Sakarya (also known as Adapazarı, its main city) is a Marmara province that most travellers pass through on the way east but rarely stop in. Those who do discover a surprisingly varied landscape: the volcanic Kartepe range to the south, the great lake of Sapanca in the centre, and historic timber villages in the northern hills.
The 1999 Gölcük earthquake (magnitude 7.6, 17,000 deaths) reshaped both the landscape and the provincial psyche — much of Adapazarı was rebuilt after the disaster, and memorial sites are significant. The province has invested heavily in eco-tourism and Cittaslow heritage since.
- Region
- Marmara / Eastern Istanbul hinterland
- Distance
- 90 km from Istanbul, 145 km from Ankara
- Key lake
- Sapanca — Istanbul's primary water reservoir
- Known for
- Sapanca Lake, Kartepe ski, Taraklı, döner
Sapanca Lake
Sapanca Lake, 45 km long and surrounded by forested hills, is one of the most beautiful lakes in northwestern Turkey — and Istanbul’s primary drinking water source. The eastern and southern shores are developed with waterside breakfast restaurants, tea gardens and boutique hotels; the northern shore is largely undeveloped. The lakeside road from Sapanca town to Maşukiye is lined with trout restaurants (alabalık) built over the streams. Swimming is officially discouraged (it’s a drinking water reservoir) but kayaking and fishing are popular.
Kartepe Ski Resort
Kartepe(1,692 m) is Istanbul’s closest ski mountain — 90 km from the city, meaning day trips are practical. The resort has 8 runs, several lifts and reliable December–March snow at altitude. The gondola also runs in summer for forest walks and Sapanca Lake views. Below the ski area, the Maşukiye valley has dozens of trout restaurants and forest garden cafes that run all year.
Taraklı (Cittaslow)
Taraklı, a Cittaslow-certified town 70 km south of Adapazarı, is one of Turkey’s best-preserved wooden Ottoman towns — with over 300 listed historic timber houses dating from the 17th–19th centuries. The town is car-free in its historic core; the cobbled streets lead to the Yusuf Paşa Külliyesi (1528, attributed to Mimar Sinan’s circle) and a functioning Ottoman hamam. Population 3,000 — genuinely quiet and unhurried.
Sakarya in pictures
Frequently asked questions
Sakarya
3Drive via the TEM motorway (E80): Istanbul to Adapazarı is 90 km, about 1–1.5 hours. Sapanca town is 80 km from Istanbul. Buses and trains also connect Istanbul (Haydarpaşa station) to Adapazarı in 1.5–2 hours. Kartepe is 25 km south of Sapanca town on a mountain road.
Sapanca Lake is Istanbul's drinking water reservoir, so swimming is officially prohibited and actively discouraged. The lake is beautiful for lakeside walks, breakfast and boating (non-motorised kayaks are permitted in designated areas). For swimming, the Marmara Sea coast at Karamürsel (Kocaeli, 30 km west) is the practical alternative.
Taraklı is known for three things: its exceptional preserved Ottoman timber architecture (300+ listed buildings), its silence and pace (pop. 3,000, Cittaslow certified), and its wooden combs (tarakçılık — taraklı means 'the place with combs'). The handmade wooden comb is the town's craft. The Yusuf Paşa hamam (still functioning) and the historic main street are the main sights.