Things to Do in Körfez: 6 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Körfez

• 1 Historic
• 1 Ancient City
• 1 Nature
• 1 Attraction
• 1 Cultural
• 1 Other

While you are in Körfez, 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 Körfez

Suggested time

Half a day to 1 day

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn months (April–June, September–October)

Places to visit

6 places

• 🐟

  Körfez Fish (fresh fish from the gulf)

  Fresh fish caught in the Gulf of İzmit is served grilled at seaside restaurants. Prepared by local people on special occasions, this delicacy is a symbol of hospitality.

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  Pişmaniye (cotton candy-style sweet)

  Pişmaniye, the traditional sweet of Kocaeli, is also widely eaten in Körfez. Prepared from recipes handed down from generation to generation, this dish is an important part of the local culinary culture.

• 🍽️

  Yarımca cherry

  A local cherry of Körfez; intensive cultivation took place until the 1950s. Körfez Municipality distributes saplings to producers.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Körfez

• 🧶

  Hereke Carpet-Weaving Tradition

  Hereke gained worldwide fame with the carpet factory established in 1843 by order of Sultan Abdülmecid. Hereke carpets, with a fineness of up to 1 million knots per square centimetre, represent the peak of the craft.

• 🏭

  Industrial Town Identity

  With the TÜPRAŞ refinery and the industrial facilities around it, Körfez is at the heart of Türkiye's energy sector. This industrial identity has shaped the social structure of the district.

Local Products

• Hereke Carpet — Hereke carpets, produced since 1843, are known around the world for their silk and wool varieties. Carpets woven for Ottoman palaces are the highest examples of the craft.
• Petrochemical Products — The TÜPRAŞ refinery and the petrochemical plants around it produce the most important industrial products of Körfez.

Economy

Körfez is one of the most important industrial districts in Türkiye. The TÜPRAŞ İzmit Refinery is the largest oil refinery in the country. Petrochemicals, automotive supply industry and energy sectors are the main economic activities. Hereke carpet-making continues as a traditional craft.

How to Get to Körfez

Körfez is 15 km from İzmit and 85 km from Istanbul. The E-80 (TEM) and D-100 highways pass through the district. Marmaray and the suburban train provide a connection to Istanbul.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Kocaeli

Körfez: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Körfez 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
• Kartepe 10 places Maşukiye Village, Kartepe Ski Centre and Shore of Lake Sapanca