You have been in Istanbul for a while, and you have even seen the posters for the 13th Istanbul Tulip Festival. You have been curious about the Tulip Festival but haven’t been able to visit Sultanahmet square or Emirgan Park yet. Well, it’s time to shake yourself by the shoulders! Maybe splash some cold water on your face. Wake up! April is almost over and the tulips are all but gone. It’s either now or never (until April 2019 that is).
If you live on the Asian side and the prospect of crossing to the other-side gives you nightmares, don’t worry, you can just visit the Göztepe Park. The park is much smaller compared to Emirgan or Gülhane Park, but it’s well maintained and easy to access. It has two entrances, one from the Cemil Topuzlu Caddesi (Near Sahil Yolu) and the other from Bağdat Caddesi. I entered from the Sahil side and was greeted by a stream of yellow tulips.
The park has wide walking paths, flanked by flowering trees and benches on both sides. It is a family-friendly park with distinct and plentiful play areas. There are many kinds of swings and slides for children, even small trampolines and the ground is covered with soft turf.
While following the walking path, you come across many flower beds and topiaries. Though some tulips had already withered, there were enough left to make my trip worthwhile. There were tulips of many vibrant colors – mauve, purple, pink, red, orange and yellow. Under the bright sun, these colorful flower beds almost seemed to be radiating a light of their own.
This year, the municipality has also added little placards indicating the specific names of the tulips and a QR code with which you can access more information about the flowers.
There is ample of shade to be found in Göztepe park. Even if you can’t find an empty bench, you can just have your own little picnic on the grass among the flowers or near the little artificial pond. The pond is usually inhabited by some fishes and turtles, though you may have a hard time spotting them.
Of course, a festival isn’t a festival unless you have a souvenir to take away. Ismek has put up a few stalls of small hand-made items in the middle of the park. I spotted paintings, dolls, jewelry and glass objects.
Even if you can’t make it to the Tulip Festival (ends on 30th April), do add Göztepe Park to your list of must-see places. The park is filled with seasonal flowers all year long. In the coming month, the withered tulips will be replaced by other blooms. There are always some cute topiaries to be seen – if you are careful you can spot a long, leafy caterpillar. Close to the Bağdat Caddesi entrance, there are well-manicured hedges in typical islamic, geometric patterns – another spectacular feature of the park which you can see all year long.
Right next to the park is the Göztepe Gül Bahçesi. It is an even smaller, but not-to-be-missed rose garden. It has it’s own entrance from the park. Though roses are not blooming yet, the buds will open up in the summertime. Once open, they present a sight which can easily rival the Tulip Festival.
I hope I have given you enough reasons to get off your procrastinating bums and go to your nearest Tulip Festival. Hurry up! Time & tulips wait for no one! And if Göztepe Park is too far for you, here is the list of all the locations participating in the festival Haydi! Go!
