Small secrets of Istanbul – A Park In Bebek
This post is part of the series “Small secrets of Istanbul” where I talk about magical non-mainstream restaurants, cafes and places in Istanbul. These places are not easy to be discovered if you’re visiting for a few days or even few weeks. Istanbul is huge and you need someone who knows Istanbul to show you places that are not on a regular tourist road, but the ones that you will truly remember for the rest of your lives.
The Best-Located Park In The World
One thing that maybe is not a secret for many, but I think everyone should know about one of the best-located parks for kids in the world! It is a park in Bebek. Bebek is located on the European side of the Bosphorus between First and the Second Bosphorus Bridge. Recently First Bosphorus Bridge changed the name to 15 July Martyrs Bridge, after the Coup Attempt in Turkey earlier this year and the name of the Second Bosphorus Bridge stayed the same, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
Recently on our trip to Istanbul, my husband, son and I had our walk on the European side along the Bosphorus from the First to the Second Bosphorus Bridge, which is a must for us when visiting Istanbul. Our son wanted to play in the park, so we sat there and realized how amazing actually the park is. We have already been there many times, but sometimes beauty just passes next to you while you are busy doing some other things.
Cherish the moment
But this time we just sat and it struck us how amazing the park actually is. Apart from the nice and spacy playground, you are sitting on a Bosphorus, one of the world’s wonders and enjoy the view, while your child enjoys in the park. I think it’s worth a post about it 🙂 I am sure that if you live in Istanbul, you have already seen this park, so for you all this is just a reminder to look around and cherish the moment while sitting on a bench there.
But for others, who just visit the Istanbul for a few days, I suggest you take the walk on the Bosphorus on the European side between the first two bridges (and of course further if you have power) and just rest in this wonderful park. Aside from the children playground, there are benches and trees, beautiful Bosphorus and interesting life around to be observed.
The amazing ice-cream
And yes…don’t forget to try the ice cream across the street in L’era Fresca. Wonderful natural, tasty, full-fat milky ice-cream! This is not a sponsored post, I recommend them because I ADORE their ice-cream 🙂 If my child wants something sweet, this is what I want him to have and me too, of course :).
To make a long story short
Walk along the Bosphorus from the First to the Second Bridge, make stops on the way, breathe, enjoy, look around, observe numerous fishermen on the way and make sure you stop at Bebek, take two balls of ice-cream (it will be hard to choose from all those wonderful tastes, I know), sit in the park and watch the world around you like you see everything for the first time. If you get so lucky that prayer time has come, visit the Mosque in the park and involve in the prayer. That is just a bonus experience, an amazing one that will stay with you for a long time.
Have you already visited Bebek? How do you like it? Does it wake up in you same wondrous feeling like it did in me? Share your stories and comments in the comment box below. I would love to hear and learn from you.
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Wish you all open hearts and minds!
