Located on Turkey's Gulf of İzmit, this industrial center sits at the base of the Kocaeli Mountains. The city produces high-quality ceramics and serves as a key manufacturing hub in the Marmara Region.
İzmit sits 100 km east of Istanbul on the Sea of Marmara. Walk through the ruins of Nicomedia, the former eastern capital of the Roman Empire, explore Ottoman mosques with distinctive domes built by Mimar Sinan, or climb aboard a decommissioned US submarine at the Naval Museum. When you need a break from the city, you can ski at Mount Kartepe or hike the ancient trade routes through the Samanlı Mountains.
Getting to İzmit
High-speed trains connect İzmit to Istanbul in 70 minutes, with six daily departures. The train station sits right in the city center near the Clock Tower, and trains continue to Ankara with a journey time of 3 hours. Regular buses run from Istanbul's Harem terminal on the Asian side, taking about an hour. Within the city, a single tram line connects the bus station to the center and western suburbs, making it easy to reach most attractions.
City Center Landmarks
Look for the 1901 Clock Tower in the plaza opposite the railway station, though the D-100 highway now passes overhead. Next to it, you'll find the Imperial Pavilion Museum in an 1860s Ottoman lodge built for Sultan Abdulaziz, where you can see original furniture and items from the royal family. Walk around the tower area to find several Ottoman mosques, including the 16th-century Pertev Paşa Mosque by Mimar Sinan, with its large central dome and detailed stone carvings on the exterior walls.
Museums and Industrial Heritage
At the SEKA Paper Museum, housed in a former factory, you can examine the original paper-making machines and learn how paper was manufactured from the 1930s onward. Children over 10 will enjoy the hands-on exhibits at the Kocaeli Science Museum in the same complex. The Archaeological Museum displays Roman and Byzantine artifacts in a 19th-century railway building near the train station. At the Naval Museum, you can climb inside a decommissioned US warship and submarine to see the crew quarters and control rooms.
Mount Kartepe and Surroundings
Ski at Mount Kartepe from December to March on eight runs ranging from beginner to advanced levels. On the mountain's north slopes, stop at Maşukiye village for local dishes like keşkek (wheat and meat stew) and mantı (Turkish dumplings). From the village, follow the marked Tolerance Way hiking trail south across the Samanlı Mountains to İznik, passing through pine forests and old caravan routes.
Local Food and Markets
Try pişmaniye, a cotton-candy-like sweet made from flour, butter, and sugar rolled into balls. Browse the small food markets in the old center's narrow streets, or visit the modern Outlet Center and 41 Burda malls south of Kumla Creek. Along the waterfront, you'll find restaurants serving köfte, pide, and seafood, with tables set up outside from spring through autumn.
