Timeline
10:00
Start at Sea Life Istanbul. The aquarium is located inside the Forum İstanbul shopping mall. Arriving at opening time (10:00) ensures you beat the crowds and can enjoy the transparent tunnels in peace. Plan for about an hour to walk through the exhibits.
11:00
Walk seven minutes to Tepe Cafe & Restaurant for a coffee or light snack. This café is open from 08:00 to 01:00, making it a reliable spot to recharge after your aquarium visit.
11:30
Head fourteen minutes away to By Arnavut Köfte & Piyaz for a proper Turkish lunch. This restaurant is open from 10:00 to 22:00, so it will be ready for you in the early afternoon.
Local tip
Sea Life Istanbul is smaller than the Istanbul Aquarium in Yeşilköy, so an hour is plenty of time. The location inside the mall makes it easy to combine with other stops if you wish, but this plan keeps it simple and local.
Check before you go
- Sea Life Istanbul is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
- Tepe Cafe & Restaurant is open from 08:00 to 01:00.
- By Arnavut Köfte & Piyaz is open from 10:00 to 22:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Istanbul (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).