Parks & nature · 6 of the best in Istanbul
Gülhane Park
The palace gardens
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Михал Орела · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Gülhane Park
Gülhane Park was once part of the outer gardens of Topkapı Palace. Shady avenues lead down to Sarayburnu, the point where the Bosphorus meets the Golden Horn, and in April the park is filled with tulips for the city’s tulip festival.
Why it's on our list
- Old palace gardens
- Tulips in April
- Tea at the point
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Gülhane Park before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Gülhane Park are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- GülhaneT1250 m3 min walk
- SirkeciT1500 m6 min walk
- SultanahmetT1750 m9 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Ishakpaşa Caddesi700 m9 min walk
- Taxi rank, Maliye Caddesi1.2 km15 min walk
Key sights
- Topkapı Palace250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Hagia Sophia500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Basilica Cistern550 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Blue Mosque950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Spice Bazaar950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Galata Bridge1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Grand Bazaar1.0 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Galata Tower1.5 kmWalk 19 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 8 min
- İstiklal Avenue2.3 kmWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 10 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)30 kmCar or taxi 94 min
- Istanbul Airport (IST)35 kmCar or taxi 108 min