Parks in Istanbul

Save upto 30%

by comparing quotes from 3 agents

View Tour Packages

Tulips in Emirgan, tea in Gulhane, and views from the hills

Istanbul's parks are where the city goes to breathe: Gulhane behind Topkapi, Emirgan for the April tulips, and the hillside parks with Bosphorus views.

Here is the list of 2 Parks in Istanbul

1. Gulhane Park

4.1 /5

Gulhane Park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in Istanbul, popular among locals for picnics and recreation. It's especially known for its tulips and attracts many during the Istanbul Tulip Festival. It also offers great views of the Bosphorus.

Tours starting from
₹4,586

3.2 /5

This sprawling park of more than a 117 acres is a splendid example of the Turkish gardens from the Ottoman empire. It's laid out with colourful flowers and trees, as well as ponds and makes for encapsulating scenery. Just like the Gulhane Park, the Emirgan too is a fabulous location during the Tulip Festival.

An hour in a park is the best antidote to Sultanahmet crowds. Museums in Istanbul and churches in Istanbul cover what to do around them, and day trips from Istanbul the escape further out.

FAQs on Parks in Istanbul

Which park should I visit in Istanbul?

Gulhane Park, the old outer garden of Topkapi Palace, which is free, central and full of tea gardens. Emirgan Park up the Bosphorus is the other, and it is spectacular during the April tulip festival.

When is the tulip festival?

April, and it is worth timing a trip around. Emirgan Park is the centre of it, with millions of bulbs planted across the city. Tulips originated in Turkey and were exported to the Netherlands, not the other way round.

Where do I get the best Bosphorus view?

Camlica Hill on the Asian side, which is the highest point in the city, and the Pierre Loti hill above Eyup, reached by cable car. Both are free and both are best in the late afternoon.

Are the parks free?

Yes, almost all of them, including Gulhane, Emirgan and Yildiz. Some of the palace gardens attached to museum sites charge, and the cable car to Pierre Loti has a small fare.

What about Belgrad Forest?

It is north of the city, about an hour out, and it is where Istanbul goes at weekends for walking and picnics. It is a forest rather than a park, and it needs most of a day.