From gardens and forests to islands, İstanbul has plenty of spots to enjoy some greenery

İstanbul is synonymous with history and cultural landmarks, but it also has colourful gardens and forests to enjoy a spot of nature in the city.

Transcript

00:00Istanbul is a sprawling metropolis with stunning historical and cultural landmarks, but there's

00:11a quiet side where you can get lost on trails surrounded by greenery, escape the noise of

00:16city life and leave behind the hustle and bustle.

00:26One of the greenest places in Istanbul is the Belgrade Forest where I've chosen to start

00:31my day with a run. It's located in the northwest neighborhood of Sarıyer and it's a 5,500 hectare

00:37protected forest full of oak, beech and chestnut trees. Hiking, biking, nature walks and running

00:44are all options for a fun day out in the so-called lands of Istanbul. Here it's common to come

00:50across groups of people training. There are several trails and tracks with workout equipment

01:15along the way. You can spend hours wandering around and appreciating the beauty of nature.

01:20The Belgrade Forest is just one of the many green areas of the city on the Bosphorus.

01:27Istanbul's most enchanting gardens are transformed by spring with a fresh vitality that breathes

01:33life into every corner. That's the case at Emirlean Park. At 325,000 square meters it's

01:41one of the largest urban parks in the city. Every April it hosts the Tulip Festival where you can

01:48see the blooming varieties of tulips in different patterns. People come here to stroll, take pictures

01:54or just have a picnic. Another location that you can't miss is the Ildiz Park, a beautiful garden

02:01complex set in a very large park of plants, trees and flowers where you can enjoy stunning panoramic

02:07views of the Bosphorus. For those who want to escape the city noise, Prince's Islands, an

02:14archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, is just a short ferry ride from the heart of

02:20Istanbul. In Büyükkada, nostalgia greets you on the historic pier and the refreshing air promises

02:26a rejuvenating getaway. This island, the biggest one in the archipelago, welcomes you with its

02:31frozen-in-time atmosphere. Here fuel-consuming vehicles are banned but you can explore its

02:36picturesque streets by electric bus, bicycle or on foot. Walking in its quiet streets feels like

02:44being transported to a different world. What's inherently special to all of these islands is they

02:50have this incredible cultural and historical heritage as well as the exceptional fauna and

02:56flora that we very much enjoy. During the Ottoman Empire, Büyükkada became a summer retreat for the

03:02wealthy Istanbulites, evidenced by its numerous ornate Victorian-style mansions. You can see

03:08buildings from all different particular architectural periods. It's like an open-air

03:12architectural museum. Of course we have beautiful beaches as well, beautiful courses where people

03:17can run or bike, so it's just a little heaven in itself. After a long uphill walk to the

03:25Aya Yorgi Church, you can admire the magnificence of Istanbul in the distance.

03:35Before I leave this place where time has stood still, there is something I want to do.

03:39Have a real Turkish coffee and learn how to make it. Turkish coffee, which was invented in the 16th

03:45century during the Ottoman Empire, is considered one of the world's oldest coffee brewing methods.

03:51In 2013, UNESCO recognized this deeply-rooted tradition as an intangible cultural heritage of

03:57humanity. Turkish coffee comes from Yemen, its stems are separated and finely ground.

04:07Ground coffee and water are combined in a cezve, a small copper pot. The most important thing

04:14is to heat the mixture slowly until it's hot but not boiling. To do so, you place the cezve

04:21in a pan filled with hot sand. The sand takes total control of the heat to create the coffee's

04:30signature foam. This is quite good. It's essential to sever this coffee slowly as it embodies the

04:41spirit of hospitality and leisure. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to

04:49reconnect with nature and to discover traditions in the incredible city of Istanbul. Görüşürüz!