Emirgan Park

This large landscaped park on the upper European shore of the Bosphorus is famed for the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival, when millions of bulbs carpet its slopes in April. Formerly a royal estate, it retains three ornate nineteenth-century pavilions, painted in yellow, pink and white, that now house cafés and event spaces. Winding paths lead past ponds, waterfalls and mature groves that draw families and walkers year round. The mix of imperial-era architecture, seasonal flower displays and Bosphorus views makes it much loved.