Bolu

A forested lake region between Istanbul and Ankara, where Lake Abant and Yedigöller National Park blaze with autumn color and Kartalkaya offers skiing in winter.

Bolu lies in Turkey's northwestern Black Sea Region, in the Köroğlu Mountains between Istanbul (about 260 km) and Ankara (about 190 km). Blanketed in dense pine and beech forest, it is known as Turkey's "nature capital." The highlights are three lake areas: Lake Gölcük on the southern outskirts, Lake Abant to the southwest, and Yedigöller (Seven Lakes) National Park to the north. In autumn (mid-Oct to early Nov) the forests turn every shade of red and gold, making this the country's most famous fall-foliage destination; in winter, Kartalkaya to the southeast is a well-known ski resort; and in summer the cool lakeside makes a great escape from the heat. To the southwest, the two "slow cities" of Mudurnu and Göynük preserve Ottoman-era streets of timber houses, and can be combined with Lake Sünnet and Lake Sülüklü. Getting there: the D100 highway and O-4 motorway pass through Bolu; long-distance buses take about 3.5 hours from Istanbul and about 2.5 hours from Ankara. The sights are scattered across the mountains and forests, so you'll almost always need to drive or hire a car with driver. Plan on 2–3 days: one day for Lake Abant and Lake Gölcük, one for Yedigöller National Park, and one for the old towns of Mudurnu and Göynük. Bolu's chefs are famous throughout Turkey — try grilled trout, the stews of the Mengen area and mountain honey. Tips: in winter, the mountain roads to Yedigöller and Kartalkaya are snow-covered and require snow chains; on weekends and holidays the lake areas get crowded and traffic backs up.

Top sights

Where to eat