Maçka Park

One of the most popular parks in Istanbul, Maçka Park is a welcome green space in the central city. The park has dense thickets of trees including Linden, Chestnut, Oak, Sycamore, Ash, Alder, and Walnut. There are paths leading to children’s playgrounds, gardens, lawns, and ponds, along with exercise equipment.

Yıldız Park

Located in the Beşiktaş district, Yıldız Park is one of Istanbul’s largest and most beautiful parks, popular among locals and tourists. Once the sultan’s private hunting ground and part of Yıldız Palace grounds, the park boasts a rich biodiversity, artificial lake, manmade ponds, and a porcelain factory.

Emirgan Park

Situated 18 kilometers north of central Istanbul on the European Bosphorus coast, Emirgan Park is known for its woodland, formal gardens, and the Istanbul Tulip Festival in April. The park has 325,000 square meters of space with pavilions, a large lake, picnic lawns, playgrounds, and Bosphorus views.

Otağtepe-Fatih Park

Otağtepe-Fatih Park, 27 kilometers northeast of Istanbul, offers stunning Bosphorus views from the Asian shore. Near the Fatih Mehmet Sultan Bridge, it features walking trails, ponds, and dense tree thickets, but has no facilities for cafés or picnicking.

Gülhane Park

Istanbul’s oldest park, Gülhane Park, is near Topkapi Palace. Known as the “House of Roses,” it blooms with roses and tulips in spring-summer. The park houses historical buildings like the former Imperial Stables, now the Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam.

Nakkaştepe National Park

Nakkaştepe National Park in Uskudar district offers a unique view of the Bosphorus Strait. Established on 50,000 square meters, it has picnic areas, an adventure track, observation deck, tennis court, biological pool, and other facilities, ideal for a quiet day with family and friends.

Sarachane Park

Sarachane Garden, next to Shahzadeh Mosque, is a grassy park with trees, fountains, a playground, and views of the Roman aqueduct. It is a family-friendly tourist destination for relaxation, reading, and enjoying nature.

Belgrad Forest

Belgrad Forest, in northwest Istanbul’s Sariyer district, covers 55,000 hectares of protected woodland. It’s a green haven for hiking, nature walks, mountain biking, picnics, and barbecues, with many picnic spots among oak, beech, and chestnut trees.