Kocaeli is a dynamic industrial province in northwestern Turkey, straddling the eastern shore of the Marmara Sea and the Gulf of İzmit. Known historically as Nicomedia, it served as capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Today it balances heavy industry with natural beauty—dense beech forests in Kartepe, pristine Black Sea coves, and a rich layered history from Byzantine to Ottoman eras. Visitors find a city largely bypassed by mass tourism yet rich in genuine Turkish urban life, affordable food, and easy access to Istanbul.
Kocaeli (İzmit) sits on the main Istanbul–Ankara transport corridor (E80/D100 highway and TCDD rail line). The city is 90 km east of Istanbul and 300 km west of Ankara. Local transportation is dominated by İZULAŞ city buses, supplemented by dolmuş (shared minibuses) for suburban routes.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a KentKart at İzmit Otogar before taking city buses—saves 30% per ride.
For Istanbul, Metro Turizm buses depart İzmit Otogar every 30 min from 05:00–23:00.
Kartepe is best reached by private car or taxi in ski season when buses run infrequently.
TCDD trains stop at İzmit and Gebze stations; check timetables at tcdd.gov.tr.
Havaş buses from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Gebze run every 30–60 min.