Short answer: Yedigöller National Park lies north of Bolu, about 290 km from Istanbul by car; without traffic the drive takes about 3.5 hours. You take the motorway to Bolu, and the last 44 km is a mountain road through the forest that takes around an hour. The park has seven lakes of different sizes, and the most popular time to visit is autumn, when the trees turn yellow, orange and red.
From the Asian side of Istanbul it is about 243 km on the motorway to Bolu, roughly two and a half hours without traffic. After Bolu you turn north towards Yedigöller, which is about 44 km further on. This stretch is a narrow, winding mountain road, partly a forest road, so drive slowly and take extra care after rain. We recommend filling up before you leave Bolu.
The lakes in the park are Büyükgöl, Deringöl, Seringöl, Nazlıgöl, Sazlıgöl, İncegöl and Kurugöl. They are close to one another; you can park the car and walk between them on the footpaths. Morning mist on the water and the reflections of the trees are the most photographed views.
As a national park, there is an entrance fee; check the current fee and visiting hours before you go. If you are returning the same day, leaving early in the morning helps you avoid traffic and drive the mountain road in daylight. Bring water and snacks, and comfortable shoes for walking.
In summer and autumn an economy car is fine for this road. If you are travelling as a larger family or with plenty of luggage, choose a roomier car; you can see every option on our cars page. In winter, add our winter tyre extra to your booking.
The route to Yedigöller starts on the Asian side, so you can collect the car at our Ümraniye Canpark Mall or Çekmeköy Metro Garden Mall point and head straight for the motorway. If you are flying in, our Sabiha Gökçen point is on the same side. For rentals of 3 days or more we deliver the car to your address free of charge.
Yedigöller and Lake Abant are not the same place; they are about 80 km apart by car. If you are staying a night in Bolu, see our Lake Abant guide, and for winter our Kartalkaya article.
About 290 km from the Asian side; without traffic the drive takes about 3.5 hours. The last 44 km is the mountain road after Bolu.
Yedigöller National Park is in Bolu province, north of the city of Bolu.
Yes, but road conditions can become difficult after snowfall. Check the road before you go and use a car with winter tyres.
No. Both are in Bolu but they are separate places, about 80 km apart by car.
