Eskişehir for Families? Here's the Real Deal on Parks, Schools, and Whether You'll Sleep at Night

so you're thinking about moving to eskişehir with kids? good luck. no, i'm kidding. kind of. this city's got charm, but let's not pretend it's all sunshine and tulips. i mean, there are tulips. lots of them. but also traffic, and sometimes your kid will lose a shoe in the Porsuk River. true story.

parks: where the kids run wild and you pretend to relax

first off, eskişehir's parks are legit. the esentepe parkı is basically a cardio machine for toddlers. they'll sprint up those hills while you wheeze behind them. there's a cable car too, which is fun until your kid wants to ride it for the 12th time.

sivrihisar bird paradise is about an hour away, and if your kid is into birds or just running in circles, it's a win. the ömerağa park is smaller but has a playground that's seen better days-still works though.

schools: not all heroes wear capes, some teach math

the public schools here are free, which is great because private ones will run you about 20,000 TL a year. that's like, two months of rent in some neighborhoods. teachers are generally patient, but class sizes can hit 30+ kids. so yeah, your child might become an expert at zoning out.

one parent i met said her daughter learned to read in both turkish and english by third grade. another said his son spent most of class drawing dragons. your mileage may vary.

safety: mostly fine, unless you count the geese

crime here is low. like, "i forgot my wallet on a park bench and got it back" low. but there are geese. aggressive ones. they roam the parks like tiny feathered bouncers. watch your snacks.

the city's safety index hovers around 70, which is solid for turkey. just don't leave your bike unlocked. and maybe don't let your kid pet every stray cat. some of them have opinions.

rent and cost of living: your wallet will survive

you can snag a decent 2-bedroom in the city center for about 15,000-20,000 TL a month. utilities? maybe another 1,500. groceries are cheap if you shop at bim or şok. eating out is a mixed bag-a family meal at a lokanta might be 300-500 TL, but a fancy dinner could hit 1,500.

here's a quick table to break it down:

Expense	Monthly Cost (TL)
Rent (2-bed center)	15,000-20,000
Utilities	~1,500
Groceries	~3,000
Eating out (family)	300-1,500
School (private)	20,000/year

weather: bring layers and patience

winters are cold and wet. summers are hot and dry. spring and fall are perfect for about two weeks each. if you're from somewhere with mild weather, prepare to complain. a lot.

neighbors: ankara and istanbul are close enough for weekend chaos

ankara's just 1.5 hours by car, istanbul about 3-4. perfect for when you need a dose of big-city madness or want to flee to the coast for a weekend.

overheard at the playground

"the geese here are worse than the traffic."
"my kid learned to ride a bike in sapağı park. also learned to dodge goose poop. dual skills."
"the cable car is fun until your kid screams the whole way down."

final thoughts: should you move here?

if you want a slower pace, friendly neighbors, and parks that make up for their goose problem with sheer charm, eskişehir is worth a look. schools are decent, safety is good, and the cost of living won't make you weep into your grocery receipt.

just bring extra shoes. and maybe a helmet for the geese.