Every corner of our country is famous for hosting various natural beauty spots and historical structures. Kocaeli, both in terms of cultural tourism and nature tourism, holds an important place. Darıca Zoo is also located within this city. Since Kocaeli is located near our city of Istanbul, it frequently receives visitors from this region. You can buy a plane ticket or a bus ticket to visit Darıca Zoo, one of the city's prominent tourist attractions. Additionally, it is easily accessible by private vehicle. This area is particularly visited more frequently during the spring and summer seasons. As the name suggests, Darıca Zoo is home to many animal species. Especially when schools are on summer break, families with children flock to this area.
Moreover, it is also one of the preferred spots for school trips. Besides being a zoo, it is also known as a botanical garden where you can encounter more than five hundred plant species. So, when you come here, you can see various animal species up close and discover different plant species. In addition to summer holidays, Darıca Zoo, known as Faruk Yalçın Zoo, is also a popular spot for day trips on weekends. Various activities, such as workshops for children, are also organized here. In the continuation of our article, we will talk about how to get to this zoo, the entrance fees, and the visiting days. So, without further ado, let's start introducing Darıca Zoo.
Where is Darıca Zoo?
As you can tell from its name, Darıca Zoo is located in the Darıca district of Kocaeli province. Darıca district is one of the most frequently visited tourist spots in Kocaeli. Besides being a zoo, this area holds great cultural significance as it has hosted many different civilizations in the past. Darıca stands out not only for its zoo but also for its status as a holiday village, making it a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists, especially during the summer. It is a preferred spot for day trips as well as for extended summer vacations.
When is Darıca Zoo Open?
Founded in 1991, Darıca Zoo opened to the public in 1993. It is an important place that hosts animals whose species are becoming extinct. When you visit, you can see a wide variety of animals, including rhinos, giraffes, penguins, crocodiles, kangaroos, zebras, tigers, lions, and birds. Darıca Zoo is open every day, regardless of weekdays or weekends. It opens its doors at 10:00 AM and closes at 7:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends.
How to Get to Darıca Zoo?
Located in the Darıca district of Kocaeli, Darıca Zoo is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. Every year, it attracts a large number of tourists. Additionally, this area, which has become a focal point for children, hosts a variety of animal species and a botanical garden with over 8,000 plant species. To visit this place, you first need to reach Darıca district. If you have a private vehicle, you can get here in a short time. Those without a private vehicle can reach Darıca Zoo by taking a bus or flying.
Moreover, those coming from the İzmit region can also choose the ferries that run between Darıca and İzmit. Visitors planning to come from Istanbul's Gebze area can take the commuter train that runs regularly between Gebze and Halkalı and reach Darıca district by rail. For those coming from more distant areas, the first option is undoubtedly air travel. The best option for this is Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which serves our city of Istanbul. You can check the airlines that have flights to this airport from your location and choose the one that fits your budget best to purchase a plane ticket. The airport is located approximately 28 kilometers from Darıca district. Once you arrive at the airport, you can take a taxi directly or use public transportation.
Another option for reaching Darıca Zoo is the intercity bus line. For this, you first need to get to the İzmit Bus Terminal. You can look for companies that have bus services to this terminal from your location and choose the one that suits you best to purchase a bus ticket. After arriving at the bus terminal, you can use other public transportation options, such as buses, to get to Darıca. With so many different transportation options to reach Darıca Zoo, you can easily find the one that suits you best.
For those coming with a private vehicle, here's some additional information: Darıca Zoo has a parking lot available. The parking fee is 100 TL.
How much is Darıca Zoo Entrance Fee?
There is an entrance fee for Darıca Zoo. You can purchase tickets at the ticket booths at the entrance or online before your visit. There are periodic discounts on ticket prices. Currently, the ticket price for adults is 595 TL. For children aged 12 and over and students, the entrance fee is 395 TL. For individuals over 65 years old, the ticket price is 385 TL. For disabled individuals, the ticket price is discounted to 115 TL. Admission is free for babies and children aged 0 to 11. Visitors planning to come here to see endangered animals and visit the botanical garden can easily reach the zoo by purchasing a plane ticket or a bus ticket.
