Miniatürk and Rahmi M. Koç Museum: A One-Day Trip Plan for Primary School

Miniatürk and the Rahmi M. Koç Museum sit close to each other on either side of the Golden Horn, so they fit comfortably into one day: in the morning, transport and machines at the museum; in the afternoon, outdoor scale models of buildings from Türkiye and the Ottoman lands. This pairing makes for a school trip that is both active and educational, especially for primary school and the first years of middle school. Below you will find how we build the day hour by hour and how you can use it in class.

How does the day run?

The Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Miniatürk Tour is a day trip lasting about seven hours. The schedule in the catalogue is as follows:

• 09:00 Departure from school
• 10:00 Guided visit to the Rahmi M. Koç Museum
• 12:00 Transfer to Miniatürk
• 12:30 Miniatürk visit
• 15:00 Departure for the return
• 16:00 Arrival at school

Times are adapted to your school's location at the quote stage. Spending the morning in an indoor museum and the afternoon in an outdoor park balances the children's energy: the part that needs concentration falls when minds are fresh, and walking and exploring come in the afternoon.

What to see at Miniatürk

Miniatürk is an open-air miniature park in Sütlüce on the shore of the Golden Horn. According to the catalogue, scale models of buildings from Anatolia, Istanbul and the Ottoman lands are displayed over an area of about 60,000 square metres. Students can examine a mosque, bridge, ancient theatre or castle they have seen in their textbook on a small scale, walking all the way round it.

The park is explored on foot. The paths are flat and wide, so young children are comfortable too; as we also note in the tour's frequently asked questions, primary school groups can join this programme without any problem.

Why do these two stops work well together?

The two venues serve different learning goals but complement each other:

• The Rahmi M. Koç Museum answers the question "how did people travel, make things and communicate?" It links to science and technology lessons.
• Miniatürk answers the question "what is where, and which civilisation built what?" It links to social studies and geography lessons.

In short, the morning covers "how" and the afternoon covers "where". By the end of the day, students have both a timeline and a map in their heads.

Activity ideas for class before and after

The trip on its own makes a lovely day, but small activities before and after turn it into a lesson.

Before the trip

1. Map hunt: Choose five buildings on a map of Türkiye (for example a castle, a bridge, a mosque, an ancient city and a clock tower). Students try to find the models of these buildings at Miniatürk.
2. Vehicle cards: Give each student the name of a means of transport: steam train, car, aeroplane, rowing boat. At the museum, they find the oldest example of that vehicle.
3. Talk about the rules: Explain the no-touching rule in the museum, the meeting point in the open area and the buddy system in advance.

After the trip

• Scale game: In class, use a simple scale calculation to discuss "What fraction of the real building could this model be?"
• Timeline: Make a wall display ordering the vehicles seen at the museum from oldest to newest.
• Postcard: Each student draws their favourite building at Miniatürk and writes three sentences of information on the back.

Tips for young age groups

• Group size: Splitting large classes into two groups works well, so that everyone can hear the guide at the museum.
• Walking pace: Do not try to see every model at Miniatürk; focusing on selected areas keeps children from getting tired.
• Sun and rain: The park is outdoors. In spring and autumn the weather can be changeable; a hat or a light raincoat is useful.
• Snacks: You move on to Miniatürk around midday. We confirm packed lunch or meal arrangements with you at the quote stage.

An alternative for middle and high school

If you are going with older students, you may want a history-focused day. In that case, instead of Miniatürk, look at our programme including the conquest panorama and the culture houses: a history-focused day with Panorama 1453 and the Turkic World Culture Houses. To get to know the museum itself in detail, you can read our Rahmi M. Koç Museum travel guide. You will find the general steps for planning a school trip on our school trips page.

For those going with families

The programme is not only for schools; families and mixed groups choose the same day too. When going with families, children of different ages are drawn to different things: younger ones enjoy finding familiar buildings at Miniatürk, while older ones enjoy learning how the engines and vehicles at the museum work. So here is a small tip for families: join the guided tour at the museum together, and at Miniatürk follow a route your child chooses. Setting a goal from the map, such as "today we will see the buildings of the Black Sea region", turns the trip into a game.

At the end of the day, asking the children "Which building would you like to see at full size?" also gives you an idea for your next family trip. This little question turns the day from mere entertainment into an experience that keeps curiosity going.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours does it take to see Miniatürk?

It depends on the group's pace. On our tour about two and a half hours are set aside for Miniatürk; this is enough to see selected areas without rushing.

Can you visit Miniatürk and the Rahmi M. Koç Museum on the same day?

Yes. Both are on the shore of the Golden Horn and the transfer between them is short. On our tour you visit the museum in the morning and Miniatürk in the afternoon.

Is this trip suitable for kindergarten children?

The programme is designed to include primary school groups. For a preschool group, we review the pace and timings with you at the quote stage according to your age group.

Is there a guide at the museum?

Yes, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum visit is guided.