Emirgan is famous for its seaside cafes and the large city park on the slopes behind it. The Verifier Yahsi (seaside mansion) on the shore and the pavilions inside the park that serve as cafes are examples of Ottoman architecture from different ages.

The annual Tulip Festival is held in the park, which contains pools, groves and lanes suitable for hiking and jogging. It is a popular recreation area, particularly on holidays. Below the park is the small bay of Istinye, which for many years housed the shipyards. These have been removed recently, and the area has been restored as a recreational area and marina.

The modern highways across the hilltops run to the sea in Istinye and Tarabya. The latter is an old settlement around an extremely beautiful and well-known bay. The district is famous for the summer residences of the President of Turkey and the German embassy, the beach facilities, a 5-star hotel and the restaurants lining the shore.