The Atatürk Airport Nation’s Garden (Atatürk Havalimanı Millet Bahçesi) opened under the slogan “Istanbul’s breath, the nation’s garden” and welcomed its first visitors — a big step in developing urban green spaces in Türkiye.
On opening day, Istanbul residents and their families came with picnic blankets, folding chairs and food to enjoy the fresh air and new green space. The garden came alive with children’s and young people’s games, reading and friendly gatherings, becoming a new social hub for Istanbul.
Türkiye’s largest urban park
With 1,215,000 square metres of green space (more than 121 hectares), the Atatürk Airport Nation’s Garden is Türkiye’s largest urban park. Besides its recreational role, it is designed as an emergency assembly area during natural disasters, able to shelter more than 165,000 people at once.
The park connects to Istanbul’s urban network through nine main entrances and includes a hangar building, field kitchens, a water tank, and wind and solar power plants. Nineteen toilet blocks are located around the site for visitors’ comfort.
Cultural and social facilities
The garden contains an exhibition hall, training workshops, a public kitchen, a restaurant, a market and a public library, enabling broad community participation. In the cultural area, two külliye (complex) buildings have been built on 72,128 square metres, adding a touch of Turkish-Islamic architecture and culture.
Trees and green space
- 20,399 trees
- More than 1,182,800 square metres of lawn
- A ceremonial square with capacity for 28,000 people
