see

Lake Abant

Formed by a landslide, Lake Abant (Abant Gölü) is surrounded by fir and pine trees at an altitude of 1,350 meters. The lake is fed by several springs; adding to its allure is that it is also fed by continuous snow and rainwater.

Abant Lake and its surrounding land are rich in flora and fauna. The lake’s banks are thick with aquatic plants, water lilies and Abant Çiğdemi (Crocus abantensis). Inhabiting the lake are red-spotted trout, also known as Abant Alası (Salmo turutta abanticus). The forests around the lake are a habitat for the Red Deer. In short, Lake Abant is a natural wonder that brings peace to visitors throughout the year, thanks to its quiet and calm atmosphere.

Seven Lakes National Park

The Seven Lakes National Park (Yedi Göller Milli Parkı), which features one of Türkiye’s most beautiful natural landscapes, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. Set 42 km north of Bolu, the park is a habitat for numerous plant and tree species.

The national park includes seven lakes in a 1,500-metre line from north to south. Ruins dating to the New Byzantine Period in the village of Köyyeri, also in the national park, indicate that the region was a settlement in antiquity.

In the park’s forests, the main tree species are beech, hornbeam, oak, alder, maple, elm, aspen, yellow and black pine, fir, hazel, linden, and ash.

There are also endangered animal species such as the badger in Seven Lakes.

The seven lakes in the park are ideal for camping, although there are bungalows available as well. The area is often used in photo shoots due to its colourful and stunning natural beauty. 

Nature Park of Gölcük

An emblematic image of Bolu is the view of the Lonely House (Yalnız Ev) by the lake. Set in the Nature Park of Gölcük (Gölcük Tabiat Parkı), the Lonely House blends perfectly with nature, emanating an unmistakable calm. The Nature Park of Gölcük is, on average, about 1,217 meters above sea level, with forests comprised of fir, beech and hornbeam trees. There are hiking trails, viewing terraces and picnic areas – in fact, the nature park is an important recreation, picnic, and nature sports area due to its unique climatic features. 

Sülüklü Göl Nature Park

Set in the Mudurnu district, Sülüklü Göl Nature Park (Sülüklü Göl Tabiat Parkı) features wetlands and forests, and an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna that make these ecosystems their homes. The lake in the park came about as a result of tectonic movements, and the tops of submerged trees can still be seen in the lake, creating an almost surreal picture.

Black pine, Scotch pine, fir, English oak, durmast oak, acorn oak, poplar, silver poplar, hornbeam, sycamore, linden, maple, alder, wild cherry and ash are among the tree species found in the Natural Park. Animals such as roe deer, wild boars, bears, wolves, foxes and rabbits live in park, as do hawks and tree frogs. Offering visitors, a calm and quiet environment shaded with lush green hues, Sülüklü Göl has a reputation as one of Türkiye’s most scenic routes for hiking, camping and trekking.

Kartalkaya Ski Centre

In recent years, Kartalkaya expanded its popularity with modern ski runs and updated facilities, as well as ski runs amid pine forests. The centre is 38 km southeast of Bolu; its proximity to İstanbul and Ankara makes it a popular destination for residents of those cities. Kartalkaya Ski Centre (Kartalkaya Kayak Merkezi) offers visitors an excellent skiing and winter holiday opportunity with accommodation capacity for more than 1,500 guests.

Museum of Bolu

The Museum of Bolu (Bolu Müzesi) was established in 1981, with the aim of preserving the artifacts around Bolu and presenting these to visitors. The museum features a number of archaeological and ethnographic displays, including extensive exhibitions of items from the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, as well as artifacts from the Old Bronze Age to the Neolithic Period.

Rock Houses of Seben

The Seben Rock Houses (Seben Kaya Evleri) are a series of rock-carved homes in the Seben district. Each house is four to five levels, with the levels connected by chimney stairs.

Crosses and Latin inscriptions painted on the walls and niches of rooms in the Seben Rock Houses suggest that these were used from the Early Christian Period to the Middle Byzantine Period.

