If you're planning a trip to Istanbul, the best time to visit is during the Tulip Festival. The Tulip Festival in Istanbul takes place every year in April, and the city becomes a sea of tulips. The Istanbul authorities organize the festival by planting around 11 million flowers in parks and on the streets. In this article, you will find out when the Tulip Festival takes place, and which parks in Istanbul you should visit to see the maximum number and variety of tulips.
When is the Istanbul Tulip Festival held
In 2023, the festival will open on April 1st at Emirgan Park and will run until the end of the month.
However, if the beginning of spring is cold, the tulips may be planted later. If you want to experience the Tulip Festival in all its glory, it's best to plan your visit for the second or third week of April. During this time, the parks and streets of Istanbul are adorned with millions of colorful tulips, making for a truly spectacular sight.
The Tulip Festival attracts many tourists to Istanbul:
- It is advisable to book your hotel several weeks before your trip if you do not want to face limited room options at exorbitant prices.
- Order excursions to avoid queues at the entrance to Istanbul's main attractions or to book an interesting individual tour.
- Book a taxi from the airport to start your Istanbul experience with a pleasant and quick ride from the airport to your hotel.
Istanbul's top parks for tulip viewing
During the Tulip festival, the parks and streets of Istanbul are decorated with thousands of colorful tulips, making it a spectacular sight to behold. If you decide to stay in a hotel in the Sultanahmet area, then tulips will delight you literally at every step.
Some of the best parks in Istanbul to visit during the Tulip Festival are Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park, and Sultanahmet Park.
Sultanahmet Park, a small park located in the heart of the city, offers a peaceful atmosphere with blooming tulips all around. However, it may not be entirely peaceful due to the huge number of tourists, corn and chestnut vendors around.
Gulhane Parki (Gülhane Parki) is located in the heart of Istanbul - in the Fatih district, near the Topkapi Palace complex and within walking distance from the main attractions of Istanbul. Gülhane Park is a must-visit during the festival.
Emirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu) is the largest park in Istanbul and the main venue of the annual Tulip Festival in Istanbul. The park features a vast variety of tulips that will amaze you with their beauty.
Emirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu) is a popular choice, with over 120 different tulip varieties on display.
The most convenient way to get to Emirgan is by
- a boat from EMİNÖNÜ to EMİRGAN
- a bus from İtü-Ayazağa İstasyonu metro station,
- a taxi to Emirgan Park if you are not familiar with public transportation.
The article How to pay for public transport in Istanbul may be useful to you.
I advise you to avoid weekends when the park is crowded with both residents of Istanbul and tourists from other cities in Turkey.
You can spend the whole day In Emirgan Park taking pictures of tulips and strolling through the park's huge, beautiful territory.
If you have time, visit the Tulip Museum. There you will learn the history of the appearance of this flower in Turkey, learn how to see tulips in architecture, in emblems and on money.
- The Tulip Museum is located in the southwestern part of Emirgan Park.
- Entrance tickets cost 5 Turkish lira.
- The Tulip Museum is open from 09:00 to 19:00 every day except Monday.
Tulips are also planted near the main entrance to Yildiz Park, but, frankly, much less than in other parks. If you go to Yildiz, then not for the sake of tulips, but for the history and beauty of the park.
In summary, the best parks in Istanbul to visit during the Tulip Festival are Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park, and Sultanahmet Park.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul for tulips
Based on recent experience, it is recommended to plan a visit to Istanbul for the tulip season around April 20th, when the weather warms up and the maximum amount of tulips are in full bloom.
It is important to keep in mind that April 23 is a public holiday in Turkey. Many Turkish citizens tend to flock to Istanbul for the weekend, causing
- hotels to raise room prices,
- roads to become congested,
- parks, embankments, and squares will be filled with an incredibly large number of people.
As such, I advise visiting Istanbul from April 17th to 22nd. This is the ideal time to enjoy the tulip festival and all that Istanbul has to offer.
So mark your calendars and plan your visit accordingly to experience the beauty and wonder of Istanbul's Tulip Festival for yourself.
The article How to Get from the New Airport to Istanbul may be useful to you.
