Kandıra is a municipality and district of Kocaeli Province, Turkey. Its area is 840 km, and its population is 52,874 (2022). Its neighbours are Kaynarca to the east, Adapazarı to the southeast, İzmit to the south and Şile to the west.

Of the area of Kandıra, almost 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while almost 40% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4% is settled (buildings or roads and the remainder)

Kandıra is first mentioned as Kéndri or Kándora. The state hospital of Kandıra was founded in 1949.

Tourists discovered Kerpe when it was a small fishing port. It boasts a calm sea and sandy beaches, and is close to urban centers such as Istanbul, İzmit, and Adapazarı.

Kefken is 20 km away from Kandıra, and 8 km away from Kerpe. Kefken is the most advanced town among the coastal settlements of the district. Sea, beach and pine forests are the most important features. Kefken harbor is a typical fishing town. In the summertime the town gets 3 times crowded. 2 hours more or less, or 150 km away from Istanbul on the Black Sea coast, is this fairly secluded, quiet, and relatively unspoilt part of the region. The sea is suitable for swimming and there are unspoilt bays for picnics. Kefken Island is one of the few islands on the Turkish Black Sea coast. The island is at a close distance to the shores of Cebeci village. Genoese era fortress walls and water wells are worth to mention as the historical heritage of the island.

There are 96 neighbourhoods in Kandıra District:

• District governor's official website (in Turkish)
• District municipality's official website (in Turkish)
• Kandira Hotel Guide
• "Tourism Potentials of Kandıra" (in Turkish). Governorship of Kandıra, Kocaeli. 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.