A Day Trip from Sapanca to Maşukiye and Kartepe

Maşukiye and Kartepe sit on the border of Sakarya and Kocaeli, a short drive from Sapanca. People go to Maşukiye to eat and walk by the stream. Kartepe is for altitude, snow and views. Both fit easily into one day.

Maşukiye

Maşukiye is about 12 km from Sapanca, roughly 20 minutes by car. Trout restaurants line the stream that runs through the village, and in most of them the tables are set right at the water's edge. Even in summer it is cool by the stream, so bring a light jumper.

At weekends the main street gets busy around lunchtime and parking is hard to find. The easiest way to avoid the crowds is to have breakfast in Maşukiye and head up the mountain before noon.

Kartepe cable car

The cable car leaves from Derbent station near Maşukiye and climbs to Kuzuyayla Nature Park. The line is about 4.7 km long and the ride takes around 14 minutes. The cabins pass over the forest, which makes it a favourite in autumn for seeing the colours from above.

The cable car can close for a few weeks for maintenance, and services may stop on windy days. Check the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality page for opening hours and ticket prices before you go.

Kuzuyayla has walking paths and picnic areas in a pine forest. It is a few degrees colder up there than in the valley.

Kartepe ski centre

The ski centre is 30 to 40 minutes' drive from Sapanca. The season depends on snow and usually runs from December to around March. On snowy days the road may require chains or winter tyres. If you do not ski, the snowy views and the cafés at the top are enough for half a day.

In summer the same area is used for walking and cycling. Weekdays are quieter if you want to avoid the crowds.

Coming back

After a day in the cold, you will want a warm evening. A villa with a fireplace or a jacuzzi is what guests coming back from this route ask for most. See the options on our villas page and read how they differ in our villa guide.