Things to Do in Gölcük: 4 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Gölcük

• 2 Museum
• 2 Nature

1 🖼️ Museum

Gölcük Naval Command and Naval Museum

The headquarters and museum complex of the Turkish Navy, established in 1926.

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2 🖼️ Museum

Earthquake Museum and Memorial Park

A memorial and museum dedicated to the earthquake of 17 August 1999.

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i Photo: Ucandairebaskani (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

3 🌳 Nature

Gölcük Seafront

A seafront strip along the shore of the Gulf of İzmit, laid out with walking routes and seating areas. It offers a place to rest with views over the gulf.

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4 🌳 Nature

Değirmendere Seafront

Değirmendere, a town in Gölcük, with its seafront strip and fishing harbour, is an ideal spot for those who want to spend time by the sea.

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

• İzmit Clock Tower — The clock tower, the symbol of the city, was built in 1901 for the 25th anniversary of Abdülhamid II's accession to the throne; it is the most photographed building in Kocaeli.
• Pertev Paşa (Yeni Cuma) Mosque — A mosque in İzmit built by Mimar Sinan in 1579 for Pertev Mehmed Paşa; it is the most important Ottoman-era building in the city.
• Çoban Mustafa Paşa Complex — A complex in Gebze of a mosque, tomb, madrasa, soup kitchen (imaret) and caravanserai, built in the 16th century by Çoban Mustafa Paşa, son-in-law of Selim the Grim, and attributed to Mimar Sinan; it stands out for its coloured marble cladding.
• Hannibal Monument — A monumental tomb and park in Gebze in memory of the Carthaginian commander Hannibal, who is believed to have died at ancient Libyssa in about 183 BC.
• Osman Hamdi Bey Museum and Eskihisar Castle — The house in the Eskihisar neighbourhood of Gebze where the painter and archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey spent his summers in his last years; it has been a museum since 1987. The nearby Byzantine-era Eskihisar Castle controlled the entrance to the gulf.
• Kocaeli Archaeology Museum — The museum next to the historic railway station in İzmit displays the archaeological finds of the region, above all statues and reliefs from the excavations at Nicomedia.

Practical Information for Visiting Gölcük

Suggested time

1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and summer (May to September)

Places to visit

4 places

• 🐟

  Gulf Fish

  Fresh fish from the Gulf of İzmit are served grilled or steamed in Gölcük's seaside restaurants.

• 🍬

  Pişmaniye

  Pişmaniye, the famous sweet of Kocaeli, is also widely produced and eaten in Gölcük.

• 🫓

  Black Sea Pide

  Pide, which became widespread in Gölcük under the influence of Black Sea migrants, is known for its buttery dough and generous fillings.

• 🍽️

  Değirmendere Hazelnut

  This hazelnut, grown in the Değirmendere area of Gölcük for around 150 years, differs from Black Sea hazelnuts in having a green shell and a pointed or flat shape.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Gölcük

• ⚓

  Naval Tradition

  Gölcük is home to the main base of the Turkish Navy. This military tradition has deeply influenced the social and cultural character of the district.

• 🏚️

  Memory of the 1999 Earthquake

  Gölcük was the epicentre of the 17 August 1999 earthquake and carries the social memory of that disaster. The earthquake museum and commemorative events keep this awareness alive.

Local Products

• Seafood — Fresh fish and seafood from the Gulf of İzmit are Gölcük's most important local products.
• Olives and Olive Oil — Oil obtained from olives grown in the southern parts of Gölcük is among the region's agricultural products.

Economy

Gölcük's economy rests on the defence industry, maritime activities and services. The Naval Command is the district's largest employer. Gölcük Shipyard carries out shipbuilding and maintenance work. Seaside tourism and fishing are also sources of income.

How to Get to Gölcük

Gölcük is 20 km from İzmit and 120 km from Istanbul. The D-100 highway passes through the district. There are regular municipal bus services to İzmit. There is a sea connection to Istanbul.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kocaeli

Gölcük: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Gölcük Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Kocaeli The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Kocaeli

• Başiskele 8 places Yuvacık Dam and Surroundings, Başiskele Coast and Başiskele Central Mosque
• Çayırova 5 places TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus, Çayırova Parks and Akse Village Historic Fabric
• Darıca 5 places Darıca Castle (Darıca Kalesi), Bayramoğlu Beach (Bayramoğlu Sahili) and Darıca Faruk Yalçın Zoo and Botanical Park (Darıca Faruk Yalçın Hayvanat Bahçesi ve Botanik Parkı)
• Derince 6 places Derince Port, Çene Suyu and Derince Coastal Park
• Dilovası 3 places Dilovası Organised Industrial Zone, Dilovası Coast and Liyssa Castle
• Gebze 8 places Çoban Mustafa Paşa Complex, Tomb of Hannibal and Eskihisar Castle and Osman Hamdi Bey Museum
• İzmit 11 places İzmit Clock Tower, Kocaeli Museum (Former Government House) and Pertev Paşa Mosque
• Kandıra 11 places Kandıra Castle, Kefken Island and Kandıra Beaches
• Karamürsel 7 places Karamürsel Coast, Karamürsel Bey Tomb and Yalakdere Valley
• Kartepe 10 places Maşukiye Village, Kartepe Ski Centre and Shore of Lake Sapanca
• Körfez 6 places Hereke Castle, Kaiser II. Wilhelm Pavilion and TÜPRAŞ Refinery