Parque del Retiro, Madrid
Let’s start with Parque del Retiro, Madrid’s quiet and beautiful park. Retiro, certainly considered among the most beautiful city parks in the world, is set on an expansive 125- hectare property and home to more than 15,000 trees. Parque del Retiro is in the top 10 most-shared city parks on Instagram, according to research published by Uswitch. The Retiro, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, also offers enormous royal sculptures, the Palacio de Cristal (a glass building where exhibitions are often held), and a peaceful pond.
Central Park, New York
Next up is Central Park, perhaps the most famous city park in the world – and according to some, one of the most beautiful parks in the world. In the borough of Manhattan in New York City, Central Park covers an 840-acre rectangle bordered by Central Park West at Eighth Avenue, Central Park North at 110th Street, Fifth Avenue on the east and Central Park South at 59th Street. Central Park is also the most popular city park on Instagram, with 7.9 million hashtags. On an annual basis, approximately 42 million people visit Central Park – the lungs of Manhattan, with 18,000 trees. In addition, Central Park features a theater, a zoo and an old-school carousel along with numerous playgrounds and grassy expanses. Central Park is also one of the first parks in the United States to have been created with landscape architecture techniques.
Hyde Park, London
Monuments, walking paths and landscaped gardens come together in this huge (and famous) 350-acre London landmark. Bordered by Mayfair to the east and Kensington Gardens to the west, Hyde Park is the most popular city park on Instagram after Central Park. We highly recommend a visit to Hyde Park – certainly one of the most beautiful parks in the United Kingdom and possibly one of the most beautiful parks in the world.
Emirgan Grove, İstanbul
Presenting a scenic picture in every season, Emirgan Grove is one of İstanbul’s most peaceful areas, with its tulip gardens overlooking the Bosphorus. Established on an area of 472-acre, Emirgan Grove has three mansions, the Pink, the White and the Yellow, built between 1871 and 1878. Home to more than 120 tree species and known for its enormous flowers and elegant nightingales, Emirgan Grove undoubtedly has an important place among the most beautiful city parks in the world.
Yıldız Grove, İstanbul
Stretching over the hills between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy and overlooking the Bosphorus, Yıldız Grove is among central Istanbul’s most beloved historic parks. Known in the Byzantine era as “Daphne,” meaning laurel forest, the area was owned by the Kazancıoğlu family in the 17th century. Sultan Murad IV later purchased the land and gifted it to his daughter, Kaya Sultan. During the Tulip Era, the grove became known for the famed “Çırağan festivities.” It first served as the back garden of Çırağan Palace and, from 1877 onward, as the outer grove of the expanded Yıldız Palace complex. During the reign of Abdülhamid II, the grove was redesigned in a Western style by foreign landscape architects, and pavilions including the Şale, Malta, Çadır, Cihannüma, and Limonluk were added. Opened to the public in 1908, the area was officially named “Yıldız Park” after 1940. Today, within the Beşiktaş Municipality borders, it remains one of the city’s largest urban groves, spanning approximately 36.9 hectares. The Çadır Pavilion, together with its surrounding gardens, was designed in 1871 by Sarkis Balyan, whereas the Malta Pavilion stands as an elegant example of 19th-century Ottoman architecture. With its 400-year-old sequoias, more than 120 species of exotic trees, ornamental pools, waterfalls, and two large ponds, the park feels like an open-air museum.
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
With an enormous amusement park, colorful flower gardens, and cafes and restaurants, Copenhagen’s fairy-tale Tivoli Gardens provide a delightful city park experience. Tivoli, which hosts numerous concerts and shows during the summer months, was opened in 1843 by the writer and architect George Carstensen. One of the most beautiful parks in Denmark and often referred to as one of the most beautiful city parks in the world, Tivoli Gardens also has a concert hall that accommodates up to 2,000 people.
Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
Now we turn our route toward the Far East. Located right beside Tokyo’s famous Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogi Park is a favorite escape for Tokyo residents, thanks to its wide lawns and spaces ideal for sports and outdoor activities. The 54-hectare site hosted Japan’s first powered airplane flight in 1910, served as the Olympic Village during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and officially opened to the public in 1967. As Tokyo’s fourth-largest urban park, Yoyogi is home to about 700 cherry blossom trees. During sakura season, the park takes on a colorful, peaceful atmosphere. Lively on weekends with street musicians and cultural festivals, the park is also popular for its proximity to the Shibuya and Harajuku neighborhoods.
