The Emirgan Park (Emirgan Grove or Woods) is situated in the pretty Emirgan neighborhood by the Bosphorus shores and covers an area of 325,000 square meters. Once the private place of the Egyptian Khedive Ismail Pasa, and after being a present from the Ottoman Sultan Murad IV to an Iranian noble-man Emir Gun, today the park serves as a very beautiful public garden for both Istanbul locals and tourists.
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What’s Inside
You’ll see;
- Variety of pine, umbrella pine, cypress, fir, willow and lime trees,
- A beautiful lake,
- Terraces with beautiful views of the Bosphorus,
- Jogging and walking tracks,
- Kids playgrounds,
- Excellent photo taking points,
- Areas for picnics,
- Three lively restaurants & cafes housed in the 19th century mansions/pavilions.
You can have a wonderful breakfast during the weekdays or open buffet at the weekends at the cafes of the Emirgan Grove. Many locals flock to the grove especially at the sunny Istanbul weekends.
Or you can have a nice rest, stroll along the beautiful gardens of the park and enjoy the beautiful views of the park in the company of the Bosphorus scenery.
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Istanbul Tulip Festival (annual, last 3 weeks of April)
Tulips are very important for the Ottoman Empire and Turkish culture. And to celebrate both spring and this fact, this annual festival takes place at the city’s most famous parks, such as the Gulhane Park in Sirkeci, Sultanahmet Square in Sultanahmet, Yildiz Park in Besiktas, Emirgan Park in Emirgan in the European side, and Fethi Pasa Grove and Camlica Hill in Uskudar, Cubuklu Hidiv Grove in Cubuklu and Beykoz Park in Beykoz in the Asian side.
This is a free festival and visitors may enjoy billions of tulips in 120 different types that blossoms in April, as well as several culture and art activities that are organized in the Emirgan Park and Sultanahmet Square. There is also a tulip photo contest and the winners are awarded.
Visiting Hours & Admissions
Opening Hours
Emirgan Park is open to public every day of the week.
Admission
Entrance to Emirgan Park is free of charge.
You’ll need to pay 10 TL for the parking area.
How to Get to Emirgan Park
Location
You’ll find the Emirgan Park & Grove just on the Bosphorus shore in the Emirgan neighborhood of the Sariyer district. See the location map.
Transportation
Public Bus
The most practical way to get to Emirgan Park & Grove is via Municipal Public Bus. operating through the Bosphorus shores through Emirgan and Sariyer. Hop off at the Cinaralti bus stop. Some of the lines include;
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- Line 40, 40T and 42T from Taksim
- Line 22, 22RE and 25E from Kabatas (accessible by Bagcilar-Kabatas tram T1 line)
- Line 40B from Besiktas
- Line EL2 (Emirgân – 4. Levent Metro Ring (Subway))
- Line 59RH (Rumeli Hisarüstü – İstinye/Hacıosman Metro Station) (accessible by Yenikapi-Taksim-Haciosman M2 Metro line)
* Check Municipal public bus routes and timetables from iett.istanbul (just type the location on the search bar and it will show the bus lines with routes and stops)
Public Ferry
You can take Public Ferry Bosphorus line operating between Eminonu-Rumeli Kavagi and hop off at Emirgan pier. (Eminonu, Besiktas, Arnavutkoy, Bebek, Emirgan, Istinye, Buyukdere, Sariyer, Rumeli Kavagi stops)
Seabus from Besiktas and Kadikoy to Istinye.
* Check Public ferry lines routes and timetables from en.sehirhatlari.istanbul
Hop On & Hop Off Bosphorus Tour
You can take the Dentur Avrasya boats departing from Kabatas and following the route Besiktas, Emirgan, Kucuksu Pavilion, Beylerbeyi Palace respectively and returning back to Kabatas, the starting point. You can join the tour by taking one way tickets (12,5 TL pp sold only in Emirgan, Beylerbeyi and Kucuksu docks) from the docks.
* Check timetables from denturavrasya.com