Spring in Istanbul. A Celebration of Tulips

One of the best times to visit Istanbul is in the spring, when tram journeys and explorations of the old city take place against a backdrop of the Tulip Festival, a celebration of Istanbul in bloom after the winter months.

Istanbul is, of course, beautiful whatever the season. We like to think of the city as a woman with deep, dark eyes whose age is impossible to guess as she has many incarnations. You can see her dressed demurely in a black veil and ankle-length clothing or a sharp business suit or casual shorts. Istanbul has its own atmosphere but always offers a warm welcome to visitors. It has a rich history but is also modern and open to innovation. It helps to know what you plan to see in advance, but the process of discovery is always a pleasure. Though Istanbul, as any large and well-developed city, can be expensive, there are also plenty of activities and places to visit that are either very cheap or free of charge.

So why visit in the spring? One reason is because the weather is almost always good, so though when you are out and about a raincoat and umbrella are useful companions, you won’t need layers of clothing to keep out the cold.

Where is the best place to walk? It rather depends on which district you have chosen to stay in. The first-time visitor would be better off in Sultanahmet, which is the historical centre and walking

distance from such famous sites as the Hagia Sophia and the

Blue Mosque. Istanbul is a very large city and you don’t want to spend too much time getting around. Taxis in the old part of Istanbul are not cheap and public transport, though efficient, is often crowded

Sultanahmet has to be seen not only because of its astonishing architecture, but because this is where you can see one of the most important springtime events in Turkey, the Tulip Festival, at its very best. Every year the government plants several million bulbs, the first of which come into flower at the end of March. The Tulip Festival is more than a sea of flowers, as in gardens and squares and every flowerbed available, florists compete to produce the most artistic displays. As well as the blaze of colour produced by the array of new varieties, tulip sculptures and sweeping carpets of tulips planted in ornamental patterns, there are artworks of every kind to celebrate this beautiful, colourful flower. The resulting show is an impressive celebration of Turkish creativity.

While the whole city is dressed in a riot of fragrant colour, if you head to Emirgan Park you will find not only some of the finest displays of tulips in Istanbul, but also musicians providing live music from pop-up stages and local craftsmen

demonstrating their skills. The tulips flower for over a month. If you want to compare Turkey’s Tulip Festival with the equally famous one in the Netherlands, bear in mind that tulip bulbs were sent there in the 16th century from the Ottoman Empire.

One place in Istanbul that has to be seen is Topkapi Palace. It is one of the city’s main tourist destinations so you would be wise to check the website and buy tickets online to avoid queues or unexpected closures. You do have to pay for entrance, but it is well worth the investment as the gardens are a landmark in themselves, especially in the springtime. You are free to spend the whole day wandering through its 700,000 sq. m to inspect the mosaics and treasures that once belonged to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. During the Tulip Festival these gardens become a magical place. Add to the scene the lively green parrots and wonderful views of the Bosporus and you could be forgiven for feeling you have stepped into an Eastern fairy tale.

A boat tour of the Bosporus is another inexpensive way to build up your special memories of Istanbul, especially while restrictions are in place because of the pandemic. Though if you do

take a tour in the springtime, don’t neglect to wear windproof clothing and a scarf as the sea winds can be cool at this time of year.

When you have walked enough, enjoy a stop at one of the open-air cafés on the edge of the water and have fresh fish cooked to order or a cup of aromatic tea with meltingly sweet baklava. There are many songs and poems written about the waters of the Bosporus, and as you contemplate them for yourself you are bound to make a wish that you will return to see more of the beauty of Istanbul.