Gülhane Park in Sultanahmet: A Historic Oasis in Istanbul (2025)

Gülhane Park is one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in Istanbul. Located next to the Topkapı Palace, it has a rich history stretching back to the Ottoman Empire, where it once served as the outer garden of the palace. The park was famous for its vast variety of roses.

In 1912, Gülhane Park became open to the public. Today, it spans 163 acres, offering plenty of green spaces, fountains, monuments, and playgrounds. Notable spots include the Gülhane Park Cistern and the Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam.

One of the park’s most significant moments was on November 19, 1938, when the last farewell ceremony for Atatürk was held here before his body was transported to Ankara.

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What to See in Gulhane Park?

Visitors can enjoy quiet picnics on the grass, surrounded by wildflowers and watching storks and parrots fly by. The park is also home to fountains and cozy gazebos, perfect for a peaceful retreat.

Book Fountain

At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by the Kitap Çeşmesi, a beautiful book-shaped fountain, a symbol of knowledge.

Tulip Festival in Gulhane Park

Every April since 2015, Gülhane hosts the Istanbul Tulip Festival. Thousands of tulips bloom, creating a vibrant scene, accompanied by live performances from musicians, artists, and photographers.

Gülhane Park Cistern

The cistern was built in the 2nd century as part of Hadrian’s aqueduct system, right in the heart of old Istanbul on the First Hill. It’s small—only 17×12 meters and 7 meters deep. Discovered in 1913, after Gülhane Park was opened to the public by Sultan Mehmed Reshad, it was part of Topkapı Palace’s outer gardens. For most of the 20th century, the cistern served as an aquarium in the Gülhane Zoo, until 2001.

Now, the cistern has been restored by the municipality and transformed into a modern art venue, much like other spaces in Istanbul.

İstanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

Also within Gülhane Park, this museum showcases the remarkable achievements of Islamic civilization in various scientific fields, primarily between the 9th and 16th centuries. Read more >>

Gate of Salutation

The entrance to the Second Court of Topkapı Palace, located near Gülhane, is through the Middle Gate—built by Mehmet II. This monumental gate, with its double towers, gives an immediate sense of entering a sacred and imperial space. The only people allowed beyond this point were those with official business. Above the gate, a small mosque housed gatekeepers, whose dormitories flanked the vestibule.

Column of the Goths

This ancient column, located in the northeastern part of Gülhane Park, commemorates a Roman victory over the Goths. Standing about 300 meters south of Sarayburnu, it’s a remnant of Byzantine and Roman times, symbolizing the resilience of the empire.

More to See in Gülhane

• Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Monument: A tribute to the founder of modern Turkey.
• Gülhane Fountain: A marble fountain greets visitors with its water jets shaped like pages.
• Orphanage of Hagios Paulos: Originally a Byzantine-era institution, it provided shelter and care for orphans and vulnerable children.
• Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Literature Museum: A museum and library dedicated to Turkish literature.

Read also: Istanbul Ruines and Constantinopol Sites: A Journey Through Byzantine History

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