Bolu sits on the mountain plateau between Istanbul and Ankara, just 200 km from the city. The province is covered in beech and oak forest — extraordinary in October when the foliage turns — and dotted with glacial lakes that catch the sky.
In winter, the Kartalkaya ski resort draws Istanbul residents who can reach it in 3 hours. The historic Ottoman town of Mudurnu is one of the best-preserved in Turkey.
- Region
- Black Sea highlands
- Distance from Istanbul
- 200 km / 3 hrs
- Best for autumn
- October–November
- Known for
- Abant Lake, Yedigöller
Abant Lake
Abant Gölüis Bolu’s signature landscape — a glacial lake at 1,328 metres altitude, ringed by forested hills that turn spectacular shades of red and orange in October. The 7 km walking circuit around the lake is one of the most popular short walks in Turkey.
Yedigöller — the seven lakes
Yedigöller National Parkcontains seven glacial lakes connected by streams through dense beech and chestnut forest. The autumn foliage around the lakes — best in late October — creates one of Turkey’s most celebrated natural photography subjects.
Mudurnu Ottoman town
Mudurnuis one of Turkey’s finest preserved Ottoman towns — cobbled streets, traditional timber-frame konaks (mansions), a beautiful 14th-century mosque and the relaxed atmosphere of a town that modernity has largely passed by.
Bolu in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Bolu
2Abant Lake, Yedigöller National Park's autumn foliage, Kartalkaya ski resort, the Ottoman town of Mudurnu, and its proximity to Istanbul.
October–November for spectacular autumn foliage; December–March for skiing at Kartalkaya; Spring and summer for hiking and Abant Lake walks.