Macka Park
One of the most popular parks in Istanbul
A welcome green space in the central city, the park still has standing areas of dense groves of trees, including Linden, Chestnut, Oak, Sycamore, Ash, Alder and Walnut.
Trails through the park lead to children’s play areas, formally landscaped gardens, lawns for picnickers, and man-made ponds. There are also areas with exercise equipment (a very common component of many Turkish parks).
If you want an aerial view of the park, hop on the cable car (called the Maçka-Taşkışla Cable Car), which runs from west to east across the central terrain of the park.
The Maçka cable car station is accessible from the east side of the park. The cable car was built for, and is mainly used by, students and staff of Istanbul Technical University, which has campuses on either side of Maçka Park.
The lowest point in Maçka Park is just northwest of Dolmabahçe Palace and is easily combined with a visit to the palace. To get to both, the nearest tram stop is Kabataş.
Yildiz Park
Located in Beşiktaş district. One of the most beautiful and largest parks in Istanbul. Very popular among locals, it is also highly recommended for tourists. It is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the metropolis and simply relax.
Yıldız Park was once the sultan’s private hunting ground and was part of the grounds of Yıldız Palace, which served as the main residence of Sultan Abdülhamid II (reigned 1876-1909), walled off to all but the royal court.
Yıldız Park has a vast biodiversity of flora collected from around the world since the Ottoman era. Yıldız Park also has an artificial lake, artificial ponds, waterfalls, beautiful gardens, lime trees, ash trees and even a porcelain factory.
Emirgan Park
Outside the Istanbul metropolitan area, on the European side of the Bosphorus coast (18 kilometers north of central Istanbul), Emirgan Park is a vast expanse of greenery including both woods and gardens at the French which offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A trip here is especially worthwhile in the spring, as Emirgan Park is one of the main attractions of the Istanbul Tulip Festival, and during April, its formal gardens in the central part of the park are filled with dazzling displays of multicolored tulips.
The park (which covers 325,000 square meters) is a place for hiking, with various 19th century suburban buildings now housing cafes and restaurants, lawns for picnickers, children’s play equipment, a large lake in the center and a huge range of winding paths spanning the terrain. There are great views of the Bosphorus from various points.
Otagtepe-Fatih Park
Outside the Istanbul metropolitan area (27 kilometers northeast of the central city), Otağtepe-Fatih Park offers some of the best views in the Bosphorus region.
The park is on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, just south of the Fatih Mehmet Sultan Bridge, and this bridge dominates the view while the 15th of July Martyr’s Bridge is also visible in the distance to the south.
There are plenty of footpaths to explore, winding past ponds and areas of dense groves of trees, but Otağtepe-Fatih Park has been deliberately kept as a natural space with no facilities, so there are no cafes and restaurants inside the park, and picnicking on the lawns is not permitted.
Gulhane Park
Gulhane Park is the oldest park in Istanbul, located near Topkapi Palace and was once part of it. Translated from Turkish, the name “Gülhane” means “House of Roses.”And the park did not accidentally get such a name, because in the spring-summer season more than 80,000 roses bloom here, as well as thousands of tulips adorn the flowerbeds.In winter, Gulkhan was carpeted with forget-me-nots.
There are also several historic buildings in the park, including the former Imperial Stables, which now house the Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam.
Nakkashtepe National Park
Nakkashtepe National Park is located in the Uskudar district of Istanbul. It was established on an area of 50,000 square meters in a former military area. What sets it apart the most is its unique view of the Bosphorus Strait. It also includes picnic areas, an adventure track, an airplane route and an observation deck. Tennis court, biological swimming pool, shooting range, fitness areas, as well as a wooden bridge, an amphitheater, a waterfall, camping areas in
