Local before arrival
You will quickly notice that green spaces are a rare commodity in Istanbul. In the well-kept Maçka Park, visitors can hear the gentle lapping of nine interconnected ponds and fountains tucked between old trees and expansive lawns. Teenagers find out-of-the-way spots for a make-out session, while business professionals from Nişantaşı stop by for a breather. It is an oasis where all living creatures find peace: Even the stray dogs and cats, which are hated elsewhere in the city, are fed here by residents.
