The tulip festival in Istanbul is a spring event: every April the city’s parks and squares are planted with tulip beds. The best known places are Emirgan Park, on the Bosphorus, and Gülhane Park, beside Topkapı Palace. The tulip also has a long place in Ottoman history, and one whole period of it is named after the flower.
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Don’t Skip the International Tulip Festival in Istanbul. Tulip fever of seventeen hundred originated from Istanbul and took over Europe. Famous festival started back then and it has been still going on for the last three hundred years. Tulip Festival is held every year in April. It takes place in more than 270 spots around the city. The most important exhibits are Emirgan Woods, Gülhane Park, and Goztepe Rose Garden. Parks are open from 07:00 to 22:30 and the entrance is free of charge. I recommend visits around early morning and weekdays if it possible. Hope to see you when the tulips bloom! Hasan Gülday.
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Tulip Carpet in Istanbul -
Tulips in front of Hagia Sophia -
Tulip Season in Istanbul
Where Is the Tulip Festival in Istanbul?
The festival is spread across the city. Tulips are planted in parks and squares on both sides of the Bosphorus, and Emirgan Park in the Sarıyer district, on the European shore, is the best known.
The park covers about 47 hectares, and the beds follow its paths, slopes and streams. Its name comes from Emir Gûne, a Persian commander who received the land in the 1600s. Three wooden pavilions in the park were built for Khedive Ismail Pasha of Egypt in the 19th century.
Gülhane Park lies right beside Topkapı Palace. It was outer garden of the palace and opened to the public in 1912. Its name means “rose house”, but tulips are planted here too. You also find beds in Sultanahmet Square, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Tulips in the Ottoman Empire
The tulip was the favorite flower of the Ottoman court, and the years from 1718 to 1730, under Sultan Ahmed III, are called the Tulip Era. The grand vizier of that time, Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha, loved tulip bulbs and set the fashion for the rich families of Istanbul.
Tulips appeared in poems, paintings, clothing and palace decoration, and bulb prices rose so high that officials had to issue price lists. The era ended in 1730 with the Patrona Halil revolt, and Ahmed III lost his throne.
The flower never left Turkish life, though, even the slim Turkish tea glass has the shape of a tulip.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do tulips bloom in Istanbul?
Mostly in April. The exact weeks change every year with the weather, and different kinds of tulips open at different times, so the parks keep their color for several weeks.
Are tulips from Turkey or the Netherlands?
The wild home of the tulip is Central Asia, with some species growing in Anatolia too. The Ottomans grew it in their gardens first, and the flower later reached Europe, where the Dutch made it world famous.
What is the Turkish word for tulip?
Lale. The Tulip Era is called Lale Devri in Turkish, and the Istanbul festival is the Lale Festivali. Lale is also a common girl’s name in Turkey.
