Izmit Between Palace History and Nature

Izmit brings together historic buildings and museums with a bird sanctuary right in the city center. The city’s stories range from a palace museum and a clock tower to paper production and museum ships along the coast. Families can explore a range of interests: children’s educational workshops, an interactive loom, and theater, concert and dance performances complement the historical themes.

Palace, Mosque and City History

Kasr-ı Hümayun and its outbuildings stand on an extensive site in the center of Izmit. The palace is considered the only palace built outside Istanbul and opened as a palace museum on January 16, 2007. Izmit’s Redif Office is also part of the city’s history: İzmit Mutasarrıf Hasan Pasha first built it during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (1861–1876), together with Kasr-ı Hümayun.

The Orhan Mosque was built in 1332 by Şehzade Gazi Süleyman Pasha in honor of his father, Orhan Gazi, and is considered Izmit’s mosque of conquest. A special tradition is associated with Friday sermons: a sword is still used during them. In Izmit, different chapters of the city’s history come together, from the construction of a mosque to the later conversion of a building into a museum.

The clock tower is another clearly defined historical landmark. It was built in 1901 in the Kemal Paşa district and has four stories, each with a clock. The buildings in Izmit’s Old Railway Station area were built between 1873 and 1910. Those interested in urban architecture will find, alongside the palace, other specific buildings and construction dates to help them explore Izmit’s history.

Museums, Theater and Hands-On Activities

The Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center in the Yahya Kaptan district has a 535-seat theater hall and a 150-seat multipurpose hall. Theater, concert and dance performances have been offered there since 1998. The cultural program offers a different way to experience Izmit from visiting its historic buildings and museums.

At the Kocaeli Museum of Local Culture, an interactive loom invites visitors to weave traditional kilims. The Kocaeli Museum also offers children’s educational workshops and museum conferences. For families, these hands-on and educational activities can be a focus in their own right alongside sightseeing; which ones fit into a personal travel itinerary depends on whether shared activities or a cultural program is of greater interest.

The SEKA Paper Museum tells the story of paper through images, from the factory’s founding during the republican era to the spread of paper from Izmit throughout Turkey. It looks at both the beginning of the factory’s history and the subsequent spread of paper. The museum offers free individual workshops, school group visits and project services to the public. You can reach it by tram via the Sekapark stop.

The TCG Gayret began its new role as a museum ship on the coast of Izmit in 1997. The TCG Hızırreis has been on display on the coast of Izmit since October 29, 2004. The two ships represent different dates and museum histories: for the Gayret, the date marks the start of its new role; for the Hızırreis, it is the date it went on display.

Nature Interests and Ways to Explore

The İzmit Körfezi Bird Sanctuary is located in the center of Izmit. A total of 170 different bird species have been observed in the area. This makes nature another option alongside the city’s history. The number reflects the diversity of species observed there; it makes the bird sanctuary especially interesting for travelers interested in birds and nature.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can use the experiences you are hoping for as a guide: historic buildings, museums and cultural events offer a different focus from the bird sanctuary. The Paper Museum can also be reached by tram via Sekapark. You can tailor your stay to the themes that matter most to you and your family, without trying to combine all the sites into a single tour.

More Local Pages

More local pages: Çerkeşli, Hamidiye, Kandıra, Degirmendere, Kabaağaç, Gölcük, Karabaş, Yağcılar.

For the overview of the wider region: Kocaeli.