A Black Sea port city built on coal mining, with 19th-century industrial heritage and steep hillside neighborhoods. The local TTK Mining Museum shows the area's mining past.
Zonguldak (population 100,000) sits on Turkey's Black Sea coast, where coal mining shaped the city's growth since the 1800s. You can explore limestone formations in Gökgöl Cave, swim at Kopuz Beach while sipping tea at seaside gardens, or watch local women knit winter clothing in mountain villages. The city lies just 3 hours from Safranbolu, a UNESCO site where you'll find wooden mansions from the Ottoman era.
Getting to Zonguldak
You can reach the city from Istanbul by driving 5 hours along the Black Sea coast or taking a 6-hour train journey. While Zonguldak has its own airport (ONQ), most international travelers land at Istanbul Airport and continue by bus or rental car. The 1937-built train station runs regular services to Ankara through the Anatolian mountains.
Weather and When to Visit
Summer temperatures in July and August stay around 22.5°C, making it comfortable for swimming and walking. Winter temperatures drop to 6°C with occasional snow. Spring sees light rain, while autumn brings the heaviest rainfall. The driest and sunniest days occur between June and August, when the sea water warms up for swimming.
Beaches and Coastal Areas
Along the Black Sea coast, Kopuz Beach has calm waters and tea gardens where you can watch the waves. Uzunkum Beach stretches for more than a kilometer, with space for volleyball and football even during summer weekends. At the fishing port, you can buy fresh anchovy, bonito, and red mullet according to the fishing season.
Mountain Villages and Nature
In Gümeli village, stone houses with red tile roofs dot the mountainside. Local women gather in courtyards to knit and share stories, while families prepare meals on wood-burning stoves. Inside Gökgöl Cave, walkways lead through chambers where limestone formations have grown for 3 million years. The hiking paths in İnağzı Canyon follow a stream between 200-meter cliffs, passing several waterfalls.
Local Food
Black Sea fish and mountain-grown vegetables define Zonguldak's cooking. Try Kalem Tava, thin slices of veal coated in spiced batter and fried until crispy. For breakfast, order Mıhlama - cornmeal slowly cooked with cheese until it forms long strings. Karalahana Çorbası starts with onions and garlic, then adds kale and chickpeas, seasoned with paprika and red pepper flakes. During winter festivals, you'll see families making Keşkek, a dish where wheat and meat are pounded in copper pots until smooth.
