KOCAELI TURKEY

Kocaeli

Kocaeli is known for itscoast to the Black Sea and the Sea of ??Marmara and its proximityto Istanbul. It has become a center of attraction with its historicalmonuments, museums, mosques, natural beauties, beaches, plateaus and hikingtrails. Kocaeli is a city of special importance in terms of trade, industry andtourism as well as many cultural values ??such as the world-famous HerekeCarpets, Karamürsel Baskets, Kandıra Cloth. Districts of Kocaeli are Gebze, İzmit, Darıca,Körfez, Gölcük, Derince, Çayırova, Kartepe, Başiskele, Karamürsel, Kandıra, andDilovası.

Kartepe

Kartepeis a district of Kocaeli. It’s at the highest part of the Samanlı Mountains(Samanlı Dağları); therefore, it has a magnificent view of İzmit Bay (İzmitKörfezi) and Sapanca Lake (Sapanca Gölü). In Kartepe, a great place for skiers,the season usually starts at the end of December. On the other hand, Kartepewhich is the habitat of approximately 3000 plants as well as deer, bears,foxes, and rabbits, is one of Türkiye´s sports tourism centers with its tenniscourts, volleyball courts, and football fields with international FIFAstandards.

Kefken

Kefken islocated within the borders of Kocaeli and Kandıra districts. Kefken, which isonly 20 kilometers from Kandıra, is a place that draws attention with itsbeaches, and pine forests. Another natural structure in Kefken is pinkrocks. Kefken Pink Rocks are named after the color of thesurrounding rocks. The rocks in this region, surprise those who see them withtheir geological structure. It is shown at the top of the must-see places withits interesting geological structure. Besides the existence of prehistoricfinds, this place has been used as a quarry since ancient times.

Kerpe

Kerpe,which is a small holiday town in Kocaeli´s Kandıra district, is connected toKerpe Kıncıllı Village. Kerpe´s natural bays, shallow sea, and uniquebeaches make it an ideal holiday center for the summer months. Thereare many beaches and bays in the town. Since camping is the commonaccommodation option here, Kerpe is one of the popular campingareas of Türkiye.

Osman Hamdi Bey House and Museum

Osman Hamdi Bey Museum (Osman Hamdi Bey Müzesi) is located in Gebzedistrict of Kocaeli. It was built in 1884 by the Turkish painter Osman HamdiBey. Osman Hamdi Bey´s works, family photographs, and personal belongings areexhibited in the museum.

Darıca Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park

Türkiye´sfirst private zoo, the “Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park (Faruk YalçınHayvanat ve Botanik Bahçesi)” is located in Darıca district of Kocaeli. Thezoo houses 3600 animals from 300 different species and 600 native plants.Visitors can see many plants, as well as unique and diverse animal species,thanks to the botanical park.

Pink Pavilion

Locatedin İzmit Yukarı Pazar, the Pink Pavilion (Pembe Köşk) is a19th-century architectural building, it consists of three floors above thebasement and is plastered over wood. The second floor of the pavilion, built inthe form of a guillotine window, is protruded and supported by flanks.

İzmit Clock Tower

İzmit Saat Tower (İzmit Saat Kulesi) is located betweenKasr-ı Hümayun Palace Museum and Atatürk Statue in Kemalpaşa district of İzmit.The city´s characteristic Saat Tower was built in 1902 in neoclassical stylewith travertine stones.

Kocaeli Archaeology and Ethnography Museum

The Archaeology and Ethnography Museum (Arkeoloji veEtnografya Müzesi), where artifacts from the Paleolithic, Hellenistic,Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods are exhibited, is located in İzmit,Kocaeli.

