A city where history, nature and food all come together
A city on the Black Sea coast, backed by thick green mountains, where Byzantine monasteries cling to cliffs and the morning still begins with fishermen landing fresh anchovies.
Trabzon has been welcoming travellers for thousands of years and it surprises most of them. The Sumela Monastery on its cliff face, the Byzantine Hagia Sophia, the old bazaar and the waterfront all sit within reach of highland lakes and dramatic mountain roads. The city moves at its own pace, with tea gardens filling up as the boats come in.
It is not a city that tries to impress you, and that is exactly why people love it. Whether you have two days or a full week, Trabzon offers a proper Black Sea experience: anchovies and cornbread, real history, and some of the most dramatic green landscapes in Turkiye. The mountains heading south towards Uzungol and Sumela are the reason most people stay longer than planned.
Eight places worth your time. Tap a photograph, the map will follow.
One of the most impressive sights in Turkiye. This Greek Orthodox monastery was built into a vertical cliff face in the Altindere Valley back in the 4th century. The frescoes inside have survived centuries of history. Go early in the morning for the best light and fewer crowds.
Built in 1890, this elegant mansion sits in a quiet park above the city with views over the Black Sea. It was used by Ataturk during his visits to Trabzon and is now preserved as a museum. The rooms are kept exactly as they were.
Originally built as a Byzantine church in the 13th century, this beautiful stone building holds remarkable frescoes and stonework. It is located close to the sea and easy to reach on foot from the city centre.
One of the most accessible of the high pastures above Trabzon, about an hour and a half inland at around 1,800 metres. Wooden highland houses scattered across open green meadows, grazing cattle, and views over the cloud line on a clear day. The yayla comes alive in summer with festivals and the smell of woodsmoke, and the drive up through the forest is half the reward.
About 99 km from the city centre, Uzungol is a beautiful mountain lake surrounded by green hills and wooden houses. It is especially popular in autumn when the forests turn orange and gold. There are restaurants and guesthouses right on the lakeside.
A long karst cave in the Duzkoy district about an hour from the centre, often cited as one of the longest in Turkey. A lit walkway runs deep into the mountain past underground streams, dripping galleries and strange rock formations, with the air cool and humid year round. A good rainy-day alternative and an easy stop on the way to the highland pastures.
A tall waterfall in the green hills inland from Trabzon, tumbling down a mossy rock face into a cold pool surrounded by forest. There are tea houses and trout restaurants set up around the falls, and the cool spray makes it a popular escape on a hot summer day. An easy nature stop to combine with the highland villages nearby.
A green highland district southwest of Trabzon, the gateway to the Cal Cave and a string of yaylas and forest plateaus. Cool summers, walking trails through pine and fir, and small village lokantas serving the local cheese and butter. A quiet, scenic base away from the coast for anyone who wants to slow down in the mountains.
Trabzon has one of the most distinctive food cultures in Turkiye. The Black Sea region has its own ingredients and recipes that you will not find elsewhere. From the famous Akcaabat kofte to a proper Black Sea breakfast with kuymak and local cheese, eating well here is easy and affordable.
The Akcaabat kofte houses, the Black Sea fish tables, and the highland stops for kuymak and Hamsikoy rice pudding
A tiny shop in Akcaabat that does one thing perfectly: Akcaabat kofte, hand-chopped beef grilled over charcoal, served with finely chopped piyaz beans, fermented ayran and good bread. Family-run and friendly, often with a plate of hazelnut baklava on the house. The local benchmark for the dish.
A small, no-frills tradesmen's restaurant in the centre of Akcaabat, widely regarded as the most authentic Akcaabat kofte in town, the kind still hand-chopped rather than machine-made. Kofte, piyaz beans, fermented ayran and good bread, in the middle of the market. Skip the big seaside places, this is the real one.
The place to eat your way through Black Sea home cooking in one sitting: karalahana soup, kuymak, hamsili pilav, kaygana and turshu kavurma, with fish and grills too. A long-running spot on the coast road with sea views and Trabzon burma dessert to finish.
A well-known fish restaurant up on Boztepe with views over the city and the sea. Black Sea anchovies in season, cornmeal-fried fish, seafood soup and a generous spread of warm and cold mezes brought to the table. Worth the short trip out of the centre.
One of the oldest restaurants in Trabzon, near the Tophane mosque, known for one thing done perfectly: rice cooked in meat broth with butter, served with white beans and tender meat. A short, traditional menu in an old room full of history. A proper old-school Trabzon lunch.
A famous pide house out in Sürmene, east of the city, named after the owner's nickname. Black Sea pide with a thicker, firmer crust, filled with the local kolot cheese, mince or kavurma. The pide takes time to bake, so it is worth the wait and the drive along the coast.
High in the mountains at Hamsikoy on the road to Sumela, the classic stop for the village's famous rice pudding, made with highland milk and lightly browned on top. Mountain views over the valley and simple grills if you want a meal. The natural break on the drive south.
A Trabzon institution on Uzun Sokak since 1953, famous for its dense slab helva sold by weight, plus ice cream and sweets. The traditional thing here is helva after a fish meal. Cut to order, so check the weight before they wrap it.
The 45 km drive south from Trabzon into the Altindere National Park brings you to one of Turkiye's most breathtaking sites. The monastery is a 20-minute walk from the car park through a forest path. Entry tickets are purchased at the gate and the site is open daily (summer 08:00-19:00, winter shorter hours); Museum Card holders enter free.
Boztepe hill sits just above the city at around 250 metres and offers one of the best panoramic views of Trabzon and the Black Sea. It's only a 5 minute drive or dolmuş from Meydan Park; the bus line 141 also serves it. Walking up via the Kızlar Manastırı path is possible but steep. At the top there are open-air çardaks, tea houses and small restaurants on terraces overlooking the city.
The 99 km drive from Trabzon to Uzungol passes through mountain villages and lush forest. The lake is at 1,090 metres elevation and surrounded by wooden guesthouses and restaurants. Hiking trails around the lake range from easy walks to longer routes into the surrounding hills.
The compact old city is easy to explore on foot in half a day. The route covers the Hagia Sophia mosque and museum, the Byzantine castle walls, the covered bedesten bazaar and the waterfront fish market. Start early to catch the morning activity at the port.
The Kackar range, accessible from Trabzon in about two hours, offers trails for all levels. The Altindere Valley trail is the most popular starting point. For serious hikers, multi-day routes cross high passes above 3,000 metres during July and August when snow cover clears.
The D010 coastal road heading east from Trabzon toward Rize is a beautiful and easy drive. Tea gardens line the hillsides, the Black Sea runs alongside and you can stop at roadside tea houses along the way. The drive to Rize city centre takes about an hour and a half.
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