Things to Do in Kartepe: 10 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Kartepe

• 1 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 1 Museum
• 5 Nature
• 1 Attraction
• 1 Other

📸 Attractions 1

i Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · Source

9 📸 Attraction

Kartepe Ski Centre

A ski centre on the Samanlı Mountains at an altitude of 1,601 metres, with slopes 2,200 metres long and cable car lines, it is the most popular winter sports centre in the Marmara Region. It attracts great interest because of its proximity to Istanbul.

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While you are in Kartepe, 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 Kartepe

Suggested time

1-2 days

Best time to visit

Winter months for skiing (December-March), summer months for nature (May-September)

Places to visit

10 places

• 🐟

  Maşukiye Trout

  Trout raised in the cold streams of Maşukiye, served grilled or pan-fried. It is the most famous flavour of the region.

• 🫓

  Gözleme

  Gözleme, cooked on a griddle at the village breakfast places of Maşukiye, is served with cheese, potato and herb fillings.

• 🍳

  Village Breakfast

  The generous village breakfast served at the breakfast spots in the countryside of Maşukiye offers a rich spread with homemade jams, fresh cheese and eggs.

• 🍽️

  Kiremitte Alabalık (trout baked on a tile)

  One of Maşukiye's special dishes, served in trout restaurants.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Kartepe

• 🏔️

  Nature Tourism Culture

  Kartepe is one of the most important nature tourism centres in the Marmara Region. Winter sports, nature walks and ecotourism have shaped the district's cultural identity.

• 🏘️

  Circassian Culture

  The Circassian community living in Maşukiye and the surrounding villages contributes to the region's cultural diversity through its traditional cuisine, dance and handicrafts.

Local Products

• Maşukiye Honey — Blossom honey obtained from the rich flora of the Samanlı Mountains, Maşukiye's most valued natural product.
• Trout — Trout raised in the cold streams of Maşukiye, the best-known local product of the region.

Economy

The economy of Kartepe is based on tourism, agriculture and the service sector. The ski centre and Maşukiye's nature tourism are the main sources of income. Hotels and restaurants have developed around Lake Sapanca. Hazelnut and fruit production also takes place.

How to Get to Kartepe

Kartepe is 15 km from İzmit and 115 km from Istanbul. Access is by the TEM motorway and the D-100 highway. There are regular municipal bus services from İzmit. The ski centre is reached via Maşukiye.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kocaeli

Kartepe: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Kartepe 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
• Gölcük 4 places Gölcük Naval Command and Naval Museum, Earthquake Museum and Memorial Park and Gölcük Seafront
• 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
• Körfez 6 places Hereke Castle, Kaiser II. Wilhelm Pavilion and TÜPRAŞ Refinery