Turkish poet and author Mr. Sunay Akın has opened the first and the only private toy museum of Turkey on 23.April.2005. This opening date was not chosen randomly. April 23rd is an important day in the history of the Turkish Republic. It was on this day that the Grand National Assembly first met in 1923. It is also when the country simultaneously celebrates National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, dedicated this important date to the children of the world.

Sunay Akın had noticed a toy museum in Nürnberg-Germany in 1990 and laid the foundations of the Istanbul Toy Museum with a toy horse he purchased from an antique shop in Germany. He expanded his collection for over 15 years and has collected 7000 antique toys. Meanwhile he has made serious efforts to convert the historical villa, belonging to his family, into a cozy museum. 4000 toys are on display in this four-floor museum located in Göztepe, Istanbul. The oldest is a miniature violin manufactured in France in the year 1817. A doll made in the United States in the 1820’s, a set of marbles also from United States dating back to the 1860’s, tin toys from Germany, plus porcelain dolls are amongst other items of the extensive collection.

The interior décor and displays were arranged by a professional stage designer. Each room resembles a different theater stage.  For instance, when you enter the gallery of space toys, you encounter hining stars overhead, whereas miniature train sets are exhibited in a genuine train compartment. 

My childhood was in a house with a smooth terrace made as a longing of a smooth place in Trabzon where all the streets were uphills and downhills. I stared at the moon on that terrace on the 20th of 1969 hoping to see the first man on the moon. It was not a surprising thing to emulate Charlie Chaplin on that same terrace since all the grandfathers were wearing hats and using canes. I read the poems on the pages of the calendars. 

I wrote my first poem to an empty hanger inside the closet and asked “are you cold?”. I used to collect fabrics from my father’s tailor shop believing that they were the countries on the map and I was strong enough to carry the world in my pockets. I went in and out of every phone booth I saw, but never found the magical phone booth that gave Superman the strength of flying. I also loved the capes of the trapeze artists… I believed since they don’t have any wings, the secret of flying laid within the capes so I tied curtains around my neck and went outside. It was the rough wind of my mother’s voice that lead me back to home! 

You will daydream within the toys, while you’re sipping your tea in the Museum Café, located downstairs of the museum. The museum gives you a feeling like you are in a doll house. We also host birthday parties, breakfasts and corporate organizations. On Tuesdays “Museum Cafe” will only be available in the winter garden area due to our event “Conversation With Books with Yasemin Sungur” between 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00. Thank you for your understanding.

Breakfast

While preparing for the week, within the centennial toys, how about passing through a time tunnel with your loved ones and bring back your childhood memories that left a trace?We are expecting you for a nice Sunday breakfast at Istanbul Toy Museum. Breakfast service is provided upon request only and prepared for the groups of (at least) 15 people or more. You'll need to book it in advance. 

Adults : 85 TL

Children (6-12 years) : 60 TL

Young Children (3-6 years) : 20 TL

Toddlers & Babies (0-3 years) : Free 

Birthdays

Istanbul Toy Museum hosts birthdays for adults and children. The museum offers a different birthday space both for children and adults who never left their childhood. Necessarily birthday organizations are being combined with an activity for children, offers to enjoy learning while having fun.For detailed information please contact to the museum.

Corporate Organizations

Istanbul Toy Museum offers a different space to institutions for meetings and trainings. The Conference Room for 65 people has all sorts of technical equipment and fairly convenient for presentations. Cocktail and food service is provided in the café when it is requested. Parking Garage may take a limited number of vehicles and it is free. After the meetings, presentations and trainings, the participants will again remember their childhood creativity with the museum tour.For more detailed info please contact us.