see

Kocaeli is known for its coast to the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Marmara and its proximity to İstanbul. It has become a center of attraction with its historical monuments, museums, mosques, natural beauties, beaches, plateaus and hiking trails. Kocaeli is a city of special importance in terms of trade, industry and tourism as well as many cultural values ​​such as the world-famous Hereke Carpets, Karamürsel Baskets, Kandıra Cloth. Districts of Kocaeli are Gebze, İzmit, Darıca, Körfez, Gölcük, Derince, Çayırova, Kartepe, Başiskele, Karamürsel, Kandıra, and Dilovası.

Kartepe

Kartepe is 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 (İzmit Körfezi) 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, Kartepe which 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 tennis courts, volleyball courts, and football fields with international FIFA standards.

Kefken

Kefken is located within the borders of Kocaeli and Kandıra districts. Kefken, which is only 20 kilometers from Kandıra, is a place that draws attention with its beaches, and pine forests. Another natural structure in Kefken is pink rocks. Kefken Pink Rocks are named after the color of the surrounding rocks. The rocks in this region, surprise those who see them with their geological structure. It is shown at the top of the must-see places with its interesting geological structure. Besides the existence of prehistoric finds, 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 to Kerpe Kıncıllı Village. Kerpe's natural bays, shallow sea, and unique beaches make it an ideal holiday center for the summer months. There are many beaches and bays in the town. Since camping is the common accommodation option here, Kerpe is one of the popular camping areas of Türkiye.

Osman Hamdi Bey House and Museum

Osman Hamdi Bey Museum (Osman Hamdi Bey Müzesi) is located in Gebze district of Kocaeli. It was built in 1884 by the Turkish painter Osman Hamdi Bey. Osman Hamdi Bey's works, family photographs, and personal belongings are exhibited in the museum.

Darıca Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park

Türkiye's first private zoo, the “Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park (Faruk Yalçın Hayvanat ve Botanik Bahçesi)” is located in Darıca district of Kocaeli. The zoo 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

Located in İzmit Yukarı Pazar, the Pink Pavilion (Pembe Köşk) is a 19th-century architectural building, it consists of three floors above the basement and is plastered over wood. The second floor of the pavilion, built in the form of a guillotine window, is protruded and supported by flanks.

İzmit Clock Tower

İzmit Saat Tower (İzmit Saat Kulesi) is located between Kasr-ı Hümayun Palace Museum and Atatürk Statue in Kemalpaşa district of İzmit. The city's characteristic Saat Tower was built in 1902 in neoclassical style with travertine stones.

Kocaeli Archaeological Museum

Kocaeli Archaeological Museum (Arkeoloji 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 Saray Müzesi)) is located in the İzmit district of Kocaeli. It is a palace built during the period of Sultan Abdulaziz (1861-1876). The palace served some Ottoman sultans and hosted many statesmen, as well as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the French writer Claude Farrare. The facade of the two-story Neo-classical building is covered with marble in the European baroque style. The visual on the ceiling of the building is the work of the French painter Sason, and the architect of the palace is Garabet Amira Balyan.

Atatürk Redif and Ethnography Museum

Atatürk Redif and Ethnography Museum (Atatürk Redif ve Etnografya Müzesi), which is a 19th century stone structure, is a magnificent structure that hosts local historical and cultural exhibitions. With its parapet top cover in neo-classical style and inscriptions coated with Ottoman arms, it is a typical example of the Empire style preferred in public buildings built in those years. The photograph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades and some letters Mustafa Kemal wrote about İzmit in 1922 are exhibited in the museum.

Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion

The Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion (Kaiser Wilhelm Konağı) was built in one day in Yıldız Palace due to German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm's visit to the Ottoman Empire in 1884. The architect of the mansion is Raimondo D'Aranco of Italian origin. The mansion has a completely wooden construction and no metal nails were 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 being the 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 the Akçakoca District of Kocaeli. This street consists of wooden structures that bear the characteristics of 19th-century architecture. Each building on Kapanca Street, famous for its beautiful wooden houses in narrow streets, is an example of civil architecture and a work of its own. While many houses on the street are being restored, the old historical texture of these houses has been preserved.

Yalı Houses

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

Gölcük Hot Spring

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

Ormanya Nature Park

Ormanya Nature Park (Ormanya Milli Parkı) is the world's third and Europe's largest natural habitat. Ormanya is located in Uzuntarla Quarter in Kartepe district of Kocaeli. Ormanya Nature Park consists of 6 main zones: Zoo, Wildlife Area, Hiking and Biking Trails, Caravan and Tent Campground, Nature School, and Wildlife Rescue Center. Ormanya hosts 467 animals from 53 different species. Among these, many species such as reindeer, gazelle, and roe deer continue their generations in their natural environment within the park.

Ketenciler Eco Village

Ketenciler Eco Village (Ketenciler Ekoköyü), known as Ecological Healthy Life Village, was established as a project village by women living in İzmit Kartepe Ketenciler Village who wanted to sell their products and contribute to home economy. It is also possible for visitors to buy local products produced organically in the “Ekoköy”, where both natural products are produced 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, which offers a different beauty in all seasons, is the green paradise town of Kocaeli, with an enchanting view of Sapanca Lake among lush green trees. One of the most beautiful spots of Maşukiye is the Kuzu Plateau (Kuzu Yaylası). This plateau, which you can reach while climbing towards Kartepe by putting Sapanca Lake behind you, offers a unique lake view. Maşukiye and its surroundings are very rich in terms of places to visit and activities to do. You can go on nature 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. You can rent a bicycle or canoe to go around the lake, and dine in the surrounding restaurants while enjoying this magnificent view of the lake.

Yuvacık Dam

Yuvacık Dam (Yuvacık Barajı) is located in İzmit district 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 is surrounded with rivers, mountains, forests, and plateaus. Especially Menekşe Plateau (Menekşe Yaylası) fascinates those who see it with its lush nature. It is a fascinating place for all cyclists and trekking fans.

Serindere Canyon

Serindere Canyon (Serindere Kanyonu), which has 6 waterfalls with a height varying from 10 to 20 meters, is the most challenging canyon in Kocaeli and the region. Serindere Canyon, which is 26 kilometers from İzmit, is one of the places visited by nature lovers and trekking groups in recent years. 

Ballıkayalar Nature Park

Located within the borders of Kocaeli province, Gebze, and Dilovası districts, Ballıkayalar Nature Park (Ballıkayalar Doğa Parkı) is rich in geomorphological, biological, landscape, and recreational resource values. Ballıkayalar is a nature 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, and sycamore species. In addition, there are nearly 50 butterfly species in the region. It is also a suitable location for rock climbing and trekking. It is an alternative natural park among naturalists.

Beşkayalar Nature Park

Beşkayalar Nature Park (Beşkayalar Doğa Parkı) is a favorite place for nature lovers and nature itself with its flora, wildlife, wilderness and streams. In this region, in addition to Christmas rose, cyclamen, snowdrops, violets, primroses, crocuses, ox's eyes, bellflowers, euphorbia, centaury plants, 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 rich potential. Sicakdere, Soğukdere, and Kirazlıdere Canyons are also located in Beşkayalar Canyon.

Nüzhetiye Waterfall

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

Other places to see

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

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