The city of Sakarya is located between Catalca and Kocaeli in northwestern Turkey in the Marmara region. The distance from the city to Istanbul is about 150 km. Due to this, Sakarya is a preferred place for those who want to get away from the bustle of the city and spend a weekend in nature.
Sakarya is one of the most important tourist centers of the Marmara Sea region with an ancient rich cultural and historical past, as well as its unsurpassed nature.
In the north, Sakarya is washed by the Black Sea, in the west it is adjacent to the provinces of Kocaeli and Bursa, Duzce on the east side, Bilecik on the south side and Bolu province on the south-east side.
The longest river in Turkey flows through the city – the Sakarya River. The main economic sources of Sakarya are the cultivation of tobacco, wheat and sugar beet.
Most Interesting Sights in Sakarya
Sakarya was once home to many ancient civilizations, which left traces of their stay in the shape of the city. A huge number of historical and natural sights, as well as a good location on the way from Istanbul to Ankara, make Sakarya a great place to spend a few days here.
The city offers many options for entertainment and cultural facilities for its guests. You can see the city center in one day. However, if you want to explore all areas of Sakarya, we recommend to allocate 2-3 days for this. So here is a short list of the most interesting sights in Sakarya.
- Orhan Camii (Orhan Mosque of the Ottoman Empire);
- Yunuspasa Camii (Yunus Pasha Mosque of the XV century in Tarakli);
- Ataturk Museum;
- Museum of Ethnography;
- Beskopru (Beskopru Bridge, built in 553);
- Adliye Kalesi (Adlieu Fortress in the village of the same name);
- Harmantepe Kalesi (Fortress Harmantepe in Adapazari);
- Maden Deresi (Recreation and Picnic Area);
- Poyrazlar Golu (Poyrazlar Lake)
- Kuzuluk Tabiat Parki (Recreation area with private barbecue and picnic areas)
- Sakarya Golpark (Lake with the possibility of fishing and camping and picnic sites)
- Dogancay Selalesi (Dogancay Falls)
And also:
Cark Caddesi (Cark Street)
Cark Caddesi is the busiest street in the center of Adapazari. There are bars, restaurants, cafes and shops where you can buy a variety of souvenirs. The street was hit hard during an earthquake in 1999. But by now the street has been completely restored and has become the heart of Sakarya. The street is completely closed to traffic and has become a pedestrian street.
Deprem Muzesi (Museum of Earthquakes)
This place will appeal to anyone who is interested in excursions and studying the history of the places where they spend their holidays. The Earthquake Museum was opened to visitors in 2004. The exhibits of the museum clearly show what horrors and sufferings are caused by earthquakes in general and in particular in the region of the Sea of Marmara. The museum exhibits many photographs of the earthquakes of 1967 and 1999 that occurred in this region. A booth with a building layout, which creates an artificial earthquake, provides visitors with information about how and why destruction occurs. The museum also tells what measures need to be taken in case of an earthquake in order to protect yourselves.
