Ataturk Arboretumu

Ataturk Arboretumu

Ataturk Arboretumu
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles135 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
30
Average
11
Poor
2
Terrible
2

Birol Bali
Istanbul, Türkiye1,103 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Atatürk Arboretum, located in Istanbul's Sarıyer district, is a 296-hectare botanical haven within the Belgrad Forest. Established in 1982 to honor the 101st anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s birth, it houses over 2,000 species of native and exotic plants, including unique collections like the Rhododendron Valley and the Liquidambar Forest. Designed as a "living plant museum," the arboretum serves both scientific research and public education, offering tranquil walking trails, photography opportunities, and bird-watching spots.

Visitors can explore its lush landscapes year-round, with seasonal changes adding to its charm. Basic amenities are available, but bringing your own supplies is recommended. Entry may require a fee, and activities like professional photography often need prior permission. This serene destination emphasizes conservation, encouraging visitors to follow rules that protect its delicate ecosystems.
Written December 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aya
22 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
The forest was beautiful!
We started out with the lake with the swans and turtles in it. They were very cute.
We went on Tuesday so it was so calm and quiet, you listen to the winds and trees and birds.
It’s closed on Mondays.

The forest is big so come in comfortable shoes.
They didn’t allow us to get food in so take that in consideration.
Written July 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Malih D
San Diego, CA167 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2016 • Couples
Amazing place, we spend five hours there hiking at the beautiful nature around the lake . fantastic sighting .
Written June 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Krulletje
204 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2015 • Couples
From Istanbul - Metro M2 to haciosman (last stop), then bus 42HM to Bahçeköy. 
You can also drive there by car. And I have two expressions for the parking conditions there - "for free" and "ridiculous". 
The amount of broken glass from car-lights on the road in front of the Arboretum entrance, is a testimony to the conditions of parking by the Arboretum. 
The Arboretum is clearly for study purposes. On the good side this means name signs for the trees is pretty good - on the bad side (from a tourist perspective) it means the only pathways are the ones dividing the area into segments. 
So if you want to admire their impressive collection of oak-trees, you'll have to leave the pathways and wander into the area. 
And note - this is an Arboretum, not a botanical garden. The only area aiming more towards perennials is unfortunately placed very close to the entrance and next to the rather busy road passing the Arboretum. 
Two things to note: The guard at the gate will search your bag and safekeep any food you might be tempted to bring in (no picnic allowed in the park). 
And you'll very likely see multiple Turkish wedding couples having their wedding pictures taken while you're there. We saw at least 5 couples when we were there on a Sunday in May. 
Written August 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mostafa I
Kuwait City, Kuwait68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Big and beautiful garden with long trails to walk and it is beside belgrade gardens.Can reach by bus or your
car
Written June 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

UKMassive
Gerrards Cross, UK33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Family
We were a bit short of time, so had to rush around. Ideally come for a whole day and bring your picnic as there are no restaurants or snack places. Lovely place to walk around and enjoy the scenery - watch out for the many newly wedded couples who come here for photo shoots - we saw 2 couples whilst we were there !!!
Written November 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mrdom
8,469 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Solo
The arboretum is a simple botanical garden, fairly nice and peaceful but with little information and no eating allowed. TL5 on weekdays. The best thing for tourists who can't find other hiking options is to use it to see the Belgrad Forest. Take the tree-lined paths that go up the hill and at the end, you will be within the forest. There are proper paths that wind back around to the arboretum entrance, plus rougher paths that go further into the valleys. Three friendly local dogs met me at the entrance and escorted me the whole way. They might have led me astray down rough paths with spiky undergrowth but eventually brought me out at a proper path. The arboretum might be fully fenced so you might not be able to hike too far from it.

