Discover Yalova: the Sea of Marmara, history and plant diversity

Yalova offers unusual stories and remarkable plant diversity. The Yalova Sahil Yolu starts in the city centre and runs along the Sea of Marmara. Another special feature is the Yürüyen Köşk: on 10 August 1930, the building was moved about 4.80 metres to save the centuries-old plane tree beside it. This story makes Yalova appealing to travellers who want to combine time by the water with culture and discovery.

A mansion with a special story

The Yürüyen Köşk was restored in 2006 and opened to visitors as a museum. Its exhibitions include items from Atatürk’s personal collection, contemporary photographs, famous paintings and documents. In this house, personal keepsakes come together with different forms of visual and written records. The story of the relocated mansion gives the visit a distinctive focus: the building was moved not to make way for a new construction, but to protect the plane tree.

Yalova’s paper-making history also offers a cultural focus of its own. Kağıthane-i Yalakabad, the first paper mill in the Ottoman Empire documented by official records, was established in the village of Elmalık in Yalova. The İbrahim Müteferrika Paper Museum is regarded as Turkey’s first paper museum. Visitors interested in cultural history will find a different way to discover the region here than through the stories surrounding the Yürüyen Köşk: the focus is on paper-making and the museum.

Plant diversity, from geophytes to an arboretum

Yalova also has notable destinations for plant enthusiasts. The Geofit Araştırma Merkezi protects around 1,000–1,100 plant species, including more than 450 endemic species. The centre is also home to Turkey’s first alpine greenhouse.

The Karaca Arboretum adds a different collection to this botanical picture: it encompasses around 7,000 different plant species, subspecies, varieties and cultivated forms, and is regarded as Turkey’s first private arboretum. It is located in the village of Samanlı in Yalova’s central district, on the Yalova–Termal road and about 5 km from the city centre. This location gives you a practical point of reference when considering plant life among the things you would like to include in your plans.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Yalova, it helps to start by sorting out your travel group’s interests. The waterfront path along the Sea of Marmara, the story of the Yürüyen Köşk, the paper museum and the botanical institutions each offer a different focus. Family members with different interests can consider which themes matter most for their trip together. The places and institutions mentioned do not form a described route; instead, they offer different starting points for choosing your own itinerary.

The location of the Karaca Arboretum may also factor into your plans: it is about 5 km from the city centre, while the Yalova Sahil Yolu starts there. When looking for accommodation, it is best to choose an area based on the places and experiences that matter most during your stay. For more information about the region, see: Yalova, Armutlu, Çınarcık, Termal, Çiftlikköy, Elmalık, Fevziye Köyü, Esenköy Belediyesi, Altınova, Kirazlı Köyü and Fıstıklı Köyü.

For an overview of the wider region, see: Marmara.