National park · Türkiye (Turkey)

Kızılırmak Delta Bird ReserveKızılırmak Deltası Kuş Cenneti

Go as a half-day from Samsun with your own car: enter at the south gate, ride the shuttle or buggy to the north gate, and walk the beach; skip it if you have no vehicle and no taxi budget.

Not field-verifiedRamsar wetland 1998Checked Sep 2026

Map to the park

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

217 km²84 sq mi

approximate

Established

1998

Best months

Apr–May, Sep–Oct

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 5

Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Check whether your passport is visa-exempt; if it is not, apply only at evisa.gov.tr — lookalike sites charge extra and some sell nothing.
Türkiye (Turkey) ↗At mosques cover shoulders and knees, take shoes off at the door, and women carry a headscarf; stay out during prayer times.
Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Taxis must run the taximeter; refuse flat quotes, or book through BiTaksi or Uber so the ride is logged.
Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Carry lira in small notes for tea, markets, tips and toilets; prices move with inflation, so treat every printed price as dated.
Türkiye (Turkey) ↗Do not take stones, coins or tiles from ancient sites, and export no antiques without a museum certificate; travellers have been detained at airport customs.

At a glance

Country: Türkiye (Turkey)
Area: 217 km²84 sq mi; The protected eastern third of a delta about 30 km wide; boundary figures vary by source (check).
Established: 1998
Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Permits: Not needed
Base: Samsun

The Kızılırmak Delta is where Turkey's longest wholly inland river meets the Black Sea, building a 30 km-wide plain of marsh, lagoon, woodland and rice field. Its eastern third is a protected wetland and a Ramsar site, and it is one of the country's main resting and feeding stops for birds crossing the Black Sea. It is not a fenced showpiece: the road between the two gates is closed to private cars, most of the delta is farmed, and you need a vehicle or a taxi to reach either entrance. Treat it as a quiet half-day of bird towers, buffalo, storks and empty beach rather than a full national-park circuit.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

Ramsar wetland · 1998Listed as a wetland of international importance.

Size and age

217 km²84 sq mi · national park since 1998

The protected eastern third of a delta about 30 km wide; boundary figures vary by source (check).

This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Samsun.

Why go

A Ramsar wetland on the Black Sea flyway: spring and autumn bring passage migrants through in numbers.
Water buffalo, feral horses and storks nesting on pylons, all visible from the park road.
Kilometres of empty east-facing beach with no development and no lifeguards.
An easy half-day from Samsun, with a visitor centre and a shuttle between the two gates.

When to go

12-month verdict

JanAvoid
FebCaution
MarGo
AprBest
MayBest
JunGo
JulCaution
AugCaution
SepBest
OctBest
NovGo
DecCaution

JanCold, windy, wet; few birds and no shelter
FebStill raw; early waterfowl
MarStorks return; nesting starts
AprSpring passage; green and mild
MayPeak breeding activity; warm
JunHot, little shade; chicks and buffalo in the marsh
JulHeat; water levels drop
AugHottest, driest; quiet
SepAutumn passage begins; storks gather
OctMigrants moving through; mild
NovWinter waterfowl arrive; cooler
DecWind and rain; short days

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year

Wildlife and nature calendar for Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve
What	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Spring passage migrantsMar–May · The delta is a rest and feeding stop for birds crossing the Black Sea.	no	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Autumn passage and gathering storksSep–Nov	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes	yes	no
Wintering waterfowlNov–Feb	yes	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes
Water buffalo in the marshAll year · Kept for rice tillage and milk; they churn the wetland and keep it wet. A firm 'hoşt' usually moves them on.	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Feral horses and a few dromedary camelsAll year · Camels were imported for freight and abandoned after mechanisation.	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Samsun

Drive or taxi west on the D-010 to 19 Mayıs, then north through Yörükler to the south gate; or to Bafra for the north gate.

50–70 min

Open the page →

From 19 Mayıs

Turn off the coastal highway and follow İsmet İnönü Cd north; 15 km of sealed road to the south gate, with cattle on it.Turn off the coastal highway and follow İsmet İnönü Cd north; 9.3 mi of sealed road to the south gate, with cattle on it.

