Now is the best season to visit Istanbul’s parks and shake off the winter blues. A good place to start is Yıldız Park (yıldız is the turkish word for star). It is one of the largest public parks in Istanbul, offering a wide range of activities and attractions, but most of all a precious chance to relax the urban soul.
Located between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy on Çırağan Caddesi, the forest-like realm has two small artificial lakes, two beautiful old pavilions with inviting terraces, splendid garden arrangements, and a panoramic view of the Bosphorus. For those of you interested in history, within the walls of the park lies the Yıldız Şale (a chalet built in 1880 on the park’s highest point) and an active porcelain factory. They are open to the public everyday except Mondays and Thursdays between 9:00am – 5:00pm.
The park is open all year around, every day 8:00am – 10:00pm. Entry to the park is free for pedestrians, but there is a 7 TL fee for cars, including taxis. Bus stop: Yahya Efendi
