Turkmenbasi and Polonezkoy National Parks

Polenezkoy National Park

Location: Polenezkoy is in the Beykoz district of Istanbul, in the Marmara Region.

Transportation: There is no public transport to the village of Polonezkoy, but private vehicles can access the area from the centre of İstanbul towards the coast, on the Asian side.

Highlights: Polonezköy, although still within Istanbul, is 25 km away from the centre and not easy to reach by public transport. Translated as “village of the Poles”, it was established in 1848 by the exiled Prince Czartorisky, a Polish leader, who formed a community of Balkans on land sold to him by a local monastery. The Poles have since left the village, but there are sill a few remaining Central European style wooden houses with pretty balconies.
Polonezköy is within a vast green expanse, which was designated Istanbul’s first national park, and many people come to walk though forests with streams and wooden bridges. Its main species of trees include hornbeam, elm, alder, chestnut and lime. Species of wildlife in the park are mainly birds, especially storks and birds of prey that migrate here in the autumn.

Facililities: There are good hotels and many restaurants in the village, most of which specialise in Polish cuisine.


Turkmenbasi National Park

Location: Türkmenbaşı Park is in the Sisli area of İstanbul, north of Taksim. Until 1999 it was known as Haciosman Park.

Transportation: Sisli can easily be accessed by public transport from Taksim, Eminönü and Mecidyekoy.

Highlights: There are many similarities between Türkmenbaşı Park and the nearby Belgrade Forest, both of which are good spots for relaxation and recreation away from city life. It is especially popular for walking and picnicking and its cool shady areas busy during weekends. The road leading to the park is filled with food sellers.

The main species of trees are shore pine, black pine and oak. Animals inhabiting the area include jackals, wild boar, reptiles and a variety of birds. The winters can be very cold and cloudy and the area is often covered with snow, whereas summers are hot and dry with threats of droughts. It was granted the status of Natural Park in order to preserve the ecological balance, and to try and control urban development.