Eskişehir School Trip: Science, Art and the Devrim Car

Eskişehir is a well-balanced trip for middle school groups, combining science, art and the history of the Republic in two days. Its proximity to Istanbul, the short journey and a programme that mixes different experiences such as parks, museums and a boat trip keep students engaged for both days. Our Eskişehir tour lasts 1 night, 2 days; accommodation, dinner at the hotel and breakfast are included in the programme.

Why Eskişehir?

Teachers look for a few things when choosing a school trip: a journey that isn't too long, enough variety to keep students from getting bored, stops that can be linked to lesson content and a safe environment. Eskişehir is a strong option on all these counts. The catalogue states that the journey via Adapazarı and Pamukova takes about 3.5 hours, so students spend their energy on the trip rather than on the road.

Links to lessons

Social studies and the history of the Republic

• Museum of Republican History: Documents and objects from the founding years of the Republic give a visual counterpart to topics in the textbook.
• Devrim Car: The first domestically produced car, designed and built in 1961 at the railway factory in Eskişehir. With how quickly it was built and the well-known "it ran out of petrol" story, it is a powerful starting point for a discussion about domestic production and determination.

Science and technology

• The Devrim Car opens up discussion of engineering, design and the production process: what parts do you need to build a car, and why is it hard to do it quickly?
• Meerschaum: Seeing at Atlıhan Bazaar how a mineral is extracted and worked connects to the topic of natural resources.

Visual arts

• Museum of Contemporary Glass Art: Shows how glass is turned into art through colour and light.
• Odunpazarı houses: Ideal for observing traditional architecture, colour and façade layout.
• Meerschaum workshops: A chance to see the skill and patience of craftsmanship up close.

Turkish and creative writing

• Fairy Tale Castle: Inspires a short creative writing activity about fairy-tale characters and the world of fairy tales.

The programme through students' eyes

Day 1

1. Depart at 07:00; travel to Eskişehir via Adapazarı and Pamukova.
2. Sazova Science, Art and Culture Park: the Fairy Tale Castle and Noah's Ark.
3. Museum of Republican History.
4. Lunch: Eskişehir's famous çiğ börek.
5. Boat trip on the Porsuk River and free time in Kentpark.
6. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2

1. Breakfast; Odunpazarı houses, the Kurşunlu Complex, the Ottoman House.
2. Meerschaum workshops and free time at Atlıhan Bazaar.
3. Museum of Contemporary Glass Art and Wax Sculpture Museum.
4. Lunch at Şelale Park.
5. The Devrim Car and return to Istanbul.

To see the stops in more detail, read our article Things to see in Eskişehir.

In the classroom before the trip

• Devrim Car research: Before the trip, ask students to learn the story of the Devrim Car through some short research. Seeing it on site will make the knowledge concrete.
• Observation tasks: Give each group a different stop: one observes the Fairy Tale Castle, one the Odunpazarı houses, one the glass museum.
• Question cards: Prepare cards with questions such as "Where does meerschaum come from?" and "Why were bay windows built?" for students to answer during the trip.

Things to watch during the trip

• Boat trip: Make sure students stay seated in the boat and don't lean over the sides.
• Kentpark and Sazova: When giving free time in large areas, set a clear meeting point and time.
• Atlıhan Bazaar: Meerschaum items are fragile; remind students to be careful in the shops.
• Odunpazarı: Remind them not to run because of the cobbled streets and slopes.

A short list for students' bags

• Comfortable shoes
• A coat or cardigan suited to the season; it can be cool on the boat trip
• Water bottle
• Notebook and pen
• Pocket money (for meerschaum souvenirs and snacks)
• Documents requested by the school

Evaluation after the trip

Short activities in class after the trip make the learning stick. Each group can present its own observation stop; a project idea titled "If we designed a domestic car today" can be discussed around the Devrim Car; short fairy tales inspired by the Fairy Tale Castle can be displayed on the class board. These activities are also a lovely way to show parents the educational value of the trip. A small exhibition of photos taken by the students keeps the memory of the trip alive at school.

Information for parents

The programme includes 1 night's hotel accommodation, dinner and breakfast at the hotel and a boat trip on the Porsuk River. Lunch on the first day is çiğ börek, and on the second day lunch is at Şelale Park. The hotel and other details are confirmed at the quotation stage. For general information about our school trips, have a look at our school trips page.

Is it suitable for families too?

Yes. As well as school groups, the programme has been designed with families and young people in mind. The Fairy Tale Castle and the Wax Sculpture Museum are favourites with young children, while the Porsuk and Kentpark are popular with teenagers.

Frequently asked questions

Which age group is the Eskişehir school trip suitable for?

The programme is designed as a balanced two-day trip, especially for middle school groups. We assess your needs for other age groups together with you at the quotation stage.

What is the Devrim Car?

It is the first domestically produced car, designed and built in Eskişehir in 1961. It is the last stop on the second day of our tour.

How long is the Eskişehir school trip?

Our programme is 1 night, 2 days. Accommodation, dinner at the hotel and breakfast are included.

Is there a boat trip on the tour?

Yes. A boat trip on the Porsuk River is part of the first day's programme.