9 must see parks in Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey’s economic, cultural, and historic center, is known for many things, from the world-famous palaces, mosques, and churches to being the former eastern capital of the Roman Empire. It connects two of the world’s largest continents, Europe and Asia, separated by the narrow Bosphorus Strait.

Whether you’re here to discover the city’s Ottoman history or witness its remarkable examples of Roman and Byzantine architecture, you’ll likely end up in some of the most beautiful gardens and parks in Istanbul. Some were once the garden of legendary palaces, while others are newer green spaces adorning the city. Each has unique features, like wonderful fountains, ponds, and fascinating flowers, plants, and trees you won’t find anywhere else.

As we discover the best parks in Istanbul, you’ll quickly realize that they’re more than just a place to be physically active or for the community members to congregate. They’re magical natural sanctuaries where wildlife continues within the city and provide locals and visitors an escape from the crowd. Lighten your burden by leaving your heavy items in backpack storage in Istanbul and be mesmerized by the city’s historical and natural beauty.

Polonezkoy Nature Park

Outdoor enthusiasts looking for a wildlife tour will have a memorable time at Polonezkoy Nature Park, an expansive wooded natural park in a small village in the Beykoz district. At 7,420 acres of land, this is the largest nature park in Istanbul, offering an array of outdoor activities, such as camping, trekking, cycling, hiking, picnicking, etc. Wear comfortable clothing when exploring Polonezkoy Nature Park, as it has long, winding hiking and walking trails.

It’s about thirty kilometers from the city center, but it’s worth the journey with the rich flora and fauna you’ll discover in the area. If you plan to explore the great outdoors, be on the lookout for wild boars, red deer, squirrels, foxes, pheasants, and jackals. It also features deer, partridge, and deer farms inside the park. After a relaxing stroll or a hike, go down to the village and sample local treats or have a hearty dinner in one of the restaurants nearby.

Gülhane Park

One of the spectacular Istanbul parks you shouldn’t miss is Gülhane Park. It's the city’s largest and first urban park, which, for centuries, served as the outer garden of Topkapi Palace, an Ottoman imperial palace, and was not open to the public until 1912. It’s located in Sultanahmet, the heart of Old Istanbul, directly adjacent to the majestic Topkapi Palace.

Today, Gülhane Park is a favorite weekend destination among locals where they can relieve stress after a long week of work and a must-visit historic park for tourists. It offers myriad activities, walkways, and a playground where children can safely play while you relax on one of the benches surrounded by flowers and greenery.

One of its highlights is the Column of the Goths, Istanbul’s oldest known monument, erected in the 3rd century CE. But what will grab your attention as you approach the park are the thousands of tulips and over 80,000 roses adorning the flower beds. If you visit in winter, Gülhane Park is blanketed with forget-me-nots. It’s an obligatory stop for tourists touring Istanbul as it’s close to several notable attractions, including Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Hagia Sophia, Underground Cistern, and Blue Mosque.

Emirgan Park

This lush public park is the primary location of the Istanbul Tulip Festival. It’s an annual event that typically takes place around April and May, which is the best time to explore the city’s gardens and parks as they turn Istanbul into a colorful and vibrant paradise.

Emirgan Park is located in a neighborhood of the same name found in the Sariyer district on the European side of the Bosphorus. Spanning about 325,000 square meters, it’s one of the largest urban parks in Istanbul, with several tulip gardens. Although Emirgan Park is beautiful year-round, you’ll want to visit the park during the Tulip Festival to see the blooming varieties of tulips in different patterns. It offers excellent photo opportunities and areas for a relaxing picnic, walking, jogging, and playing.

You can’t miss the large artificial lake with a waterfall, a grotto, and an island and the terraces with spectacular views of the waterway. Besides the multi-colored tulips, Emirgan Park is home to fir, willow, spruce, linden, and cypress trees. If you need to recharge, dine at one of the three café-restaurants housed in 19th-century pavilions.

Yıldız Park

Escape the big city’s hustle and bustle and refresh your senses by spending a few hours in Yıldız Park. Located in Beşiktaş – one of the city’s oldest districts on the European side – Yildiz Park was once part of the Yildiz Palace complex and served as a hunting ground for the Ottoman rulers. It is nestled between what is now the Yildiz Palace Museum and Çırağan Palace Kempinski, an imperial palace and luxury hotel in Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorus strait.

Also called Yıldız Royal Gardens, this historical green oasis is one of the most beautiful parks in Istanbul, featuring magnificent landmarks and lush vegetation. As you stroll the park, you’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of royals and marvel at pieces of Turkey’s history. You can visit several pavilions and the Yıldız Imperial Tile Factory, established in the early 1890s at the command of Sultan Abdülhamid II.

Apart from the old buildings and museums, the park is a beloved spot among locals and visitors due to its calming atmosphere. It boasts beautifully landscaped gardens, waterfalls, ponds, and an incredible variety of shrubs, plants, and trees, some over 400 years old. If you come during summer and spring, you’ll walk along gorgeous tulips and other flowers. You don’t have to travel far if you need refreshments, as the two converted pavilions became cafes and restaurants serving local and international cuisines.

