Akçakoca is on the Black Sea coast, 37 km north of Düzce. It takes about three hours by car from both Istanbul and Ankara. There is no train to Akçakoca; there are three ways to come: your own car, a rental car or the bus. Many bus companies run direct services to Akçakoca.
From Istanbul
223 kmAbout 2.5–3 hours from Kadıköy. Take the TEM or D100 to the Düzce exit, then 37 km north. You can also come along the coast road (D010) via Karasu.
From Ankara
273 kmAbout 3 hours from Kızılay. Take the Anatolian Motorway (TEM) to the Düzce exit, then 37 km north.
From Düzce
37 kmAbout 35 minutes. From Düzce you head north and descend to Akçakoca on a forested mountain road.
By car
- From Istanbul and Ankara: take the TEM (Anatolian Motorway) or the D100 to the Düzce exit, then follow the Akçakoca signs north for about 37 km. This is a forested mountain road; drive carefully in winter and in fog.
- Coast road (D010): you can come along the coast from Karasu (Sakarya) in the west or Karadeniz Ereğli (Zonguldak) in the east. Akçakoca is about 41 km from both Karasu and Ereğli.
- On summer weekends the town's population doubles or triples; roads are busy on Friday and Sunday evenings.
By bus
Many bus companies run direct services to Akçakoca from Istanbul, Ankara and other cities; buses arrive at Akçakoca bus station. In Istanbul, intercity buses leave from the Great Istanbul Bus Station in Esenler, and some services also pick up passengers on the Asian side; check where to board on your ticket. From Ankara, services leave from AŞTİ.
Tickets: buy them at the company desks in the bus station, on the bus companies' websites and apps, or on bus-ticket websites. Tickets sell out early on summer weekends and public holidays; buy ahead.
If you can't find a direct service, come to Düzce and take a local bus from Düzce bus station to Akçakoca (about 37 km). We don't list times here because timetables change often.
Is there a train?
No, there is no passenger train to Akçakoca or Düzce. If you want to come by train, the nearest high-speed train stations are in Sakarya (Arifiye) and Bilecik; from there you need to continue by bus or car.
Where is Akçakoca bus station?
Akçakoca Intercity Bus Terminal (otogar) is east of the centre, towards Ayazlı–Döngelli.
Get directions to the bus station
By air
There is no airport in Düzce. If you are coming from abroad or from a distant city, you fly into one of the big airports and continue by rental car or bus. All the airports have car rental offices.
| Airport | Road distance to Akçakoca | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Zonguldak Airport (Çaycuma, ONQ) | 142 km | ~2 h |
| Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) | 202 km | ~2 h 30 min |
| Istanbul Airport (IST) | 267 km | ~3 h 25 min |
| Ankara Esenboğa (ESB) | 291 km | ~3 h 20 min |
- Sabiha Gökçen is the closest of the big airports to Akçakoca; as it is on the Asian side, you don't need to cross the Bosphorus.
- If you land at Istanbul Airport and want to come by bus, you first need to get to an intercity bus terminal; if you rent a car, the journey takes about 3.5 hours.
- Zonguldak Airport is the nearest airport, but flights are limited and change with the season; check with the airlines.
Distances and times were calculated with OpenStreetMap data (OSRM); they vary with traffic and road conditions.
Getting around Akçakoca
In summer, municipal buses run frequently on the Ayazlı, Değirmenağzı and Genoese Castle routes. The mosque, harbour, shopping street and historic quarter in the centre are within walking distance of each other. There is little or no public transport to the villages, waterfalls and canyon; for these you need a car or taxi.
Distance table
| From Akçakoca centre | By road | Time (by car) |
|---|---|---|
| Genoese Castle | 3,0 km | ~5 min |
| Edilli | 5,3 km | ~7 min |
| Arabacı village | 6,9 km | ~10 min |
| Fakıllı Cave | 7,5 km | ~11 min |
| Çayağzı village | 10,9 km | ~13 min |
| Akkaya village | 13,2 km | ~15 min |
| Kurugöl | 13,4 km | ~20 min |
| Aktaş Waterfall | 13,8 km | ~22 min |
| Hemşin village | 14,3 km | ~18 min |
| Melenağzı | 15,8 km | ~19 min |
| Uğurlu village | 18,3 km | ~23 min |
| Konuralp (Prusias) | 29,7 km | ~25 min |
| Düzce city centre | 36,9 km | ~33 min |
| Karasu | 40,8 km | ~38 min |
| Karadeniz Ereğli | 41,3 km | ~37 min |
| Lake Efteni | 54,2 km | ~58 min |
| Samandere Waterfall | 61,8 km | ~1 h 10 min |
| Güzeldere Waterfall | 65,3 km | ~1 h 15 min |
| Istanbul (Kadıköy) | 222,6 km | ~2 h 37 min |
| Ankara (Kızılay) | 272,8 km | ~3 h 6 min |
Distances and times were calculated with OpenStreetMap data (OSRM); they may vary with traffic and road conditions. On village roads the actual time may be longer.
Important phone numbers
| Emergency (ambulance, police, gendarmerie, fire) | 112 · All emergency numbers |
|---|---|
| Akçakoca Tourist Information Office | 0380 611 40 60 |
| Akçakoca Municipality | 0380 611 41 10 · WhatsApp 0533 014 60 81 |
| Düzce Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism | 0380 524 94 33 |
| Akçakoca office of the Chamber of Pharmacists | 0380 611 45 71 · Today's pharmacy on duty |
| Akçakoca State Hospital | Cumhuriyet neighbourhood · Get directions |
Before you come
Frequently asked questions
How far is Akçakoca from Istanbul?
By road it is about 223 km from Kadıköy to Akçakoca; the journey takes 2.5–3 hours.
How far is Akçakoca from Ankara?
By road it is about 273 km from Kızılay to Akçakoca; the journey takes about 3 hours.
How far is Akçakoca from Düzce?
It is about 37 km from Düzce city centre to Akçakoca; about 35 minutes by car.
How do you get to Akçakoca by bus?
Many bus companies run direct services to Akçakoca bus station from Istanbul, Ankara and other cities. Tickets are sold at the bus-station desks, on the companies' websites or on ticket-booking sites. If there is no direct service, come to Düzce and take a local bus to Akçakoca.
Is there a train to Akçakoca?
No, there is no passenger train to Akçakoca or Düzce. You come by your own car, a rental car or by bus.
Where is Akçakoca bus station?
Akçakoca Intercity Bus Terminal is east of the centre, towards Ayazlı–Döngelli. You can get directions with the button on the Getting there page.
How far is Akçakoca from Karasu and from Ereğli?
Along the coast road (D010) it is about 41 km from Akçakoca to Karasu and about 41 km to Karadeniz Ereğli; both take about 40 minutes by car.
Which airport is closest to Akçakoca?
There is no airport in Düzce. The nearest is Zonguldak Airport (Çaycuma), about 142 km away, but flights are limited. Of the big airports, the nearest is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, about 202 km away.