Göztepe Nature Park

About

Göztepe Nature Park is in the Beykoz district of İstanbul, near the Göztepe neighbourhood that gave it its name. Designated on 3 October 2013, it covers about 59.03 hectares and lies on the road to Mahmut Şevket Paşa, reached from the second Bosphorus Bridge in the direction of Kavacık and Çavuşbaşı. The area consists mainly of coniferous stands, with maritime pine as the dominant tree. Black pine, catalpa, bay laurel, ash, sessile oak and kermes oak also grow here, along with strawberry tree, tree heath, bramble, smilax, pampas grass and aubrieta. Birds such as magpie, crow, sparrow, goldfinch and woodpecker live in the park together with squirrel, hare, lizard and tortoise. The day-use area provides toilets, children's playgrounds and picnic units. Visitors can picnic in the shade of the pines and walk along the forest roads, and there are natural spaces where children can play.