Izmit Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
central district and city of Kocaeli in Turkey
About Izmit
The first known city hereabouts, from maybe 700 BC, was called Astakos (Ἀστακός), and lay 20 km south, in what is nowadays Başiskele. It was at the tip of the Gulf of Izmit so it was an obvious place to establish a port trading between Anatolia and the Mediterranean. "Astakos" means lobster, so either the fishing was good or it indicated the pincer-like tip of the Sea of Marmara. To the north was the Kingdom of Bithynia bordering the Black Sea: this waged wars to gain Astakos and eventually won a pyrrhic victory. The wrecked town was rebuilt further north in 264 BC by Nicomedes I of Bithynia, who made it his capital and (no doubt after much thought) named it Nicomedia. By 70 BC Rome had grown into the regional power, and Bithynia sought their aid against foes further east. Aid slid into in
Top Attractions in Izmit
Explore the best things to see and do in Izmit:
- ★Imperial Pavilion Museum
- ★Izmit Naval Museum
- ★Kocaeli Archaeology and Ethnograpy Museum
- ★Kocaeli Science Museum
- ★SEKA Paper Museum
Where to Stay in Izmit
- 🏨Business Palas Otel
- 🏨La Flora House Hotel
- 🏨Ramada Plaza
- 🏨Tryp by Wyndham İzmit
- 🏨Wes Hotel
Izmit Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: