EMIRGAN PARK

Description

Essentials about Emirgan Park in brief

If you are looking for a bit of relaxation in the greenery of densely built-up and vibrant Istanbul, you should head for Emirgan Park, located in the north of the city on the Bosphorus. With an area of almost 500 hectares, the public park is one of the largest in Istanbul. Because of its many jogging trails, picnic facilities, cafes and restaurants, Emirgan Park is a popular destination for Istanbul residents.

Attractions in Emirgan Park

The site was originally part of the Istanbul city forest. In the 19th century, Ismail Pasha had a prestigious country estate built on the Bosphorus and had the forest at the back transformed into a garden.

The park is worth a visit not only because of its trees and plants of more than 120 species. Especially the many jogging tracks, the picnic facilities and its abundance of water (with two fountains, a waterfall and a large artificial lake with an island) make Emirgan Park a popular destination for locals. Tourists tend to come for the three historic pavilions, called the Yellow, Pink and White Pavilions after their wall colors. There are cafes and restaurants in the pavilions.

Emirgan Park also has a close relationship with the tulip. Since the 1960s, a special tulip garden was created to revive Istanbul’s tradition of tulip cultivation. Since 2005, a tulip festival has been held in the park every April.