploring iconic sites like the adjacent Topkapı Palace and Museum of Archaeology.

Though it has temporarily moved from its larger and more impressive location on the edge of the Bosphorus to a smaller building in the heart of the Beyoğlu district, the Istanbul Modern Museum remains one of the best in the country with an enviable permanent collection and a well-curated, rotating selection of exhibitions. Membership is free to all on Thursdays, and a striking exhibition of portraits by the late, iconic Turkish photographer Lütfi Özkök is on display through mid-November.

This large Sunday antique market features a wide range of items from the past that can interest those of all ages. Antique connoisseurs can peruse old jewelry and Turkish records while the exciting visual array of vintage toys, signs, keychains and countless other types of bric-a-brac won't leave the kids bored. Nearby is the hip Bomonti neighborhood, home to a number of excellent cafes and restaurants.