Kasr-ı Hümayun Palace Museum

Kasr-ı Hümayun Palace Museum (Kasr-ı Hümayun SarayMüzesi)) islocated in the İzmit district of Kocaeli. It is a palace built during theperiod of Sultan Abdulaziz (1861-1876). The palace served some Ottomansultans and hosted many statesmen, as well as Mustafa KemalAtatürk and the French writer Claude Farrare. The facadeof the two-story Neo-classical building is covered with marble in the Europeanbaroque style. The visual on the ceiling of the building is the work of theFrench painter Sason, and the architect of the palace is Garabet Amira Balyan.

Atatürk Redif and Ethnography Museum

Atatürk Redif and Ethnography Museum (Atatürk Redif veEtnografya Müzesi), which is a 19th century stone structure, is amagnificent structure that hosts local historical and cultural exhibitions.With its parapet top cover in neo-classical style and inscriptions coated withOttoman arms, it is a typical example of the Empire style preferred in publicbuildings built in those years. The photograph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and hiscomrades and some letters Mustafa Kemal wrote about İzmit in 1922 are exhibitedin the museum.

Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion

The Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion (Kaiser Wilhelm Konağı) was built in one dayin Yıldız Palace due to German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm´s visit to the OttomanEmpire in 1884. The architect of the mansion is Raimondo D´Aranco of Italianorigin. The mansion has a completely wooden construction and no metal nailswere used. Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion can be visited in Kocaeli´s Körfez district.

Süleyman Paşa Turkish Bath

Süleyman Paşa Turkish Bath (Süleyman Paşa Türk Hamamı) is known for beingthe oldest Ottoman period bath in İzmit that has survived to the present day.It preserves the Ottoman bath structure of the period.

İzmit Historical Kapanca Street

Historical Kapanca Street (Tarihi Kapanca Sokağı) is located in theAkçakoca District of Kocaeli. This street consists of wooden structures thatbear the characteristics of 19th-century architecture. Each building on KapancaStreet, famous for its beautiful wooden houses in narrow streets, is an exampleof civil architecture and a work of its own. While many houses on the streetare being restored, the old historical texture of these houses has beenpreserved.

Yalı Houses

Yalı Houses (Yalı Evleri) are located in GölcükDeğirmendere region. Yalı Houses has centuries-old history. These Yalı Houses,which are an example of civil architecture, are used as a CeramicMuseum (Seramik Müzesi), Wooden Sculpture Museum (Ahşap Heykel Müzesi), andlibrary today, and have become a social and cultural complex. It is a placewhere you can taste local flavors thanks to its restaurant and boutique hotelfacilities.

Gölcük Hot Spring

Gölcük Hot Spring (Gölcük Yazlık Ilıcası) is a healing spring locatedat a distance of approximately 500 meters from Yaz Village of Gölcük Districtof Kocaeli. It is the only health related building that is located on the IlıcaStreambed and remains from the Byzantine period today. It is known thatthe Gölcük Hot Spring was first built in the Roman period andwas used as a health center in the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Ormanya Nature Park

Ormanya Nature Park (Ormanya Milli Parkı) is the world´s thirdand Europe´s largest natural habitat. Ormanya is located in Uzuntarla Quarterin Kartepe district of Kocaeli. Ormanya Nature Park consists of 6 mainzones: Zoo, Wildlife Area, Hiking and Biking Trails, Caravan and TentCampground, Nature School, and Wildlife Rescue Center. Ormanya hosts 467animals from 53 different species. Among these, many species such as reindeer,gazelle, and roe deer continue their generations in their natural environmentwithin the park.

Ketenciler Eco Village

Ketenciler Eco Village (Ketenciler Ekoköyü), known as EcologicalHealthy Life Village, was established as a project village by women livingin İzmit Kartepe Ketenciler Village who wanted to sell their products andcontribute to home economy. It is also possible for visitors to buy localproducts produced organically in the “Ekoköy”, where both natural products areproduced and accommodation and catering are available.

