Royal Nature in Gulhane Park

There aren’t many parks in the world that can claim the sheer beauty and history of Istanbul’s Gulhane Park. Whilst many simply have clear open spaces, plenty of natural beauty, and facilities within them, how many can claim to have been the gardens of royalty?

Gulhane Park can!

Gulhane Park translates roughly to ‘House of Roses Park’ in the Turkish language, and it sits in the grounds of Topkapi Palace, one of the former residences of the Ottoman Empire’s royalty. It is one of the largest parks in the whole of Istanbul, and you might actually be surprised to learn about how many parks there are in this huge, urban sprawl. Perhaps this is what makes Istanbul so special, it’s blend of old, new, industrial, and natural.

For many years, Gulhane Park was the garden based on the outer portion of the walls of this beautiful imperial palace, and nowadays you can simply walk into the park via the main road, through an archway shaded by trees. Prior to the modern day however, Topkapi Palace and the gardens themselves were not open for the public to roam around, and were strictly preserved for royalty and those of high social standing.

Thankfully, things have changed, and we can all now look inside the wonder of not only the palace itself, but these beautiful gardens too. The gardens were actually opened in 1912, and it is now an urban park which prides itself on the sheer number of huge trees, mainly oak and walnut, the stunning flowers, including brightly coloured tulips, and the small sculptures that you’ll find dotted here and there. Many compare Gulhane Park to Narnia, because you’ll find stone sculptures of bears, holding the rubbish bins, and various other woodland animals! Children will surely love exploring this wide open space, as well as having plenty of room to roam and run, whilst adults will simply enjoy the peace and tranquility. Gulhane Park has an air of romance about it, so for the couples, romance is there for the taking!

Tips For Visiting Gulhane Park

Gulhane Park is open all year around and it’s completely free to enter. You simply walk in from the main street, on the way to Sultanahmet, and away you go, you’re clear to enjoy nature! There is a security booth as you enter the archway, but there are no formal checks, other than the occasional spot check. You might have to have your bag quickly searched, but that’s all. You’re free to take picnic foods inside, but do remember to clear up your rubbish and either place it in a bin or take it with you – this is an area of beauty and we don’t want it spoiled!

You don’t necessarily have to visit Gulhane Park as part of a visit to Topkapi Palace, but it’s a good idea to do so. The reason being you can see the outer walls of the palace from the park, and you might be intrigued to find out what is inside. Of course, this is the gardens of the palace, so visiting both will give you a real overview of the history involved.

Around the park there are various stone sculptures, small bridges and lakes, where you’ll see ducks enjoying their

leisurely day. The oldest sculpture and monument is called the ‘Column of The Goths’, and it dates back to the third century CE. This is a definite must visit if you can find it, and it’s towards the eastern far end of the park.

As a side note, if you’re visiting during the month of April, check out the Istanbul Tulip Festival. Many of the parks around the city have brightly coloured tulips as the centre-point, including Emirgan Park too, but Gulhane Park is another which is decorated with some of the brightly coloured, beautifully landscaped tulips, and when they’re all in bloom, it really does look amazing. Of course, the iconic ‘Gulhane Park’ sign, far into the park, is a top photo moment, so make sure you get there too.

How to Visit Gulhane Park

Gulhane is the largest and most important park on the Golden Horn area of Istanbul, so it’s a must visit. If you’re staying in Fatih or Sultanahmet, it’s completely within walking distance, so it’s very easy to get to this part of the city from anywhere else – simply jump on the Metro or a tram and you’re never that far away. In fact, Gulhane Park is around 15 minutes’ walk away from Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, so you can easily have a two-attraction day, and visit both. Alternatively, there is a tram station literally in front of Gulhane, if you don’t really want to walk!