Travertines of Akkaya

The Akkaya Travertines (Akkaya Travertenleri), 10 km from the centre of Bolu, are natural formations formed by subterranean waters with a temperature of over 20 degrees. The underground mineral waters are rich in calcium and their outflow has carved a natural rock pool where visitors can swim. There is also a fountain, where visitors can drink the natural mineral water, which has a mild taste. The travertines are set amid a lush forest – the icy blue and white colours of the travertines and the water, with a vivid green background, are reminiscent of a painting.

Göynük

Göynük, an urban site that has preserved its historical, cultural, architectural and natural beauties from the Ottomans to the present, holds the title of a Slow Town (Cittaslow). As a place where traditional values are kept alive, Göynük is a typical Ottoman town built in the valleys, the base and the foot of high hills. Its advantageous location between Anatolia and Istanbul, and the saffron trade of the 14th century, enabled Göynük to develop economically. Göynük’s historical structures, the oldest of which is about 700 years old, include homes, workplaces, baths, tombs and a cemetery, as well as historical plane trees. Many of these buildings are still used for their original functions.

You can observe important examples of Turkish life and the settlement culture of Anatolia in Göynük. Reflecting the traditional Turkish civil architecture of the early 20th century, these types of houses usually feature hipped roofs and are covered with locally produced tiles; they are one or two levels, with a ground floor and interior stairs. In front of the houses are also courtyards called life. The living rooms of some houses have ceilings decorated with various motifs.

Mudurnu

Mudurnu is a distinctive Anatolian town that has preserved the Ahi tradition uninterruptedly for centuries, carrying its deep-rooted history into the present day. Designated as an urban conservation area and a Cittaslow town, Mudurnu stands out with dozens of historic Turkish houses that represent fine examples of Ottoman civil architecture. Similar in character to the houses of Göynük, these structures reflect Mudurnu’s historic fabric and traditional way of life.

As one of the living centers of Ahi culture, Mudurnu continues to practice the Esnaf Duası and the Ekmek Atımı (Bread Throwing) ritual every Friday. This long-standing tradition shows that Ahilik is not merely a legacy of the past but a way of life that is still actively sustained. By combining spiritual values with craftsmanship and labor, the Ahi tradition played a key role in fostering social balance and solidarity during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

With its Ahi heritage preserved through both tangible architectural fabric and living traditions, Mudurnu is a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Thanks to its well-preserved historic fabric and strong cultural continuity, the town remains one of the most vivid and enduring witnesses of the Ahi tradition in Anatolia.

Yıldırım Bayezit Mosque

The mosque located in the center of Mudurnu district is situated within a complex consisting of a madrasa and a bathhouse. According to the inscription of the bathhouse with the same name located to the south of the mosque, the mosque dates to 1382 and was commissioned by Prince Bayezit (Yıldırım). The mosque consists of a main space in the form of a nearly square rectangle and a three-section narthex. The main space is covered by a high drum dome with a diameter of 19,43 m. In the northwest of the mosque, there is a brick minaret with a cut-stone square base and a cylindrical body. The mosque walls, built with rubble stone, were kept thick and low in order to support the weight of the dome. With its wide dome and plan, the mosque is an important work of early Ottoman architecture.

Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque

Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque was built between 1331-1335 by Gazi Süleyman Paşa, the son of Orhan Gazi, as a single-balcony, single-minaret, and single wooden-domed structure. Restored between 1948-1960, the mosque’s most significant feature is that it is one of the most well-preserved early Ottoman works in the region.

Akşemseddin Tomb

It is in the courtyard of Gazi Süleyman Paşa Mosque in Cuma Neighborhood, Göynük District, Bolu Province. Akşemseddin, the tutor of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the spiritual conqueror of Istanbul, and a great scholar, passed away in 1459, and his tomb was built in 1464 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Inside the tomb are the sarcophagi of Akşemseddin and his sons. Akşemseddin's sarcophagus, decorated with embossed inscriptions on walnut wood, is a fine example of Ottoman wood craftsmanship.

Taşhan

It is a structure with two separate entrances side by side. Lower Taşhan: It is located to the west of Yıldırım Bayezit Mosque. It was built in 1750 by Emin Ağa, one of the notable figures of the area. Upper Taşhan: It is located to the north of Lower Taşhan. According to its inscription, it was built in 1804 by Serbevvab Hacı Abdullah Ağa. It consists of two-story arcaded rooms surrounding an open courtyard.