Istanbul is not only rich in historic landmarks and monuments but also adorned with the eye-catching parks and gardens. If you’ve ever visited Istanbul in the spring, you’ve definitely seen the vivid wayside flowers, specifically the Tulips, which are unique to Turkey. Tulip season is in full swing in Turkey, and to mark the occasion, Istanbul’s city council hosts an annual Tulip Festival in the city’s various parks and gardens.
The gardens of imperial palaces such as Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace are immaculately groomed. Gülhane Park and Yldz Park were previously part of the palace grounds, while others were built from scratch. The list of the best parks in Istanbul includes some lesser-known Istanbul attractions that have recently gained popularity.
Maçka Park
This park in the upscale Nişantaş neighbourhood houses Istanbul’s only cable car system. The park, which is located between Nişantaş/Harbiye and Dolmabahçe Palace, is one of the largest green spaces in the area.
Natives like walking their dogs in the park, which features a children’s playground, some outdoor sports equipment, beautiful pools, and benches. Busts of significant Turkic monarchs may be found at a small “Art Park” in the park’s northern corner. There are a lot of street cats here. A tea garden and playgrounds are accessible through stairwells descending downhill from here. The Küçükiftlik Park, a multi-purpose outdoor facility that accommodates concerts and local festivals all year, is located within the Park.
Yildiz Park
Yildiz Park is one of the Istanbul’s largest public parks, sited in the Besiktas district. The park, which was once part of Yildiz Palace, stretches down the palace’s slopes, and a wall was built during Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s reign to allow residents to enjoy the palace.
Yildiz Park, one of the best parks in Istanbul Turkey, is home to some of the world’s most magnificent landscapes, including flowers, plants, and trees from all over the world. Yildiz Park is one of the best parks for hiking, with manmade lakes and tiny summer cottages. The park contains 120 different tree and plant species that date back to the Ottoman era. It includes lovely fountains and a little lake in which the fish play on the right side of the park.
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Gulhane Park
The modest but peaceful Gülhane Park is located immediately next to Topkap Palace. Particularly during the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival, the park is magnificently decked with colourful flora in the spring. Visitors can relax on chairs under the tall oak and walnut trees or walk along the different routes offered.
It was once a portion of Topkap Palace and was only accessible to the royals, but it was eventually made public. Today, Istabullites living in the Fatih area like the lovely park. It is Istanbul’s sole large park in the old district. After that, go out and explore the old buildings in the region.
Furthermore, historical sites such as the Column of the Goths, an antique marble column, may be seen in the region. Take a look at the Turkish literature museum and library, as well as the Museum of Islamic Science and Technology History.
Çamlıca Hill Istanbul
This large hill near Üsküdar offers some of Istanbul’s best amazing views of the Golden Horn. Thousands of flowers bloom in its gardens, particularly tulips in the spring. It is also one of Istanbul’s highest spots, offering 360-degree views of the city.
After taking in the panoramic views, take a stroll through the colourful gardens. Take a break in the on-site historical recreational facility. It’s a townhouse in the Ottoman style with similar interiors. Meals include Sirloin steak filled with vegetables and roasted eggplants, for instance, and are run by Istanbul’s municipality. In addition, the combination of traditional Turkish music and your meal creates a memorable experience.
Emirgan Park
It is a tourist and resident recreational area located in the Emirgan district of the municipality of Saryer. It is arguably one of Istanbul’s most stunning gardens. More than 120 types of unique trees and plants, including Turkish pine, may be found in the park.
It also features lavender and tulip festivals, and the park is surrounded by beautiful wildlife and offers breathtaking views of the Bosphorus. You must be shocked by the colourful crowd in Emirgân Korusu Park, as if flowers were being poured on a carpet’s tulip, a unique blossom that astonished Europeans for what the Ottomans had delivered to them.
As a result, it’s not shocking that historians have dubbed the Lale flower (the era of the Lale) after the golden period of the Ottoman Empire, when the sultans of the time prioritized the arts, culture, and literature and instructed the tulip to be planted everywhere until the entire country was crowned with it.
Florya Park Istanbul
Florya Park, one of the best parks in Istanbul Turkey, is in the Florya neighbourhood, near Ataturk Airport, and has a lovely view of the Marmara Sea. In the park, there are chairs for tourists, as well as activities and free sports equipment. It also has a number of amenities and event spaces, and is near to the well-known Florya Sosyal Tesisleri in Florya’s municipality.
It has a beautiful view of the Marmara Sea and serves superb seafood and grilled meats at a reasonable price. A café directly across the street from the restaurant serves a variety of snacks and drinks.
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Göztepe Park
The massive60th Year Göztepe Park is located near the upscale Badat Avenue. The park, which is one of the largest on the Asian side, includes a few ponds, low hedge planting, wooden bridges, and aquariums. It contains cobblestone and paved roads, as well as a large children’s playground with various sets and a large play fountain.
Adults will also find benches around the park, as well as an adult gym with outdoor sports equipment. In most regions of Turkey’s urban parks, this is a prevalent characteristic. A public bike system has also been established immediately outside the park by the municipality. Rent a bike here and return it using the same mechanism somewhere else in the city.
Bakirkoy Botanik Park
Bakirkoy Park, one of the best parks in Istanbul Turkey, is situated inside the municipality of Bakirkoy, and the botanical garden in Bakirkoy offers a variety of entertaining activities for everyone, especially children, with figures of various dinosaurs and water and sand playgrounds.
In addition to gorgeous water, formations run down a gradient slope and pour into a pool of winged golden horses in all their glory! A water-filled pond encircled by trees also exists in the garden, and many turtles and birds swim in it. You can take the boat on a leisurely tour of the lovely lake.
Miniaturk Park
The famed Miniatürk Park, located on the banks of Istanbul’s Golden Horn, has its own unique qualities, with 122 of Istanbul’s and Turkey’s most famous monuments recreated as miniatures that replicate the genuine landscapes of Istanbul.
The ancient mosques of Sultanahmet and Fatih, the Hagia Sophia mosque, the historic remnants of the Rumelihisar castle, as well as attractions in Turkey such as the Bursa Grand Mosque in Bursa and the Jalaluddin Al Roumi Shrine in Konya, will undoubtedly appeal to you.
Atatürk Arboretum
In Istanbul’s Saryer district, the Atatürk Arboretum, one of the best parks in Istanbul Turkey, is a beautiful botanical landscape with an artificial lake. Many distinctive species and hundreds of different plants from throughout the world can be found in the 296-hectare region.
The arboretum is part of the Belgrad Forest, which is larger. It’s not particularly accessible due to its distance, but if you have a car, you may spend the day here and then explore the forest’s trails and dams. The forest is about an hour distant, so it’s not exactly convenient, but it’s still a lovely spot to visit. There are numerous trails and roads leading to various dams and ponds.