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There are two very beautiful parks on Asian side of Istanbul.
Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri and Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi. Well, of course, these aren’t the only ones. They are just two of the closest ones to Taksim, they are close to each other and they offer beautiful views of European side of Istanbul. And if you love scenic city walks, you’ll enjoy visiting these two during your time in Istanbul.
We surely did enjoy visiting them.
More: Best Hotels in Istanbul For Every Budget, Best Day Trips From Istanbul
Table of Contents
1. Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri & Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi Parks: Basics
Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri park is the nearest one.
Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi is about a mile / 1.6 km (and a couple of hills) away. Walking between them gives you a glimpse into what life on Asian side on Istanbul looks like. It’s a very lovely part of Istanbul.
OUR ROUTE:
TIME & DISTANCE: around 3 miles / 4.8 km (1 hour).
We arrived by ferry, and at the end took a bus and ferry to return to the same place. You can also walk back to the same ferry pier.
TIPS: don’t miss the viewing platform of Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri. At first we missed it. We walked up the hill, through the park, and thought that that’s it. That’s not it, the park continues to the left. There’s a restaurant and a small section of hanging bridges. Don’t miss that part.
Take into account Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi opening hours.
2. Getting to Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri Park
We went there from Taksim.
We took a bus to Besiktas, and from there it’s only a 5-minute ferry ride to Uskudar. From Uskudar it’s a short walk, a lot of it up the hill, to get to Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri park. It’s the easiest way.
You need an Istanbul card to pay for the ride. The same card can be used both for buses and ferries. You can purchase it from ticket vending machines around the city and near bus stops (not all, though). You may need to connect your card to your HES code. Google to find it out.
Another option would be taking a taxi.
3. Getting to Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi Park
Of course, you can also take a taxi to Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi.
I would, however, recommend to walk there from Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri park. It’s a little bit over a mile / 1.6 km (and a couple of hills) away, mostly through a quiet residential area. It’s a beautiful walk.
4. Scenic Walk on Asian Side of Istanbul: Our Experience
Three words – we loved it.
Fethipasa Sosyal Tesisleri is a very good place for walking. It’s quite big, there are nice pathways, it’s all green and peaceful. Also the views from the top are beautiful. Just don’t miss the viewing platform, as we almost did. Speaking of Nakkastepe Millet Bahcesi park, and it’s views of the Bosphorus bridge, I could easily spend an hour there — sitting and admiring the view.
The whole area is a very cool place to go for a walk in Istanbul.
Here are a few photos from our walk in April.
Have you been to Istanbul? If you enjoy walking, what’s your favorite place for walks in Istanbul?
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