Trip to Gölcük - Bolu

Bolu is one of my best places for hiking in Turkey. It has many beautiful sightseeing places and Unique hotels too.

This time we decided to go to Gölcük National Park with my fiancee. I didn't visit all of the national parks in Turkey but I've visited a couple of them and I can easily say that the best one is Gölcük National Park by far. It has a unique and simple layout and it has some additional advanced tracks too. I've prepared a pros & cons list for an easy evaluation of our general experience.

Pros

• It is quiet and calm during the weekdays.

• The simple layout is good for both hiking and chilling out with portable chairs by the lake. Also, the lake is quite huge.

• There is also an advanced track for hiking too.

• The walking track located around the lake is fantastic for both walk and running sessions.

• We've encountered foggy weather too. It is also adding a beautiful atmosphere to the national park. I also think that snow will create another beautiful atmosphere here too.

• The overall natural environment on the road was quite fine too.

• Good for daily trips or trips with short accommodation.

Cons

• It will be probably crowded during the weekend.

• Local businesses are just not qualified in the National Park. But there are some fine places nearby. (within 20-30 km)

• Park fee is only accepted in cash. They were accepting only cash especially in the Covid-19 period and this is a real disappointing point overall. There are no ATMs nearby so you need to have cash with you all the time.

• The length of the road is average but it takes a bit long. It takes 3.5 hours to go from Istanbul to Bolu.

• The climbing road to the park might be dangerous especially in the winter conditions.

• Accommodation nearby is quite expensive in Bolu.

Final Recommendation

You should definitely visit here in the fall or winter.