Çamlıca Hill

Head to the Asian side of Istanbul and climb the city’s highest point to reach Çamlıca Hill. It is about 267 meters above sea level within the borders of the Uskudar District, a sprawling residential neighborhood and one of the city’s richest places in terms of green spaces. The park features one of Turkey’s tallest towers, the 369-meter Camlica Tower. It is used for TV and radio broadcasts and boasts a panoramic elevator, observation decks, and exhibition spaces.

You’ll have to take turns taking pictures on the viewing platform with the city and the Bosphorus as your background, as Camlica Hill is often filled with local visitors on weekends. It’s also a frequent destination for international groups touring the largest Turkish city. It offers breathtaking views of Istanbul and the waterway and has been the subject of numerous songs, poems, and literary works.

Due to its picturesque city and nature views, it’s no surprise that Çamlıca Hill has been a famous spot for wedding photoshoots. Couples and amateur and professional photographers often come here to capture its beauty and use it as a backdrop for romantic wedding and engagement photography. Come here for a cool breeze and see colorful flowers, especially tulips, and old trees that have stood on the hill for centuries. You can bring food for an afternoon picnic or sample local treats from the restaurant.

The Atatürk Arboretum

Get away from the chaos of daily life and refuel at one of the magnificent parks and gardens in Istanbul. The Atatürk Arboretum is a 296-hectare botanical garden and forest area built in the Belgrad Forest’s natural vegetation, offering a refreshing retreat from the city noise, pollution, and crowded streets. It’s like a living plant museum where you’ll be in awe of the nearly 2,000 different kinds of plants and trees from around the world.

Visit in the fall to discover an explosion of colors at Atatürk Arboretum. It is located on Kemerburgaz-Bahçeköy Street in the Sariyer district, with redwoods, maples, sweet gums, oaks, firs, and other shady trees lining the dirt trails and stone paths. The forest park also features serene lakes and ponds where you can chill, appreciate nature, and observe wildlife at your pace.

The Atatürk Arboretum was built as an open-air laboratory for the university’s faculty of forestry, students, landscape architects, forestry engineers, and other local and foreign research institutions. The proposal to set up an arboretum was approved in 1949, but it wasn’t until 1982 that it was renamed the Atatürk Arboretum during Atatürk’s 100th birthday.

Maçka Demokrasi Park

Located in an upscale neighborhood of the Sisli district’s luxurious Nişantaşı quarter, Macka Democracy Park, or simply Maçka Park, is a welcoming place in the city center full of joggers, dog walkers, and families. It has different paths and walkways leading to formal gardens, lawns, play areas, and ponds. You’ll also find fitness equipment for those who want to exercise in an outdoor gym with nature.

You’ll often encounter Istanbul locals hanging out with friends and loved ones, reading a book on the bench or grass, walking, or taking in the fresh air at this beautiful park. It’s also a favorite location among photographers due to its picture-perfect setting and backdrop. To enjoy a bird’s eye view of Macka Park, take the cable car to maximize the experience and see the park and the surrounding area from the top. If you get hungry, there’s a nearby café to enjoy breakfast or lunch surrounded by flowers and greenery.

Sultanahmet Park

Sultanahmet is Istanbul’s historic district, home to some of the city’s highly visited attractions and landmarks, such as the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Hagia Sophia. While in the area, be sure to check out Sultanahmet Park, which offers a stunning view of the historical mosques and monuments around it. It’s a nice place to rest after touring the area, featuring a massive fountain in the middle.

If you’re busy exploring the nearby iconic sites during the day, you should definitely come back at night to witness the monuments lit up. Besides the majestic fountain, this Istanbul park is known for its multi-colored tulips in their ultimate glory in spring and summer. Due to its location in the middle of everything in the historic district of Istanbul, the park is often full of visitors. Nevertheless, it remains a peaceful spot to relax, watch people, and admire the religious buildings, small gardens, and plants adorning the area.

Göztepe Park

If you’re in the lively Kadikoy district in the southernmost Asian side of Istanbul and looking for a park with recreational facilities, you should go to Göztepe Park. Like most parks in Istanbul, you’ll immediately notice the vibrant tulips around summer and spring. They are planted among maze-like hedgerows you can enjoy as you wander the park.

One side of the park is filled with tulips, while the other part features a rose garden with 16,500 roses and a fountain pool. There are also seating areas throughout, where you can meet with a friend, read your favorite book, watch people walk by, or simply enjoy the fresh air. There are also children’s playgrounds and a fitness area designed to meet the citizen’s exercise needs who come here to sweat and train.

You’ll meet different people at Göztepe Park, especially on weekends, as locals come here to rest, recharge, and play. Overall, it’s a family-friendly park with offerings suitable for everyone of all ages.

Discover the best Istanbul parks and gardens

Every park in Istanbul is beautiful and has a distinct style and characteristics, but no matter how different they are, a common feature that stands out is the bed of tulips adding color and life to the park. Depending on the weather, these flowers bloom around the end of March or the start of April. Even if you visit a small park or garden, there are different varieties of tulips and other flowers in various patterns that attract not only butterflies and bees but also visitors from around the world.

Looking for more ways to enjoy nature in this Turkish city? Read our guides on the 10 Best Hikes in Istanbul and 6 beaches near Istanbul to make the most of your trip!