Istanbul Toy Museum

The Istanbul Toy Museum or İstanbul Oyuncak Müzesi is a toy museum located in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, Turkey in a former historical mansion. Established in 2005 by the Turkish poet and author Sunay Akın, the museum houses over 4,000 toys from Turkey and more than 40 other countries, many of which date back to the 1700s and were bought at antique shops and auctions.

The museum is spread out across four floors. It has come to be known as the “capital of toy museums” and seeks to educate the public about various historical events through toys. For instance, the section on space toys depicts man’s attempt to reach the moon while the section on toy trains represents the Industrial revolution. Some other popular toys at the museum include a doll made in the USA in the 1820s, a miniature violin made in France in 1817, tin toys from Germany and more. Apart from the exhibitions, the museum also organises activities for children like traditional and modern puppet shows, magic shows and workshops, as well as activities for adults like theatre performances, photography workshops, art seminars, etc. There is also a cafe within the building, called the Museum Cafe, which is designed to appear like a dollhouse.