Destination guide • Trabzon
Tourism in Trabzon (also spelled Trebizond) means mist over green forests, open plateaus, mountain lakes, and a glass of tea on a balcony overlooking the Black Sea. This is your guide to its best places and the best way to plan your trip.
Why Trabzon?
Trabzon is a coastal city in northeastern Turkey on the Black Sea, and the main gateway to what Gulf visitors call "Turkey's north." It is surrounded by forested mountains that get rain for most of the year, so it stays green even in midsummer, and its weather remains mild in July and August when temperatures climb in the Gulf. That is why it sees a growing number of visitors, with direct flights from several Gulf cities in the summer season, on schedules that change every year.
Trabzon's real strength is its surroundings: Lake Uzungöl, about 100 km away, Ayder Plateau in Rize, Sümela Monastery hanging on a cliff face inside Altındere National Park, and Haydarnabi Plateau and Lake Sera, both close to the city. That is why itineraries are usually built around day trips by car from your hotel, or around moving between several overnight stops. On the way to these places you pass terraced tea plantations, shops selling honey and knives, and wooden villages scattered over the slopes.
In the city itself you will find the historic Hagia Sophia Mosque overlooking the sea, Atatürk Palace among the pine trees, Boztepe Hill with its cafés and wide views, and Meydan Square and Uzun Sokak for shopping. Don't miss Akçaabat köfte, hamsi (anchovy) fish and the muhlama dish of melted cheese, with a glass of the region's famous tea. The city also has modern shopping centers and local markets for regional products, which makes it a comfortable base for longer stays.
The mountain roads in the north are winding and the distances between plateaus are fairly long, so most visitors prefer a private car with an English-speaking driver who knows the roads and the changeable weather. We arrange this as part of the 7-day Trabzon and Uzungöl itinerary or the 10-day Black Sea tour, with hotels, villas or wooden cabins as you prefer. If you are coming from Istanbul, you can combine the two cities in the 10-day Istanbul and Trabzon itinerary, with a domestic flight between them.
Top sights
A carefully chosen list of what is worth your time in Trabzon, with smart visit planning inside our itineraries.
A historic monastery carved into a towering cliff above the Altındere Valley, about 45 km south of the city. Reaching it takes a short uphill walk, and the view of the valley alone is worth the trip.
Built in the 13th century, it now stands as a mosque on a green hill overlooking the Black Sea, surrounded by a quiet garden that is perfect for a rest.
An elegant white palace among the pine trees on the city's heights, dating from the late Ottoman period. Atatürk stayed here during his visit to the city, and its gardens are a lovely place for photos.
The highest viewpoint over the city and the port, with cafés and traditional tea gardens. The best time to visit is just before sunset.
Trabzon's commercial heart: clothing shops, sweets, nuts, honey and casual restaurants, and a pleasant area for an evening walk.
A quiet lake west of the city, about 15 km away, surrounded by trees, cafés and restaurants, and ideal for a short family outing.
One of the best-known places in Turkey's Black Sea region: a mountain lake surrounded by forests and wooden cabins, with the famous mosque on its shore. Details in the Uzungöl tourism guide.
A plateau in Rize province at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, with the Gelin Tülü waterfall, wooden houses and hot springs, about 170 km from Trabzon.
A green plateau about an hour from the city, known for views above the clouds in the early morning and rustic grill restaurants.
A mountain road through the forests that passes Hamsiköy, famous for sütlaç (rice pudding) cooked with the region's milk, and is often combined with a visit to Sümela Monastery.
Two caves with striking limestone formations: Çal, close to the city in the Düzköy area, and Karaca, in Gümüşhane province beyond the Zigana Pass. Good for children and for rainy days.
Rize is the capital of Turkish tea, and its terraced plantations on the slopes are an unforgettable sight. The Fırtına Valley has old stone bridges and river rafting in summer.
Ready-made programs
Day-by-day programs that can be fully adjusted to your number of days and budget.
A week in Turkey's Black Sea region: two nights on Lake Uzungöl, a night in Ayder among the mountains, Sümela Monastery and the city of Trabzon, with an English-speaking driver.
Ten days between the Black Sea coast and its plateaus: Trabzon, Uzungöl, Sultan Murat, Ayder and Rize, Sümela Monastery and Karaca Cave, at a relaxed pace.
Combines two of the most popular destinations in Turkey: Istanbul's landmarks and the Bosphorus, then Trabzon, Lake Uzungöl, Ayder and Sümela Monastery, with domestic flights.
Two weeks to see all of Turkey: Istanbul, the cave hotels of Cappadocia, the historic Konya road, Antalya's beaches, then Trabzon and Uzungöl.
Day Trips
Where to stay?
Trabzon hotels: areas and options
We can also arrange airport pickup and a private English-speaking driver for you.
OYA tips
Design your trip
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Questions & answers
About 1,070 km by road, around 13–14 hours by car, so most travelers prefer a domestic flight of about two hours from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen to Trabzon Airport (TZX).
From May to September, when the plateaus are green and the roads to them are open. July and August are the peak. Winter is beautiful for snow lovers, but some mountain roads and high plateaus may close temporarily.
5 days are enough for the city, Uzungöl and Sümela. 7 days add Ayder and Haydarnabi at a relaxed pace, and 10 days allow a full tour of the Black Sea region. See our 7-day Trabzon and Uzungöl itinerary.
It is best to combine both: one or two nights in Uzungöl to enjoy the lake in the morning and evening, and the remaining nights in Trabzon, where you have services, restaurants and easy access to the other tours.
Food and transport are mostly cheaper than in central Istanbul, but prices for villas and cabins rise in July and August at peak demand. Booking early, or traveling in May, June and September, gives you better options.
We strongly recommend one. The plateaus and lakes are far apart and there is no convenient public transport to them. We provide a private car with an English-speaking driver for the whole itinerary.
Yes. The coastal city is relatively mild, while Uzungöl and the plateaus are covered in snow. Some high roads do close at times, so we choose tours day by day according to the weather.
From the OYA guide
A practical guide to Turkey's Black Sea region: how to reach Trabzon, when to visit Uzungöl, where to stay, and the best places from Ayder to Sümela, with a tried-and-tested 7-day itinerary.
A balanced 10-day family itinerary in Turkey that combines city, nature and snow or lakes, with ideas for children's activities and practical tips on accommodation and getting around with little ones.
Turkey has varied climates, so what suits Istanbul may not suit Antalya or Uzungöl in the same month. A month-by-month guide helps you choose the timing and the destination together.
Discover more
City of two continents and Bosphorus magic
A lake among clouds and forests
The first Ottoman capital and the snow mountain
A lake and forests two hours away
Sun, sea and mountains on the Mediterranean
Sunrise balloons over the fairy chimneys
Aegean bays and yacht marinas
Personal service from start to finish
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