42-series buses go close, the 42T from Basiktas is best as it goes alongside the Bosphorus and passes Emirgan Park and Rumeli Fortress, but note you have to get off just after crossing the aqueduct, then go up the road opposite the uni sports ground to find the arboretum entrance.
Written April 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bkaraoren
Frankfurt, Germany74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2013 • Family
It's was my first time to visit a tree museum in the heart of Istanbul. Entrance to the park has been permitted to everyone with a small fee rather than annually membership requirement as it was until 2011.

3 small lakes exist in the park, and a lot of different kind of trees from all over the world. Car park facilities are limited and only for around 20 cars available. Except restrooms there are no facilities, also you can not find any cafe that sells beverages.

As it is on Belgrade forest, the place is not famous by locals. Mostly people prefer to drive in the forest to other places which allow to have a picnic and barbecue and has facilities. But that makes the places over crowded almost all the time.

If you want to relax and escape from the crowd of metropolis within 20 minutes you will find the place amazing. Get your camera, blanket, sandwich - fruit and a few beverages, lay down near one of the lakes and enjoy it on Spring especially.
Written March 13, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hayesy2015
Mugla, Türkiye777 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Friends
296 hectares of botanical gardens are accessed from the road which links Kemerburgaz with Bahçekoy in the Belgrade Forest. With over 2000 species of plant and a huge lake it’s a place to chill, but only on a week day, as it is, sadly, closed at the weekends.The Atatürk Arboretum was founded in 1949 on a 296 hectare plot of land to the southeast of the Belgrade Forest. It is run jointly by the General Directorate of Forestry and the İstanbul University Forestry Faculty, and boasts around 2,000 types of trees and bushes, all able to live and thrive in the local climate.
This living museum was actually established for scientific purposes, though it is open to the public. Opening at 8 a.m, the public are free to walk through the arboretum until sunset. During the week, the entrance fee is just TL 1 for students and TL 2 for all others. On weekends, only those who hold special entrance cards, as well as groups that have made prior arrangements, are permitted.
On entering the arboretum, five long roads appear before one. The roads furthest to the left and right do lead you to two lakes surrounded by trees. Of the five roads the second from the right, which is also the longest, leads up to the tower used in Metin Erksan’s film “Keloğlan ile Cankız.”
It is worthwhile to walk through the arboretum with some sort of tree guide. Each tree has its Latin name written under it. Sweetsop, silvery linden tree, mimosa silk tree, Chinese scholar tree, sacred bamboo tree, etc, etc. The collection of oak trees alone here is extraordinary.
Visitors are stunned by how many varieties of just one type of the tree there are.
As this is such a photogenic spot, particularly in the autumn, a camera is vital.
It is a place much favored by those who want their portraits taken in a memorable setting and for those special moments such as Wedding photographs, Circumcision and Graduation from one of the citys many universities.
There are no cafés in the arboretum, so a small picnic, that can be eaten on the move, may be adviseable as sitting on the grassed areas for a picnic is not allowed. And football, bike riding and, of course, lighting fires are also forbidden.
Collecting flowers or branches as a souvenir is strictly forbidden.
Take only photographs and leave only footprints.
At the Hacıosman metro stop the 42HM Bahçeköy bus are every 15 minutes and will drop you at the Bahçeköy stop. From there it is a short walk down the Kemerburgaz Road to the arboretum.
Driving from Beşiktaş in the direction of Sarıyer, going down Büyükdere Caddesi, one follows the signs for Bahçeköy. Turning onto Kemerburgaz Road across from the İstanbul University Sports Club one reaches the Atatürk Arboretum just 500 metres down the road.
Written November 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

junior1907
Istanbul, Türkiye195,273 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We have been to this excellent park hidden in İstanbul together with some friends.First of all,it is very easy and practical to come to this park in far end of the center by metro and public bus connection.
This is an amazing park with no facilities for eating and drinking.So,
better to eat&drink before you enter to this place.Lovely place to have good time in total quiteness and relax.Recommended to escape from the caos of the city in the possible shortest time.
Written April 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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