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4 places to visit in the Tuzla district of Istanbul: Tuzla Shipyards Area, Tuzla İçmeler and Tuzla Waterfront. Plan your trip to Tuzla with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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Turkey’s largest shipyard area is located in Tuzla. The district lies 4 metres above sea level, and to its north and west is the district of Pendik.

History

Tuzla was annexed to the Ottoman lands in 1400 by Yıldırım Bayezid. On 20 January 1954 it was administratively separated from Gebze and attached to Kartal district. Until the late 1980s, fishing and farming were carried on side by side in Tuzla, but as industry developed, farming lost its importance. Tuzla became an independent district in 1992, when it separated from Pendik.

Geography

The land is generally made up of low hills and flat plains, and the elevation reaches 250–300 metres in the villages of Akfırat and Orhanlı. The Sea of Marmara lies to the south of Tuzla district, and the district has 13 km of coastline.

History and Culture

Tuzla was annexed to Ottoman lands by Yıldırım Bayezid in 1400. Tuzla is home to Turkey’s largest shipyards.

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Places to Visit in Tuzla

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Tuzla Shipyards Area - Tuzla Photo: Tuzla Belediyesi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source
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Tuzla Shipyards Area

Turkey's largest shipyard area, an important industrial centre where ships are built and repaired.

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Tuzla İçmeler - Tuzla Photo: aachim3 (CC BY 3.0) · Source
Nature

Tuzla İçmeler

Natural springs in Tuzla.

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Nature

Tuzla Waterfront

The Tuzla shoreline on the Sea of Marmara, with a marina, walking paths and fish restaurants, is one of the popular seaside areas on Istanbul's Anatolian side.

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Nature

Tuzla Cape

A large promontory visible to the south of Tuzla.

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Places to Visit Around Istanbul Province

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While you are in Tuzla, you can also see the highlights of Istanbul province. These places are in other districts.

  • Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya-i Kebir Mosque) — Built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 532 and 537, this was the largest cathedral in the world for about a thousand years; it was converted into a mosque in 1453 and a museum in 1934, and reopened for worship as a mosque in 2020. With its dome 55 metres high and its Byzantine mosaics, it is one of the turning points in the history of architecture.
  • Topkapı Palace — Built by Mehmed the Conqueror at Sarayburnu in the 1460s, the palace was the seat of government and residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years; with its Harem, Treasury, Holy Relics and courtyards, it is now a museum.
  • Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) — A six-minaret mosque built for Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa; it is also known as the Blue Mosque because of the more than 20,000 İznik tiles decorating its interior.
  • Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) — A vast underground cistern built in the 6th century under Justinian and carried on 336 columns; the Medusa heads under two of the columns are its most famous corner.
  • Süleymaniye Mosque — Built by Mimar Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent between 1550 and 1557, the mosque stands at the centre of a large complex with madrasas, a hospital, a soup kitchen and tombs; its silhouette on the hill overlooking the Golden Horn is one of the symbols of the city.
  • Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) — One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, made up of more than 60 streets and thousands of shops that grew up around the bedestens built under Mehmed the Conqueror; carpets, jewellery, copperware and leather goods are sold.

Practical Information for Visiting Tuzla

Suggested time
Half a day
Best time to visit
Spring and summer (April–September)
Places to visit
4 places

What to Eat in Tuzla

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  • Sahil Balığı

    Fish restaurants on the Tuzla waterfront serve fresh seafood with views of the marina.

  • Pide

    Pide served in Tuzla's tradesmen's restaurants is popular in minced meat and cheese varieties.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Tuzla

  • Maritime Culture

    By hosting Turkey's largest shipyard area, Tuzla has become an important centre of maritime culture.

Local Products

  • Tuzla Salt — The district takes its name from its historic salt production. Tuzla was an important salt-producing centre in the Ottoman period, but this tradition is no longer continued.

Economy

Tuzla's economy rests on shipbuilding, the chemical sector and trade. The Tuzla Shipyards Area is the most important production centre of Turkey's maritime sector.

How to Get to Tuzla

Tuzla is connected to every part of Istanbul by Marmaray, bus and minibus lines. It is about 15 km from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

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Tuzla: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Tuzla?

The 4 highlights of Tuzla are: Tuzla Shipyards Area, Tuzla İçmeler, Tuzla Waterfront and Tuzla Cape.

What to eat in Tuzla?

Sahil Balığı and Pide are the standout dishes on Tuzla's tables.

What is Tuzla famous for?

Tuzla is known for Tuzla Salt and its Maritime Culture. The district takes its name from its historic salt production. Tuzla was an important salt-producing centre in the Ottoman period, but this tradition is no longer continued.

How do I get to Tuzla?

Tuzla is connected to every part of Istanbul by Marmaray, bus and minibus lines. It is about 15 km from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Tuzla?

Suggested visit length: half a day. Best time to visit: spring and summer (April–September).

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