Photo: Dosseman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yıldız Park
A sultan's private garden, now open to all: breakfast in an Ottoman pavilion, shady lawns and glimpses of the Bosphorus.
Overview
Between the palaces of the Bosphorus shore and the busy streets of Beşiktaş, a green slope climbs the hill. Paths wind under old oaks and cedars, while families spread blankets on the grass, and in a pavilion built for a sultan, people linger over a long breakfast. This is Yıldız Park, once a private garden of the Ottoman court and now one of the largest parks in Istanbul. With a guide, join our Yıldız Palace tour.
- Good for
- Families, slow mornings, picnics, a break between palaces
- Best combined with
- Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy, Dolmabahçe Palace
Yıldız Park Between Two Palaces
To begin with, the park lies in the Yıldız quarter of Beşiktaş, between Yıldız Palace at the top of the hill and Çırağan Palace on the water. From its upper paths, in turn, you catch glimpses of the Bosphorus through the trees.
History of Yıldız Park
First of all, in Byzantine times, this hillside was a forest. From the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the sultans used it as a hunting ground. In the early 19th century, Selim III built a pavilion here called Yıldız, the Star, which gave the whole area its name. Under Sultan Abdülhamid II, who made Yıldız his main palace, high walls closed off the outer garden. Inside, also, he added a small artificial lake, pavilions and even a porcelain factory, and only the palace household could walk here.
What to See in Yıldız Park
The pavilions
Today, the outer part of the old garden is open to all. Its two best-known pavilions, the Malta and the Çadır, now work as cafés and restaurants, so you can have breakfast or tea where the sultan’s guests once rested. Nearby, the Şale Pavilion also stands in the public part of the park.
Trees, lawns and lakes
The park is also a living collection of trees. For example, look for magnolias, Judas trees, silver limes, horse chestnuts, cedars and yews, many of them planted in Ottoman times. Between them lie two small man-made lakes. On weekends, therefore, the lawns fill with picnics.
The porcelain factory
Finally, the Yıldız porcelain factory, founded inside the palace grounds, is still at work today.
Our notes for Yıldız Park
- BreakfastThe Malta Pavilion terrace is a favorite for a slow weekend breakfast.
- WeekendsThe lawns fill with families on sunny weekends.
- ShoesThe park climbs a hill, so expect slopes and steps.
- PalacesÇırağan Palace sits just below the park, on the water.
Our suggestion Pass Çırağan Palace on the shore road, walk up into the park for breakfast at the Malta Pavilion, then stroll down toward Ortaköy for the afternoon.
How to Visit Yıldız Park
The park is open to the public. Buses along the coast road stop near the lower gate by Çırağan, a short walk from Beşiktaş.
Yıldız Park makes a green pause on our Bosphorus days. Below it, see Çırağan Palace and the Ortaköy Mosque, and along the shore, Dolmabahçe Palace. For another historic garden, visit Emirgan Park farther up the Bosphorus.
Because Istanbul needs green breaks between its palaces. Walk up from Çırağan through the trees, have tea at the Malta Pavilion, and rest where only the palace household once could.
Map
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Yıldız Park?
In Beşiktaş, on the slope between Yıldız Palace above and Çırağan Palace on the Bosphorus shore.
Is Yıldız Park free?
Yes. It is a public park, open to everyone.
Can I eat in Yıldız Park?
Yes. The Malta and Çadır pavilions, built for the sultans, now serve breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee.
What is the history of Yıldız Park?
It was the walled garden of Yıldız Palace, kept for the palace household under Sultan Abdülhamid II, and earlier the sultans' hunting ground.
