Kocaeli City Guide

Kocaeli City Guide

On the northwestern end of Anatolia right next to Istanbul, Kocaeli is also located on the highway that connects Turkey to Europe. The largest contribution to industrial production of the country after Istanbul, is made by Kocaeli.The number of organized industrial zones in Kocaeli has reached 16. With the addition of four technoparks one can comprehend the place of Kocaeli in the country's industry very well. Kocaeli is a point of attraction due to its proximity to Istanbul, the natural harbours it possesses, the Bay of Izmit, its forests, sea, and the convenience of its railway system. Although it has the appearance of an industrial city through and through, Kocaeli is a striking place from natural and touristic perspectives. Kocaeli is considered a city of science as well, due to the fact that TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) Marmara Research Center and TUBITAK TUSSIDE (Turkish Institute for Industrial Management) are located within.

Tourist Attractions

Izmit Sekapark, the area of an old paper factory, was reorganized as a park by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. The park, eye-catching with palm trees on the shore is reported to have quadrupled the green area per capita in the city. Within the scope of the project are many facilities such as a number of docks including a marina dock, a paper museum, city museum, sitting areas, a cafe by the sea, a beach, relaxation areas, light towers, seafood restaurants, water light shows, sled areas going down to the sea, a sea observation tower, treadmills, lighting around the pier, recreational parks, convention centers, performance and visual arts workshops, exhibition halls, indoor and outdoor sports fields, facilities for festivals, an artificial lake, and water game parks.

Kerpe, 10 km from Kandıra and 50 km from Izmit, is a lovely Black Sea village by the sea, leaning its back on pine trees. Kerpe, unaffected by the vicious waves of the Black Sea; has natural bays, shallow sea for up to 150 meters wide, and wonderous beaches.

Another place that stands out with its sea and pine forests is Kefken. This locality which is rarely affected by waves as it faces the west, is a must-see place with its clean sea, stone-free fine sand beach, and clean air it receives from the evergreen forest behind it. One of the unique beauties in Kerpe is the Pink Rocks. There are also interesting caves within Kerpe Rocks. Especially the spaces under the rocks attract a lot of attention from divers. Cebeci and Sarısu, 27 and 8 km away from Kandıra respectively, are other beaches to see.

Kartepe, located 16 km away from the regional center of Maşukiye, is an approximately 3.5 million square meter area that stands out with winter tourism and trekking opportunities. Although its peak is 1650 meters above sea level, it receives intensive snowfall due to the northwest wind coming into the area crossing over the Black Sea. Snowfall, which begins around the middle of November, reaches 1.5 to 3 meters by the end of April in Kartepe, which is a major point of attraction for winter tourism.

Culture & Entertainment

Derince Beach of Wonders expands over a 30.000 square meter area. In this place, which appeals to people from all ages, there are life-sized fairytale characters, bumper boats in large pools, a small marina where remote controlled boats can be used, and fountains.

Gölcük Kavaklı Beach is a place for relaxation and entertainment in and of itself. Within the scope of this area of 81 decares, there are various options with an amphitheater, playground for children, football fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, two tennis courts, decorative pools, race track, and fishing ports. Let us point out that the facilities are used for ceremonies and celebrations as well.

Başiskele Coast is a park which was put into service upon the completion of its development by the Metropolitan Municipality in 2006. It is worth a visit with walking areas, an observatory, playgrounds for children, a cafeteria, and a beach.

Yarımca Coast is another colorful park, which expands over a 110 decare area. In this coastal area, preferred especially for fishing, there are stairs to make fishing more convenient, cafeterias, playgrounds for children, picnic areas, and fitness areas.

Located southwest of Gebze, Eskihisar -which is 6 km away from the center of the district- can be an entertaining cultural stop during your visit. The village of Eskihisar has not only culture; but also fishermen, the port, and a castle to offer; all in a relaxing atmosphere. Osman Hamdi Bey House, located in the region, and the museum are also among places to see.

Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, Kasr-ı Hümayun – Palace Museum or Sultan Abdulaziz's Hunting Mansion are other culture stops you may be interested in.

Food & Drink

In Kocaeli, you can freshly consume many types of seafood, in addition to fish. The cultural variety and cosmopolitan structure of the region create variety in diets. Fruits and vegetables are staples in the cuisine of Kocaeli. Yarımca cherries, Değirmendere hazelnuts, Kandıra's yogurt, stuffed turkey, Maşukiye Pears, home made cheese, and İzmit pismaniye (Turkish candy floss) are only some of the foods renowned by the name of the region. Local foods are carried on in the villages of Manavlar, who are known as the locals of Kocaeli.

In Derince Beach of Wonders there are restaurants where you can dine looking at the amazing view of the bay and also cafes where you can have an enjoyable time. The fact that these facilities operate in structures shaped as windmills, pirate ships, mushrooms, and dinosaurs also attract attention. It is possible to reach the beach by land or sea. 

Shopping

Many items unique to Kocaeli are alsosuitable for being souvenirs from your visit. While shopping, these items should be kept in mind. Karamürsel, one of the districts, is famous for its baskets -made from sticks of chestnut treets- which are quite handy. The defining quality of the Karamürsel baskets is that they allow you to transport fruit freshly picked from the trees to the market without any bruising.

Handwoven carpets made in Hereke are world-renowned. This tradition in the area started when Sultan Abdülmecid issued an ordinance for families in the business of weaving carpets for the palace to move from Üsküdar to Hereke.

The district of Kandıra is famous for not only its yogurt, but also the cloth made from locally grown linen. The defining quality of Kandıra cloth is that it keeps one cool during the summer, while warm during the winter.