25–35 min

From Bafra

Narrow but good road, Turgut Özal Blv, to the north gate; pause at the stork viewing tower in nesting season.

25–35 min

From Samsun by bus

Council tours (G2) run to the south gate but are rare and need booking; frequent buses and dolmuş go to Bafra, still 20 km out.Council tours (G2) run to the south gate but are rare and need booking; frequent buses and dolmuş go to Bafra, still 12 mi out.

1–1.5 h

Zones and sectors

Zones of Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve
Zone	What is there	Access
South gate and Yörükler approach	Barrier, daytime cafe, caravan parking and the start of the park road.	Open; vehicles stop here.
Park road and wetlands between the gates	12 km of sealed road across marsh and farmland, with buffalo, horses and birds alongside.7.5 mi of sealed road across marsh and farmland, with buffalo, horses and birds alongside.	Shuttle, buggy or rental bike only.
North gate and visitor centre	Main visitor centre, bird towers, gift shop and the Tent Cafe.	Open; car parking only.
Beach and Balık Gölü lagoon	The Black Sea shore and a quiet lagoon reached by dirt track from the south gate.	Open on foot or by bike; no swimming.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation

Approximate positions for the two gates and the main approach towns, for orientation only.

1South gate · Gate≈41.595, 36.113Nearest gate to Samsun, off the D-010 at 19 Mayıs.Map ↗
2North gate and visitor centre · Headquarters≈41.670, 36.034Approached from Bafra; car parking only.Map ↗
319 Mayıs turn-off · Town≈41.610, 36.090Approximate; the coastal highway junction for the south gate.Map ↗
4Bafra · Town≈41.568, 35.907Approximate; the base for the north gate.Map ↗
5Balık Gölü jetty · Viewpoint≈41.610, 36.080Approximate; lagoon reached by dirt track from the south gate.Map ↗
6Beach access from the park road · Beach≈41.660, 36.060Approximate; 3 km from the north gate, with a shuttle stop.Approximate; 1.9 mi from the north gate, with a shuttle stop.Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

ViewpointsEasy1–2 hBird towers at the north gateTowers stand at and near the north gate and look over the marsh; steps make them unsuitable for restricted mobility.

WildlifeEasy1–2 hPark road by shuttle or electric buggyThe buggy tour leaves hourly; the shuttle covers the 12 km between the gates. Both are the only way to cross without your own bike.

BeachesEasy2–3 hBeach walkReached by a road east from Yörükler, a short sandy track from the south gate, or 3 km along the park road from the north gate where the shuttle stops.

ViewpointsEasy1 hBalık Gölü lagoon at sunsetA dirt track opposite the beach track from the south gate leads to the jetty on the lagoon.

WildlifeEasy30 minStork nesting on the pylonsThe large nests sit on electricity pylons; birds arrive in spring and most leave in autumn.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

TRY ranges · check

Fees for Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve
Item	Range	Per	Note
Park entry	Free	person	No published entry fee; gates and the visitor centre are free to enter (check).
Electric buggy tour between the gates	Free	person	Hourly departures; price set locally and not published (check).
Shuttle bus, south gate to north gate	Free	person	Runs the 12 km park road; fare not published (check).
Bike or trike rental at a gate	Free	day	Available but in poor repair; price not published (check).
Taxi from 19 Mayıs or Bafra to a gate	Free	car	Metered or agreed; over a dozen operators work the park (check).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

Park entry no permit

Drive to either gate; no ticket is issued at the barrier (check).

Private vehicle on the park road no permit

Not allowed. Cars stop at the gate you arrive at; continue by shuttle, buggy or rental bike.

