The 12th annual Istanbul Tulip Festival is in full bloom this April, adding patches of bright color to streets, parks and gardens all across the city.
Tulip time in Istanbul
The festival is operated under the auspices of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, this year with the slogan, "Istanbul meets with its tulips."
Tulip time in Istanbul
There are some 160 types of tulips planted across the city including the Greigii, Parrot, Lily-flowered, and Darwin-hybrid varieties.
Tulip time in Istanbul
Emirgan Park has the largest spread of the iconic flowers, with 3,000,000 spanning across the park's 117 acres.
Tulip time in Istanbul
Additionally, starting April 21, Sultanahmet Square will be home to the world's largest tulip carpet made out of 564,000 flowers.
Tulip time in Istanbul
The festival runs from April 1-30 and also features art exhibitions, musical performances, and sporting events guaranteed to bring some color into the lives of Istanbulites and visitors alike.
