Travelling to Istanbul with Babies and Kids: Child Seats, Taxis and Airport Transfers

If you are flying into Istanbul with a baby or small children, the airport trip is the part that worries parents most. Both airports are a long way from the centre: Istanbul Airport (IST) is about 45 km from Sultanahmet, usually 45–70 minutes by road, partly on motorways. On family travel forums the same questions come up again and again. Do taxis have car seats? Can I hold my baby on my lap? Should I bring our own seat? Will the stroller fit?

This guide answers them as plainly as we can, as of October 2026. Where we could not confirm something from an official source, we say so.

What are the child seat rules in Türkiye?

Turkish traffic rules require children to travel in a child restraint suited to their height and weight. As Turkish legal commentaries summarise the Highway Traffic Regulation, children shorter than 150 cm and lighter than 36 kg must use a suitable child restraint, and children taller than 135 cm may use the adult seat belt instead, as long as they do not sit in the front seat. The rule is based on height and weight, not age.

Taxis are not left out. An amendment to the regulation that took effect on 16 August 2022 requires every taxi to carry at least one child restraint system, and minibuses and intercity coaches one for every ten seats, as reported by TRT Haber at the time.

We could not access the official text of the regulation online to quote it directly, so treat the thresholds above as a summary, not legal advice. The practical safety advice is the same everywhere: babies in a rear-facing seat, never on a seat with an active front airbag, and young children in the back.

Do Istanbul taxis have child seats?

In theory a taxi should have one restraint on board. In practice, parents on travel forums report that they rarely see one, and when there is one, it may not fit a baby or toddler. You cannot choose the car at the airport rank: the next taxi in the queue is the one you get. Standard yellow taxis are also small for a family with a stroller and suitcases.

Uber and BiTaksi do not change this. In Istanbul, Uber dispatches ordinary licensed taxis, and we have found no option in either app to request a child seat. See our guides to Uber at Istanbul Airport and Istanbul taxi apps.

Some drivers will suggest you hold the child on your lap. Please do not. It is unsafe at motorway speeds, and it does not meet the rules described above.

Your options for the airport trip with kids

For bus and metro details, see our Havaist bus guide and M11 metro guide. Public transport is cheap and workable with a light stroller and little luggage, but after a long flight with a baby and two suitcases, most parents prefer a door-to-door car.

Should you bring your own car seat?

It depends on how you will get around once you arrive:

• Bring it if you plan to rent a car, take several taxis, or if your child is very young and you want the seat you know. Many parents also bring a seat they can use on the plane.
• Leave it at home if you will mostly walk, take ferries and trams in the city, and pre-book transfers that supply a seat. A heavy seat is a burden on cobbled, hilly streets and on public transport.
• Check your airline's rules. Turkish Airlines, for example, carries one foldable stroller per infant free of charge in addition to the baggage allowance. Car seat rules vary by airline and fare, so confirm yours before you pack.

At Istanbul Airport with children

Istanbul Airport is large, and the walk from the gate to baggage claim can be long. According to the airport's official family pages, as of October 2026:

• Free strollers are available airside, and arriving passengers can use them from the gates to the baggage claim area.
• Free buggy rides inside the terminal are offered to families with children aged 0–2, from stations near several gate areas.
• Baby care rooms with nursing chairs, changing tables and hot water are on the arrivals floor, including one after the baggage claim hall in the restroom area opposite Terminal Entrance Gate 12.
• Family First lanes for families with children aged 0–5 are listed for departures security and the international passport check on the way out, not for arrivals.

For the full arrival sequence, from passport control to baggage and customs, read what happens after you land at Istanbul Airport. Landing at Sabiha Gökçen instead? See our Sabiha Gökçen Airport guide.

Tips for the drive to your hotel

• Expect 45–70 minutes from IST to Sultanahmet or Taksim, and 35–55 minutes from SAW to Kadıköy, more at rush hour. Have snacks, water and something to play with in your hand luggage, not in the suitcase.
• Late arrivals. Many family flights land at night. Our late-night arrival guide covers what is open and how to get to your hotel.
• Narrow hotel streets. In Sultanahmet and Galata, many hotels are on narrow lanes. A driver who knows the entrance saves you pushing a stroller and suitcases up a hill.
• Motion sickness. The route is mostly motorway, then busy city streets. If your child is prone to it, a seat by a window and a short stop are easy to ask for in a private car.

Strollers in Istanbul: worth bringing?

A light, foldable stroller is useful at the airport, in malls, on waterfront promenades and on the ferries. The old city and Beyoğlu, however, are hilly, with cobbles, steps and narrow pavements, so many parents bring a baby carrier as well. Our Istanbul with kids guide has more on getting around and what children enjoy.

Child seats with Istanbul VIP

With us, child seats are free of charge. Tick the child seat box when you book and add each child's age in the notes, and we confirm on WhatsApp. Our Mercedes Vito vans carry up to 6 passengers and up to 12 suitcases, so the stroller and any seat you bring fit easily. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and includes tolls, parking and waiting time:

• At IST, the driver waits inside the international arrivals hall, right after customs, with your name on a sign. See where your driver meets you.
• We track your flight, so a delay does not cost you more.
• No prepayment: pay the driver on arrival in cash in EUR, USD or TRY. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
• Istanbul VIP is operated by Regatta Turizm, TÜRSAB licence 10138.

See the route pages for Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet, Istanbul Airport to Taksim and Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy. For a day out with children, a driver by the hour keeps the seats installed all day. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp at +90 507 055 44 36, or book online.