Audio GuideIstanbul Toy Museum

Set within a graceful villa in Istanbul’s Göztepe neighborhood is a place where childhood memories linger in every corner—the İstanbul Oyuncak Müzesi, or Istanbul Toy Museum. Founded in the mid-two thousands by Sunay Akın, a well-known Turkish poet and storyteller, this unique museum was inspired by Akın’s visit to a toy museum in Germany, where he first imagined sharing a similar experience in his own city. For more than twenty years, Akın traveled across more than forty countries, collecting toys that reflect vibrant slices of global culture.

Sefa Gökce

It is no coincidence that the museum first opened its doors on April twenty-third, a national holiday in Turkey known as National Sovereignty and Children's Day. This celebration honors both the country’s independence and the promise of its younger generations, making it the perfect moment for a museum dedicated to the magic of play and storytelling to come to life.

Deniz Çataltaş

Step inside and you will notice the building’s grand structure—a former family home with four stories. Its white, wooden facade shines with traditional Turkish design elements seen throughout older districts along the Bosphorus. Inside, spacious rooms flow into one another, each carefully restored and arranged to transport visitors through time.

Sefa Gökce

The museum’s collection features about four thousand toys, including rare antiques dating back two centuries. Wander through rooms dedicated to different themes—the space room dazzles with model rockets and lunar vehicles, while the train section lets you climb into a classic carriage and marvel at tin locomotives from the early nineteen hundreds. Detailed dollhouses, lavishly decorated, line another hall.

Yağız Eğe

Each piece tells its own story. Some toys reflect times of peace or prosperity, others whisper of struggle. You will find toy soldiers and model planes designed during the turbulent years surrounding the Second World War. Others spotlight global leaders in the form of miniature figures. The oldest artifact—a French doll crafted around eighteen twenty—offers a glimpse into Europe’s early playtime traditions.

The museum gardens carry that spirit outdoors. Gleaming gold, silver, and bronze giraffe sculptures, cast life-size in concrete, recall similar statues from local legend. Nearby stand playful figures from Turkish folklore, including the clever Keloğlan and the wise Nasreddin Hoca, blending art, history, and fantasy under the open sky.

Since its opening, İstanbul Oyuncak Müzesi has inspired new toy museums across Turkey. Its thoughtful blend of nostalgia, cultural diversity, and playful discovery invites everyone—no matter their language or background—to rediscover the simple joys of childhood in the heart of Istanbul.