About Kocaeli
Kocaeli, also called Izmit, is located in Turkey's Marmara Region. It is one of the most populous and developed areas of the country, with a population of nearly 1,650,000.
Bordered by two seas, the Marmara and the Black Sea, Kocaeli has a transitional climate. It is warm with little rainfall in summer, and winters are mild with precipitation mainly in rain and occasionally in snow.
The Izmit Clock Tower, dating back to the Ottoman era, is a symbol of the city. Izmit is a center of attraction for local tourists with highlights such as Hereke, well-known for its carpets; the Abant Lake for its natural beauty; Kartepe for winter sports; Kerpe for tranquil summer vacations; and the Darica Zoo, once a birds’ paradise. The Kocaeli cuisine includes höşmerim (dessert with cheese), keşkek (ground wheat) with chicken, mallow, and ciğceli kavurma (fried meat with bulgur or rice). You may also buy the famous pişmaniye dessert (fairy floss) as a souvenir.
Kocaeli is one of the biggest industrial cities in Turkey and enjoys a highly developed transportation network thanks to its location on the Bay of Izmit, which ties Istanbul to Asia Minor. The Kocaeli Airport completes the transport network. This city, a smaller version of Istanbul, has 12 districts including the central district, Gebze, Darıca, and Gölcük.
Transportation to Kocaeli City Center from Airport
Cengiz Topel Airport
Cengiz Topel Airport is located 15 km from the city center of the Kocaeli Province. The airport serves as a military and civil airport, operating both domestic and international flights. The airport offers a variety of services for passengers including its own outdoor parking lot. Passengers can enjoy a variety of transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport. Each alternative is easily accessible and is available to use as transportation to the airport from the city as well.
You can get to the city center from Cengiz Topel Airport by bus, taxi, or rental car. The city is located about 30 minutes from the airport.
Taxi
Taxis are a convenient transportation alternative to get to the city center from Cengiz Topel Airport. Taxis are also the fastest way to get to the city. The time it takes to get to the city from the airport can vary slightly depending on the traffic conditions. Taxis are readily available at the terminal exit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bus
Another way to get to the city center from Cengiz Topel Airport is by bus. Municipal buses provide convenient transportation to the city. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the city from the airport by bus. Buses are a more affordable transportation alternative compared to taxis. Buses are easily accessible at the terminal exit once you land.
You can go to the city center by buses that are operated by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, which follow the routes of Körfez, Derince, İzmit and the main bus terminal. The bus schedule is arranged according to flight times. You can go to and from Yenikent, the K. Terminal, and the Y. Terminal by buses belonging to Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality. In addition to these buses, you can also use Eşme and Uzuntarla public buses that are accessible from the stops on the E-5 highway.
Rental Car
You can easily get to the city center by renting a car from the rental car offices located at the terminal. You can get this service from rental car companies located in Cengiz Topel Airport.