Things to Do in Gölyaka: 9 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Gölyaka

• 1 Religious
• 7 Nature
• 1 Attraction

🌳 Natural Wonders 7

i Photo: Murat Özsoy 1958 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

2 🌳 Nature

Efteni Lake

The natural lake after which the district is named, and a central feature of the district. The town was built around this lake.

View on map

3 🌳 Nature

Efteni Gölü Yaban Hayatı Koruma Alanı

Covering 764 hectares, Efteni Lake is an important wetland that is home to more than 150 bird species. Storks, mallards, great egrets, swans and common cranes can be seen at the lake, which is a critical stopover point for migratory birds.

View on map

4 🌳 Nature

Efteni Gölü Kuş Cenneti

The reeds, marshes and mudflats around the lake provide different habitats for 35 resident bird species and more than 115 migratory species. It is one of Türkiye's key spots for birdwatching and nature photography.

View on map

5 🌳 Nature

Gölyaka Orman Yürüyüş Parkurları

The extensive forests surrounding the district offer walking trails of varying difficulty. The forest, made up of beech, oak and chestnut trees, turns into a riot of colour, especially in autumn.

View on map

6 🌳 Nature

Güzeldere Şelalesi Nature Park

A 22.76-hectare nature park within the boundaries of Gölyaka.

View on map

7 🌳 Nature

Kardüz Plateau

A plateau located in Gölyaka district.

View on map

8 🌳 Nature

Kızık Plateau

A lush plateau located in Gölyaka district.

View on map

While you are in Gölyaka, you can also see the highlights of Düzce province. These places are in other districts; Gölyaka is about 12 km from the provincial centre.

• Konuralp (Prusias ad Hypium) Ancient City — A Bithynian city known as the "Ephesus of the Western Black Sea"; it was developed by Prusias I in the 3rd century BC and enjoyed its most brilliant period in the 1st–3rd centuries AD. Its ancient theatre, walls and arched structures can be seen.
• Konuralp Museum — The museum, opened in 1994, displays a copy of the 2.65-metre statue of Tyche found in 1931 (the original is in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum), a sarcophagus of the 1st century AD, the 45 m² Orpheus floor mosaic found in 1998, and the Achilles–Thetis mosaic.
• Akçakoca Genoese Castle — A castle on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, 3 km west of Akçakoca; it is thought to have been built between 1204 and 1261 under the Latins or the Empire of Nicaea.
• Akçakoca Beach — A 35-km beach stretching along the Black Sea coast; since the 1950s it has been a beloved summer resort town thanks to its proximity to Ankara and Istanbul.
• Samandere Waterfall — A waterfall and its giant's kettles 26 km south-east of Düzce; it was registered as a natural monument in 1988. There are picnic and walking areas.
• Aydınpınar Waterfalls — Forest waterfalls 10 km from the city centre, declared a nature park in 2014.

Practical Information for Visiting Gölyaka

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn (bird migration periods)

Places to visit

9 places

• 🐟

  Göl Balığı Tava (fried lake fish)

  Freshwater fish caught around Efteni Lake, fried in cornmeal. The flavour of the fresh fish is completed with the greens and lemon served alongside.

• 🌽

  Mısır Çorbası

  A traditional soup made from the maize grown abundantly in the region, flavoured with butter and red pepper. It is an indispensable hot dish of the winter months.

• 🫓

  Karadeniz Pidesi

  Pide with a thin dough, filled with minced meat or cheese, baked over a wood fire in Gölyaka's local bakeries. Served with fresh butter.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Gölyaka

• 🦢

  Wetland Ecosystem

  The wetland ecosystem around Efteni Lake has shaped the way of life of the local people, who live in harmony with nature. Fishing and farming traditions are part of this ecosystem.

• 🌾

  Traditional Farming Culture

  Gölyaka's plain is an area that has been farmed for centuries thanks to its fertile soil. Hazelnut, maize and vegetable farming form the basis of the district's traditional way of life.

Local Products

• Hazelnut — Hazelnuts grown on Gölyaka's fertile plains are the district's main agricultural product. The harvested nuts are processed at facilities in the region.
• Natural Honey — Flower honey obtained from the district's rich vegetation, produced using traditional beekeeping methods. Chestnut and linden honey are especially preferred.

Economy

Gölyaka's economy consists of farming, livestock and nature tourism. Hazelnut and maize are the main crops. The recognition of Efteni Lake as a bird paradise is increasing its ecotourism potential. Its proximity to the Istanbul–Ankara motorway gives it a commercial advantage.

How to Get to Gölyaka

Gölyaka is 12 km from Düzce city centre. It is easily reached via the Istanbul–Ankara motorway (O-4) and the D-655 highway. Regular minibus services run from Düzce city centre.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Düzce

Gölyaka: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Gölyaka Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Düzce The province's 9 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Düzce

• Düzce Central District 5 places Prusias ad Hypium Ancient City (Konuralp), Samandere Waterfall Natural Monument and Aydınpınar Waterfalls
• Akçakoca 11 places Ceneviz Kalesi (Genoese Castle), Merkez Camii (Merkez Mosque) and Atatürk Caddesi (Atatürk Street)
• Cumayeri 6 places Güzeldere Şelalesi Nature Park, Aydınpınar Waterfall and Cumayeri Plateaus
• Çilimli 6 places Çilimli Mesire Alanları (Çilimli Picnic Areas), Çilimli Ormanları (Çilimli Forests) and Çilimli Merkez Camii (Çilimli Central Mosque)
• Gümüşova 6 places Melen Stream, Gümüşova Forests and Gümüşova Köprüleri
• Kaynaşlı 12 places Topuk Yaylası (Topuk Plateau), Kuru Göl (Kuru Lake) and Balıklı Yaylası (Balıklı Plateau)
• Yığılca 11 places Sarıkaya Hill, Hasanlar Dam Lake and Sarıkaya Cave