Duzce, Turkey

Capital City

The population of Duzce is a mere 240,633, a far cry from the bright lights of Istanbul. While the city boasts a strategic location between the capital and Turkey's largest city, the reality is a persistent bureaucratic headache - Duzce was only recently established as the 81st province in 1999, after all. The climate is also a mixed bag, with chilly, snowy winters and sweltering summers reaching up to 42.4°C.

Overall, Duzce is a functional but unremarkable provincial hub, best suited for those seeking a quieter pace of life outside the urban centers, and willing to navigate the red tape that comes with a newly-minted administrative region.