Trabzon and the Black Sea north

Trabzon is the largest city on the eastern Black Sea coast and the gateway to the Turkish north, where Gulf travellers escape the summer heat for green meadows, forests and mountain mist. In summer it is served by direct flights from the Kingdom.

In the city, Boztepe hill looks over the harbour and the sea, and you will find the 13th-century Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Atatürk Pavilion in its gardens. About 46 km to the south, Sumela Monastery stands inside a cliff some 1,200 m up above the Altındere valley.

From Trabzon, day trips lead to Uzungöl lake, about 95 km away, and to the Ayder plateau in neighbouring Rize, among the Kaçkar Mountains, past tea gardens on the slopes. Close to the city lie Sera lake and Akçaabat, known for its meatballs.

The north is best from June to September. We recommend a private car with an Arabic-speaking driver: the mountain roads call for experience, and the drives between stops take one to three hours.