Research has shown that people from eras beyond history have lived in and around Gebze, which is the junction of the world’smost important roads, since 3000 B.C.
The city was built in 262 B.C. by King Nicomedes who has appointed by Alexander the Great to conquer Anatolia and was named for the king’s wife.
In the last quarter of the 11th century Nicomedia is taken over by the Seljuks.
Today Gebze is an advanced industrial city and is surrounded by railway and the most advanced motorway network.
Its natural beauties, beaches, plateaus, Kartepe skiing centres and historical sites as well as the coasts of the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea are also important
for the province of Kocaeli with regard to commerce a cultural and tourism.
It is comprised of a total of seven counties which are Gebze, Korfez, Karamursel, Golcuk, Kandıra, Derince and the Central County of Izmit.
Gebze is located on the Izmit-Istanbul highway 50 km away from Izmit. Besides large industrial establishments it also houses the Turkish Scientific and Technical
Research Institute (TUBITAK-MAM) and the Gebze Higher Technology Instıtute. It has a population of 521.961 Amongst its important historical sites is the tomb of
Carthaginian Commander Hannibal, the Museum-House of the acheologist and painter Osman Hamdi Bey and the Çoban Mustafa Pasha’s Kulliye built by the
Architect Sinan. Gebze’s second region Darıca-Bayramoğlu consist mainly of housing and is a major holiday resort with its summer estates and its seaside.
Gebze also has nature attractions such as the Ballikayalar Nature Park, the Darica Bayramoğlu Bird Paradise and the Theme Park. Maritime Lines; Ferryboats are
operating between (Gebze) Eskihisar – Topçular (Yalova).
The Clock Tower Izmit
Hannibal’s Memorial Gebze
Kasr-ı Hümayun (Sultan Abdülaziz’in Av Köşkü) Izmit
Historical Railway Station (Museum of Archelogy Ethnograpy and Center of Culture and Art) Izmit
The Osman Hamdi Bey House Museum Eskihisar Gebze
TCG Gayret Museum Izmit
TCG Hızırreis Museum Izmit
The Pertev Pasha Kulliye Izmit
The Çoban Mustapha Pasha Kulliye and Mosque Gebze
The Eskihisar Fortress Gebze
The Architect Sinan Bridge
Conqueror Sultan Mehmed’s Imperial Tent Gebze
The Kaiser Wilhelm Pavillion
Memorial Tomb of Akçakoca Bey Kandıra
Captain Yahya’s Memorial-Tavşancıl-Gebze
NATURAL BEAUTIES AND EXCURSION SITES
Ballıkayalar Valley Gebze
Yuvacık Dam and Beşkayalar Nature Park
Kocaeli City Forest Izmit
Kartepe and Kuzuyaylası (The Sheep Meadow) Izmit
The Darica Bird Paradise and Theme Park
The Kocaeli Fair Izmit
BEACHES NATURAL SANDBEACHES
Kefken and Pink Rocks Kandıra
Masukiye Sapanca Lake Water Sports
Winter Sports Kartepe
Ice skating Activities The Olympic Ice Sport Hall
Sailing Races Değirmendere
Mountain Climbing Ballıkayalar Valley Gebze
OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES
TUBITAK MRC – TUSSIDE – TSE Quality Campus
Gebze HIGH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Turkcell Technology Center
Yapi Kredi Banking Base
Akbank Banking Base
VW Dogus Automotive Headquarters
Gebze Dogus Center Shopping Center