Kocaeli is a province in the Marmara region in the Turkey.
 | ||
| Kocaeli | ||
| Country | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| The search for a province ends with the state | ||
| Residents | 1.906.391 (2018), 1.953.035 (2019), 1.883.270 (2017) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Regions
Low mountain range in the hinterland in Kocaeli
Kocaeli is shaped by very different regions. Districts such as Gebze or Darica can be found directly adjacent to Istanbul. These districts are even more different from the neighboring metropolis Istanbul embossed. The province also has a long stretch of the Black Sea in the province of Kandıra, which in many cases also functions as a local recreational destination for day-trippers from Istanbul. The region around Izmit is heavily industrialized and has the highest gross national product per capita in all of Turkey. The location at the end of the Marmara Sea, which forms a natural harbor here, also helps. The Turkish fleet is at home here. In the coastal regions to the other districts there are increasingly small fishing villages with beautiful promenades and small beaches. To complete the offer, it should be noted that in the hinterland there are still low mountain ranges with a lot of forest, hiking trails and ski slopes.
places
- Darica - Once a small fishing village. Here, too, there was an exchange of Greek and Turkish citizens at the beginning of the 20th century. In recent years the cityscape has suffered from the strong influx of new citizens. But the market (always on Thursdays) is still worth seeing. In addition, the small town of Bayramoğlu was incorporated. This added a zoo and holiday complex including beach facilities.
- Gebze - Rich in history like few places in Kocaeli. The great Carthaginian Hannibal took his own life here. There is still a memorial to the great general here today. Whether this is really the grave is, however, a matter of dispute.
- İzmit - The metropolis and secret capital in the province. The administrative center can be found here. The place goes back to the ancient Nicomedeia and was in the 3rd century BC. Founded. Remnants from the ancient period are only sparse. The place is more industrial.
- Karamürsel - This place goes back to the ancient Praenetus. Only a titular bishopric remains of the ancient place.
Other goals
background
language
getting there
By plane
There is no international airport in Kocaeli. But in the west is in Istanbul the airport Sabiha Gokcen within reach. The south is in via the airport Bursa better to achieve. From there it continues on the road.
By train
In the street
By boat
mobility
Tourist Attractions
Entrance area of the Faruk Yalcin Zoo
- Faruk Yalçın Zoo. The zoo with botanical garden, also signposted under İstanbul Hayvanlar Alemi ve Botanik Bahçesi, is located in the village of Darica, near the outskirts of Istanbul. In addition to the usual zoo animals such as various monkeys, lions, bears, etc., reptiles, fish and plants from all over the world are exhibited here. While the macaw cage is quite spacious, lion enclosures and some aquariums in particular are so borderline that you feel sorry for the animals. If you want to escape, you can do so at the small integrated amusement park. But it is more geared towards children. The entrance fee is about 15 TL (children, young people and pensioners receive discounts). The zoo is located on the road connecting Bayramoğlu and Darica and is well signposted from the Darica / Bayramoğlu exit. Opposite is a guarded parking lot for 3 TL parking fees.
The memorial stone at the grave of Hannibal
- Tomb of Hannibal. Long after Hannibal had crossed the Alps with elephants and Rome had taught fear, the latter was stuck here and faced his captive name through Roman troops. To avoid this he took his own life. The tomb of Hannibal is officially in Gebze (right on the border with Istanbul). But it is more about a Hannibal memorial site consisting of a memorial stone and a few tablets written in Turkish. The most interesting thing after a short time is the quiet of the surrounding pine grove and the view of Gebze. The tomb is located on a hill near the Gebze Center on the site of a research facility. At the entrance you will receive a visitor's ID upon handing out your passport. (The passport is of course returned at the exit.) The rest of the way is signposted. The whole thing is more recommended for self-drivers.
- Av Köskü. Baroque hunting lodge from the Ottoman period can be found in İzmit. A museum since 1967.
- İzmit Kalesi. This castle dates back to the Roman era and is located on a hill in İzmit.
- Nymphaion. This fountain, which can be found in İzmit, also goes back to the Romans.
- İzmit Clock Tower
activities
Bayramoglu Beach (Darica)
- swim
- hike. In the hinterland of İzmit or Karamürsel there are hiking routes of varying difficulty and length. In Karamüsel, the Hotel Başdeğirmen (see accommodation) is a good starting point.
- To ski
- Discover. Kocaeli is certainly not as riddled with sights as e.g. Istanbul, but if you are looking you will find one or the other here.
kitchen
- Darica - Bayaramoğlu should be mentioned here in particular. In the 1980s, this holiday complex was popular with Istanbul residents. This created a small town of its own with a beach, restaurants and security service. However, that changed in the 1990s. More and more holiday homes were abandoned and restaurants and cafes closed. In the meantime that has changed and the facility is being discovered more and more by day trippers and so the remaining localities have adapted and usually already offer breakfast. Here is a small selection:
- Çıtacılar restaurant, Karanfil Cad. 339, Bayramoglu. Tel.: 90 (262) 6533184.- The oldest restaurant in town is currently known for its grill specialties.
- Kücük Ev, Karanfil Cad., Bayramoğlu. Tel.: 90 (262) 6541370.- The little house. The relatively new restaurant serves good Turkish cuisine in a nice atmosphere. The only one also Künefe. If you like, you can also have a good efes or a raki with your meal. Handmade textiles are also sold in the restaurant. On the last visit (May 2012) the restaurant was unfortunately closed. Even from neighbors, no statement could be made as to whether this is only temporary.
- Lime, Ada içi, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Cad. No: 338, Bayramoğlu. Tel.: 90 (0)262 654 24 20, 90 (0)537 762 11 20, Email: [email protected].- The subtitle Café and Burger says it all. The cool Effes (also alcohol-free) or a glass of wine is also available at any time. Wireless Lan is free. If you don't have a laptop with you, you can get one quickly. Sometimes there is live music on Saturdays.
- Karamürsel - The small fishing village also has a beach promenade with a good range of restaurants and cafés. But the actual culinary highlight does not await you in the village but about 8 km in the hinterland. This is where the hotel (see also accommodation) and the Başdeğirmen restaurant can be found. The specialty here is certainly the fresh brown trout, which is caught from the hotel's own fish pond and prepared in the stone oven. But other delicacies from the stone oven, such as mushrooms baked with homemade cheese or Köfte, can convince at a low price. Breakfast is supplemented with homemade butter and honey from our own beekeeping. If you want to get rid of the pounds right away, you can also go hiking here (see activities) [1]
nightlife
accommodation
Hotel idyll in Karamürsel
