Istanbul Tulip Festival

To celebrate the tulip, Istanbul’s enduring symbol, about 30 million bulbs are planted annually, turning the city’s parks into rich tapestries of colour. These flowers generally bloom in April and can best be seen in the Yıldız, Göztepe, Emirgan and Gülhane parks, as well as in Sultanahmet Square.

International Istanbul Music Festival

The Istanbul Music Festival showcases opera, ballet, jazz, traditional and classical music. The festival has seen some world-renowned performers and artists over the years and promises a fabulous extravaganza each year.

The Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim

Expats living in Istanbul should head down to the Bosphorus Strait to cheer on the participants in the annual Bosphorus Swim, which sees brave swimmers navigating their way across the 4.3 miles (7km) strait between Kanlıca on the Asian side and Kuruçeşme on the European side.

Istanbul Marathon

The Istanbul Marathon is a major running event in Istanbul which includes a marathon, a competitive 9.3 mile (15km) race and a 4.9 mile (8km) fun run. The events start on the Asian side of the city, close to the Bosphorus Bridge, with the marathon and 15km race ending in the Sultanahmet district on the European side, and the fun run finishing in Dolmabahçe.

İstanbul Biennial

For the city’s major visual-arts shindig, an international curator or panel of curators nominates a theme and puts together a cutting-edge program that is then exhibited in a variety of venues around town.

Chill-Out Festival

A two-day event in May featuring a concept stage, cultural and artistic activities, yoga programs and plenty of music (everything from soul to funk to world beats). It’s held at Life Park in Sarıyer on the Bosphorus.