Yıldız Park

From royal hunting ground to Abdülhamid's garden

For a long time the Yıldız hill served the sultans as a hunting and pleasure ground. According to sources, the name (yıldız means star) comes from a pavilion called Yıldız that Selim III built here for his mother, Mihrişah Sultan. Sultan Abdülaziz added pavilions in the 19th century, but the real transformation came in the late 1870s, when Abdülhamid II left Dolmabahçe Palace and made Yıldız his residence. For more than three decades this wooded slope was the protected garden of the palace complex from which the empire was ruled.

The park, originally the outer garden of the palace, opened to the public in the Republican era. Extensive restoration of the pavilions in the 1980s gave it much of its present look, and its winding paths, little bridges and natural-looking ponds still reflect the English landscape-garden style of the 19th century.

Pavilions and hidden corners

• Şale Pavilion: at the top of the park, known to have been enlarged for the visits of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II. It is famous for its mother-of-pearl inlaid room and an enormous Hereke carpet, and it is visited as a museum; check opening days in advance.
• Malta Pavilion: an elegant building from Sultan Abdülaziz's reign whose terrace looks through the trees towards the Bosphorus; a pleasant place for a break.
• Çadır Pavilion and its pond: in the lower part of the park, where children love watching the ducks and other waterbirds.
• Yıldız Porcelain Factory: founded by Abdülhamid II in the 1890s, its brick building looks like something out of medieval Europe and stands beside the palace complex.
• Veteran trees: plane, linden, cedar and pine, plus species said to have been brought from distant climates, make the park feel like an open-air arboretum.

Yıldız through the seasons

Spring brings Judas trees and flower beds; in summer the dense canopy makes this one of the coolest walks in the city. Autumn colour draws photographers, and on misty winter mornings the park has the hush of a mountain forest. For the full tulip spectacle in April, head further up the Bosphorus to Emirgan Park, though Yıldız has its own spring beds too.

Because the park climbs a hillside, walking from the lower gate to the upper pavilions is a gentle but steady ascent. The paved main paths work with a stroller, while the dirt trails can be slippery after rain. Weekend picnickers and morning joggers are part of the scenery. Entry to the park is free; the Şale Pavilion requires a separate ticket.

Making a day of it

The park is a natural stop between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy. To the south are the Beşiktaş pier and the Istanbul Naval Museum; to the north, an easy walk along the waterfront road brings you to Ortaköy Mosque. A morning stroll in the park followed by an afternoon break by the water in Ortaköy makes a well-balanced family day.

Getting there from Sareban Hotel

Take the T1 tram from near our hotel to Kabataş. From there you can catch one of the buses running along the coast road towards Ortaköy, or walk via Beşiktaş. The main park gate is on the waterfront avenue between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy. Walking from Kabataş is pleasant, past the Dolmabahçe façade and the Beşiktaş pier, but a little long; with small children a bus or taxi is more practical.