Motorhome or caravan at the north gate no permit

Turned back; large vehicles must approach via the south gate, where overnight parking is allowed.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more

Private vehicles on the park road: Cars stop at the gate where they arrive; the 12 km between gates is for the shuttle, buggy tours and rental bikes.Cars stop at the gate where they arrive; the 7.5 mi between gates is for the shuttle, buggy tours and rental bikes.
Rental bikes: Must stay on the tarmac road. Your own bicycle may use the flat tracks outside the gates.
Motorhomes and caravans: Refused at the north gate; approach via the south gate, where overnight parking is allowed.
Swimming: Do not swim from the delta beaches: no lifeguards and almost nobody around. Swim at Atakum in Samsun instead.
Camping: No camping inside the park.
Dogs and livestock: Be wary of dogs when approaching farms or flocks of sheep outside the gates.

Where to stay

Near the park

Samsun

The usual base; plenty of hotels and the easiest transport, about 50 km east.The usual base; plenty of hotels and the easiest transport, about 31 mi east.

Near the park

Bafra

Large town closest to the north gate, but with few tourist facilities.

In the park

South gate caravan parking

Caravans and motorhomes may park overnight at the south gate.

In the park

Kızılırmak Deltası bungalows

Bungalows and an open-air restaurant at the south gate; expected to open end-May 2026 with prices undecided (check). Summer daily except Mondays; autumn Saturdays only; restaurant closes at dusk and no outside lighting is allowed.

Safety

Heat and no shade medium

Summers are hot and the delta is open; carry water, a hat and sun protection, and walk the beach early or late.

Swimming from the beach high

Don't. There are no lifeguards and very few people on the shore; use Atakum beach in Samsun.

Winter wind and cold medium

The Black Sea climate makes winters breezy and very chilly; layer up and expect rain.

Dogs near farms low

Keep clear of farm entrances and sheep flocks when cycling the tracks outside the gates.

Accessibility

The visitor centre at the north gate and the park road are reachable by vehicle, with short walks from the car park.
The bird-watching towers are not suitable for anyone with restricted mobility.
The beach and lagoon tracks are sand and dirt; not usable with a wheelchair.

Visiting lightly

The wetland is squeezed between farm drainage that dries it and upstream river management that cuts the silt supply; keep to the road and don't add to the pressure.
Buy buffalo cheese at the visitor centre gift shop so the herds that maintain the marsh stay worth keeping.
Use the shuttle or buggy rather than pushing for car access on the park road.
Take binoculars and identification apps instead of approaching nests or disturbing birds for a photo.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve?

No entry fee is published for the reserve, and the gates and visitor centre are free to enter (check). The costs that do bite are transport: the shuttle bus, the hourly electric buggy tour and bike rental inside the park, plus a taxi if you arrive without a car. None of those fares are published, so agree the price before you set off.

What are the best hikes in Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve?

There are no marked long trails. The walks that matter are the bird-tower loop at the north gate, the beach walk (reached by a road east from Yörükler, a sandy track from the south gate, or 3 km along the park road from the north gate), and the dirt track from the south gate to the Balık Gölü lagoon jetty. Rental bikes must stay on the tarmac park road; your own bike can use the flat tracks outside the gates.

When is the best time to visit Kızılırmak Delta Bird Reserve?

April, May, September and October: spring and autumn passage brings migrants through, the weather is mild and the storks are present. March and November are good second choices. July and August are hot with almost no shade, and January and February are cold, windy and wet.

Do I need a car to visit the reserve?

Effectively yes. Buses to the park are rare and need booking, so most people drive or take a taxi from 19 Mayıs to the south gate or from Bafra to the north gate. The park is within cycling range for a fit rider, but the approach roads carry traffic.

Can I drive between the two gates?

No. The 12 km park road is closed to private vehicles. Leave the car at the gate you arrive at and continue by shuttle bus, hourly electric buggy tour or rental bike. Motorhomes and caravans are turned back at the north gate and must use the south gate.

Can I swim at the delta?

No. There are no lifeguards and very few people on the shore. Swim at Atakum beach in Samsun instead.

Is there anywhere to sleep inside the park?

Caravans and motorhomes may park overnight at the south gate, and bungalows with an open-air restaurant are expected at the south gate from end-May 2026 (check). There is no camping, and most visitors day-trip from Samsun.

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go