Province · Trácia e Mármara

Kocaeli

Kocaeli skirts the Gulf of İzmit, east of Istanbul: the mountain of Kartepe, the village of Maşukiye, the Black Sea beaches at Kandıra and the pişmaniye, the spun-sugar sweet.

In the photo: Osmangazi Bridge over the Gulf of İzmit, Kocaeli

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Kocaeli

Kocaeli occupies the shores of the Gulf of İzmit, east of Istanbul, and reaches the Black Sea to the north at Kandıra. The seat is İzmit, ancient Nicomedia, which was one of the Roman Empire’s capitals in the time of Diocletian.

In İzmit, the Kasr-ı Hümayun palace of Sultan Abdulaziz, the Clock Tower and the Archaeological Museum tell the city’s history, and Kapanca street preserves wooden houses. Hereke, on the gulf shore, is known for its rugs, and Karamürsel for its baskets.

To the south, Kartepe, in the Samanlı mountains, looks over the gulf and Lake Sapanca and has a ski resort in winter. On the hillside lies Maşukiye, a village of streams and breakfast cafés, popular on weekends.

On the Black Sea, Kandıra and Kefken have beaches and the pink rocks of Kefken. The most famous sweet is İzmit’s pişmaniye, made of very fine threads of sugar and flour, sold across the province.

The Osmangazi Bridge crosses the gulf and links Kocaeli to Yalova, on the route between Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir.

When to go

May to September is usually the best time for Maşukiye, Kartepe and the Black Sea coast, with beach season from June to August. For skiing in Kartepe, the season typically starts at the end of December and runs until March, depending on snow. Winters around the gulf are cold and rainy.

Getting there

İzmit lies east of Istanbul along the road that skirts the gulf and has a station on the Istanbul–Ankara high-speed train (YHT). Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), on Istanbul’s Asian side, is the closest with international flights; Istanbul Airport (IST) also serves the area. Check before booking. The Osmangazi Bridge crosses the Gulf of Dilovası to Yalova.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Kocaeli

Can you visit Maşukiye and Kartepe on a day trip from Istanbul?

Yes, in a day: by car or by bus to İzmit and then local transport. Many people combine Maşukiye with Lake Sapanca, which is nearby in Sakarya province.

Does Kartepe have skiing?

Yes. The Kartepe resort, in the Samanlı mountains, usually opens at the end of December depending on snow, and is one of the closest to Istanbul.

What is pişmaniye?

It is İzmit’s typical sweet: very fine threads of sugar pulled with flour toasted in butter, with a texture similar to cotton candy. It is sold in boxes throughout the province.

Where are the beaches in Kocaeli?

On the Black Sea coast in the north of the province, at Kandıra and Kefken. Along the Gulf of İzmit the waterfront is more for strolling than for swimming.