Why visit Gölcük
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 67 parks and trails, 106 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Arbeila, Astacus in Bithynia, Mimar Sinan Çocuk Parkı and BOSNA YILDIZ PARKI.
Weather in Gölcük
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Gölcük
Gölcük is a municipality and district of Kocaeli Province, Turkey. Its area is 217 km2, and its population is 175,940 (2022). Gölcük is located on the southern shore of the Gulf of İzmit, which is the easternmost inlet of the Sea of Marmara.
From the Wikipedia article Gölcük, Kocaeli (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Museums and landmarks23
Arbeila
Monument and historic site · 7.6 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Astacus in Bithynia
Monument and historic site · 9.3 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Brunca
Monument and historic site · 12.1 km
Ancient city of Bithynia, in modern-day Turkey
Diolkides
Monument and historic site · 3.6 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Elaea
Monument and historic site · 4.7 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Eribolum
Monument and historic site · 6.8 km
Port town of ancient Bithynia
Heracleium
Monument and historic site · 13.2 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Koubaita
Monument and historic site · 13.8 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Libum
Monument and historic site · 14.5 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Nicomedia
Monument and historic site · 9.9 km
Ancient city of Bithynia in modern-day Turkey
Kongessi Roma Mezarı (Konca Lahdi)
Monument and historic site · 7.0 km
Konca Lahdi, Kocaeli ilinin Gölcük ilçesinde bulunan, adını bulunduğu yöreden alan, MS 2. yüzyıl Roma dönemine tarihlenen bir...
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds67
Kocaeli Olimpik Buz Sporları Salonu
Sports field and stadium · 6.2 km
Cahide Sokak
Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00
55 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes106
Dönerci Adil Usta
Restaurant · Turkish, Kebab, Ice Cream · 6.2 km
88/B Ağa Dere Caddesi, Kocaeli
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Glutensiz Bizim Mutfak
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich, Soba, Cake, Bagel, Pasta, Balkan, Pancake, Pizza, Turkish, Breakfast, Tea, Local, Friture, Kebab · 5.3 km
112 Piri Reis caddesi
Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00
KISMETİM
Restaurant · Turkish, Regional · 5.1 km
Denizciler Caddesi, KOCAELİ
24/7
İstanbul Çiğköfte 41
Restaurant · Çiğköfte, Tatlı, Dondurma · 1.9 km
119 Örcün Yolu Cad., Kocaeli
10:00-23:00
Derince Belediyesi Kent Lokantası
Restaurant · Turkish · 4.7 km
Denizciler Caddesi, Kocaeli
12:00-17:00
Senin Kafen
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Regional, Burger · 6.2 km
İsmet Paşa Caddesi, Kocaeli
Mo-Su 09:00-21:00
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Yelken Restoran & Cafe
Restaurant · Turkish, Italian, Burger, Regional · 4.0 km
Rıhtım Caddesi, KOCAELİ
Mo-Su 06:00-23:00
Somoncu Baba Ekmek Fırını
Bakery · 6.0 km
Çenesuyu Caddesi, Kocaeli
Mo-Su 07:00-22:00
94 more on the map.
History
The historical development of Gölcük started in the region that the ancient Greeks and Romans called Bithynia, which also included the nearby city of İzmit (ancient Nicomedia) and its surroundings. It is thought that Gölcük was historically known as Diolkides (Diolkídis in classical antiquity).
In the late Ottoman period, 21 out of the 24 villages within the borders of present-day Gölcük district (except for the Halıdere, Ulaşlı and Yazlık villages) were administered by the Bahçecik Sub-district Directorate of the Sanjak of Kocaeli.
Georgian Muslims from the Adjara region fleeing the Russian conquest of the Caucasus, especially during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), were settled in the villages of the Samanlı Mountains near Gölcük.
From the History section of Gölcük, Kocaeli on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay4
Churches and places of worship64
Petrol Ofisi Cami
Place of worship · Sunni · 5.4 km
Petrol Ofisi Caddesi, KOCAELİ
Shopping88
Gas and EV charging26
Schools, colleges and libraries99
Healthcare84
Çenedağ Mahallesi Aile Sağlığı Merkezi
Clinic and pharmacy · 5.6 km
Sağlık Sokak, KOCAELİ
Map of Gölcük
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cengiz Topel Havaalanı (KCO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 km away.
- Derince 5 km north, about 5 min by car
- Körfez 7 km northwest, about 7 min by car
- İzmit 11 km northeast, about 11 min by car
- Karamürsel 17 km west, about 17 min by car
- İznik 33 km south, about 33 min by car
- Gebze 34 km west, about 34 min by car
- Pamukova 37 km southeast, about 37 min by car
- Sapanca 38 km east, about 38 min by car
- Kandıra 48 km northeast, about 48 min by car
- Adapazarı 50 km east, about 50 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Gölcük Manzarası, Serdar Timur, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kocaeli Arkeoloji ve Etnografya Müzesi ana bina soldan, Cobija, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Karte Nikomedia, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Konca Lahdi -Gölcük, Kocaeligönüllüsü, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Derince harikalar sahili (4) 02, Kocaeligönüllüsü, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, Zafer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, Zafer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, Zafer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hderinoz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, okansafak, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, asturksever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 8, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.