Tiergarten, Berlin
Stretching through the heart of Berlin, Großer Tiergarten offers striking scenery year-round. Established in 1527 as the hunting grounds of the Elector of Brandenburg, the park was redesigned in the English landscape style in the 1830s by landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné. Covering 210 hectares, Tiergarten is among Berlin’s largest inner-city parks, and the 67-meter-tall Victory Column stands at its center. The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag building, and Bellevue Palace lie near the park’s borders. South of the park lies Tiergartenviertel, which was known as Berlin’s diplomatic quarter before World War II. Embassy buildings belonging to countries such as Japan, Italy, and Spain still stand there today. In the park’s southwestern corner stands Berlin Zoo, founded in 1844 and recognized as Germany’s oldest zoo.
Englischer Garten, Munich
Stretching along the western bank of the Isar River through the center of Munich, Englischer Garten is even larger than Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park. The foundations of the 376-hectare park were laid in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson at the order of Prince Karl Theodor. Opened to the public in 1792, the park was later redesigned in the English landscape style by royal gardener Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell. One of the park’s symbols, the 25-meter-tall wooden Chinese Tower, was built between 1789 and 1790, destroyed during bombing in 1944, and reconstructed in 1952. The beer garden surrounding the tower, with space for 7,000 people, is among the largest in Bavaria. Other iconic spots in the park include the Monopteros, a Greek-style temple atop a hill; the Japanese Tea House, built for the 1972 Olympics; Kleinhesseloher Lake, where visitors can rent boats; and especially the Eisbach canal. Munich surfers riding the permanent standing wave on the Eisbach in all kinds of weather have become famous around the world. Across the park, visitors can explore 78 kilometers of walking paths, more than 100 bridges, and four traditional beer gardens.
Luxembourg Gardens, Paris
Luxembourg Gardens, located in Paris’s 6th arrondissement, were commissioned in 1612 by Marie de Médicis after the death of Henry IV. The queen wanted to recreate the atmosphere of Florence’s Pitti Palace, where she had spent her childhood, and both the palace and the gardens were designed to reflect that vision. One of Paris’s most beloved green spaces, the gardens have been owned by the French Senate since 1879, and the palace still serves as the Senate’s working building. Spanning 23 hectares, the gardens blend the symmetry of the French style with the more natural appearance of the English landscape tradition. The large octagonal pond, where children sail rented model boats; the Medici Fountain, built for Marie de Médicis in 1620; 106 statues; an orchard preserving old apple and pear varieties; and a greenhouse housing more than 400 orchid species all offer Parisians and visitors a peaceful break within the city.
Vondelpark, Amsterdam
Stretching from Amsterdam’s Museumplein to Leidseplein, Vondelpark is the city’s largest and most beloved green space. Opened in 1865 as “Nieuwe Park” (New Park), it adopted its current name in 1867 after a bronze statue of the Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel was installed. The 47-hectare park, designed in the English landscape style by architect Jan David Zocher and his son, Louis Paul Zocher, features winding paths, ponds, and wide meadows. Welcoming more than 10 million visitors each year, Vondelpark is the Netherlands’ most popular urban park. It features an open-air theater, a music pavilion, Picasso’s 1965 abstract sculpture “Fish,” a rose garden of 63 hexagonal flower beds, and a variety of charming cafés. In 1996, the park was designated a national monument in the Netherlands.
Resources:
Britannica.com
Gotokyo.org
Ibb.gov.tr
Uswitch.com
Frequently asked questions
Which is the largest urban park in the world?
Among the world’s largest urban parks, Munich’s Englischer Garten (376 hectares) and New York’s Central Park (341 hectares) rank near the top. However, the ranking for the title of “largest” varies depending on how “urban park” is defined and measured by area; when spaces such as Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld are included, the list becomes much broader.
How large is Central Park in hectares, and how many visitors does it receive?
Central Park covers 341 hectares (843 acres) and, with approximately 42 million visitors each year, is the most visited urban park in the United States. It stretches from 59th to 110th Streets and from Fifth to Eighth Avenues.