Maşukiye

Maşukiye is located on the shore of Sapanca Lake(Sapanca Gölü) and the foothills of Kartepe district. Maşukiye, whichoffers a different beauty in all seasons, is the green paradise town ofKocaeli, with an enchanting view of Sapanca Lake among lush green trees. One ofthe most beautiful spots of Maşukiye is the Kuzu Plateau (Kuzu Yaylası).This plateau, which you can reach while climbing towards Kartepe by putting SapancaLake behind you, offers a unique lake view. Maşukiye and its surroundings arevery rich in terms of places to visit and activities to do. You can go onnature walks, listen to bird songs, and leave yourself in the arms of nature.If you wish, you can ski in Kartepe or take a romantic walk by the lake. Youcan rent a bicycle or canoe to go around the lake, and dine in the surroundingrestaurants while enjoying this magnificent view of the lake.

Yuvacık Dam

Yuvacık Dam (Yuvacık Barajı) is located in İzmitdistrict of Kocaeli province and is spread over an area of ??25 square kilometers.  You can find all-natural beauties together in Yuvacık. The whole region issurrounded with rivers, mountains, forests, and plateaus. Especially Menekşe Plateau (Menekşe Yaylası) fascinates those whosee it with its lush nature. It is a fascinating place for all cyclists andtrekking fans.

Serindere Canyon

Serindere Canyon (Serindere Kanyonu), which has 6 waterfallswith a height varying from 10 to 20 meters, is the most challenging canyon inKocaeli and the region. Serindere Canyon, which is 26 kilometers from İzmit, isone of the places visited by nature lovers and trekking groups inrecent years. 

Ballıkayalar Nature Park

Locatedwithin the borders of Kocaeli province, Gebze, and Dilovası districts, BallıkayalarNature Park (Ballıkayalar Doğa Parkı) is rich in geomorphological,biological, landscape, and recreational resource values. Ballıkayalar is anature park as it hosts many creatures such as hawks, jays, hoopoes, nightingales,jackals, foxes, rabbits, wild boars, and moles. It includes oak, hornbeam,chestnut, maple, ash, linden, yew, Scotch pine, fir, alder, willow, andsycamore species. In addition, there are nearly 50 butterfly species in theregion. It is also a suitable location for rock climbing and trekking. It is analternative natural park among naturalists.

Beşkayalar Nature Park

Beşkayalar Nature Park (Beşkayalar Doğa Parkı) is a favorite placefor nature lovers and nature itself with its flora, wildlife, wilderness andstreams. In this region, in addition to Christmas rose, cyclamen, snowdrops,violets, primroses, crocuses, ox´s eyes, bellflowers, euphorbia, centauryplants, there are also plant species such as larch, yew, fir, beech, oak,hornbeam, maple, elm, lime, chestnut, ash, poplar, sycamore, alder, blackberry,and rhododendrons. Important members of wildlife such as wolves, bears,jackals, foxes, wild boar, rabbits, and squirrels also create a very richpotential. Sicakdere, Soğukdere, and Kirazlıdere Canyons arealso located in Beşkayalar Canyon.

Nüzhetiye Waterfall

Nüzhetiye Waterfall (Nüzhetiye Şelalesi), located in KocaeliGölcük district, which has recently become the choice of trekking groups, makesthose who see it fall in love with its beauty. Nüzhetiye Waterfall offersnature lovers an unforgettable adventure and photographers great nature shots.There are thematic tracks for trekking enthusiasts, daily hikingtrails for hiking enthusiasts, canyon passes in valleys forcanyon enthusiasts, and mountain bike trails formountain bike enthusiasts.

Other places to see

Valide Sultan Bridge (Valide Sultan Köprüsü),Kilezdere Bridge (Kilezdere Köprüsü), Mimar Sinan Bridge (Mimar Sinan Köprüsü) are stone bridgesbuilt in the 16th century during the Ottoman Period.

İzmitOrhan Mosque (İzmit Orhan Cami), Fevziye Mosque (Fevziye Cami), Pertev PashaComplex (Pertev Paşa Külliyesi), Gebze Çoban Mustafa Pasha Complex (Gebze ÇobanMustafa PaşaKülliyesi) are other religious sites.