What is there in Hyde Park?
Hyde Park hosts some of London’s biggest live events, including the BST concert series featuring world-famous bands and artists and the massive Winter Wonderland festival, which runs from November through early January. You can also spend time in the beautifully fragrant Rose Garden, filled with roses and other plants, visit the Diana Memorial Fountain, and experience augmented reality exhibitions. Beyond that, there are dozens of other things to do in Hyde Park.
Which is Istanbul’s largest urban grove?
Excluding Belgrad Forest, the two largest groves in Istanbul’s urban center are Yıldız Grove, covering about 36.9 hectares, and Emirgan Grove, spanning 47.2 hectares. Both are among the city’s most beloved green spaces overlooking the Bosphorus.
Which urban park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List?
Madrid’s Parque del Retiro was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 25, 2021, alongside Paseo del Prado, under the title “Landscape of Light” (Paisaje de la Luz). It is one of the few royal parks on the list.
When did Tivoli Gardens open, and who founded it?
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen opened on August 15, 1843, and was founded by Danish officer and journalist Georg Carstensen. It remains the world’s second-oldest operating amusement park, after Dyrehavsbakken, which is also in Denmark.
What is there inside Tivoli Gardens?
At Tivoli Gardens, visitors can enjoy 30 thrilling amusement rides, lively concerts, enchanting ballet and theater performances, and delicious food at more than 30 restaurants and eateries. Other highlights include the wooden roller coaster Rutschebanen, dating back to 1914, the pantomime theater, and the beautifully illuminated gardens.
Where is Yoyogi Park located?
Yoyogi Park is in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, just next to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine.
Who commissioned the Luxembourg Gardens?
The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris’s 6th arrondissement were commissioned in 1612 by Marie de Médicis after her husband, Henry IV, died. The queen wanted to recreate in Paris the atmosphere of Florence’s Pitti Palace, where she had spent her childhood. The gardens have been part of the French Senate since 1879.
What is there inside Luxembourg Gardens?
Spanning 25 hectares, Luxembourg Gardens is divided into French and English gardens. Between them lie a wood and a large pond. The gardens also feature an orchard with old and forgotten apple varieties, an apiary where visitors can learn about beekeeping, greenhouses housing a breathtaking orchid collection, and a rose garden. Across the park stand 106 statues, the monumental Medici Fountain, and the Davioud Pavilion. There are also many activities for children, including puppet shows, toys, and slides, while adults can enjoy chess, tennis, bridge, or remote-controlled boats.
What is there inside Vondelpark?
Some of the park’s most popular events and performances are offered free of charge or at a modest fee. EYE, the cinema near the park, screens films from the Netherlands and abroad daily. Sports enthusiasts can rent skates at Vondeltuin on the southern side of Vondelpark. Horse lovers can visit Hollandsche Manege, Vienna’s famous equestrian center inspired by the Spanish Riding School. Be sure to visit Orgelpark as well, a former church that hosts classical and jazz concerts. During the summer months, free outdoor theater performances are often held on weekends.
Where is Vondelpark and why does it have this name?
Vondelpark is in southern Amsterdam, just beside Museumplein. It opened in 1865 as “Nieuwe Park,” meaning New Park. After a bronze statue of the 17th-century Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel was erected there in 1867, locals began calling it “Vondel’s park,” and the name gradually became official.
Why is Munich’s Englischer Garten called by this name?
Englischer Garten received its name because it was designed in the natural-looking English landscape style, in contrast to the symmetrical French gardens. Established in 1789 at Elector Karl Theodor’s order, the park was shaped in this style by royal gardener Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell and opened to the public in 1792.
What should you see in Berlin’s Tiergarten?
Within the 210-hectare Großer Tiergarten lie the 67-meter-tall Victory Column (Siegessäule), the Soviet War Memorial, and Bellevue Palace, the residence of the German president. Near the park are landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Potsdamer Platz, and Berlin Zoo, founded in 1844 and recognized as Germany’s oldest zoo.
What is there inside Emirgan Grove?
Emirgan Grove, a vast urban park, is home to more than 120 tree species. The grove features three historic pavilions painted yellow, pink, and white, along with walking trails, artificial ponds, a waterfall, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
