The Top Places to Visit Around Trabzon, Turkey

The center of two major empires in history, the Ottomans and Byzantines, Turkey has an incredible history that has helped shape this highly unique nation. As distinctive as the country's vibrant history, Turkey has a wealth of incredible tourist destinations spread throughout the whole country. One of these beautiful areas is the underrated region around Trabzon along Turkey's coast of the Black Sea. Trabzon is shrouded in historic significance and surrounded by incredible mountain scenery that most don't associate with Turkey.

Here are some of the most incredible places and things to do in Trabzon, Turkey.

Trabzon Castle and Walls

The city itself of Trabzon is a fascinating destination in itself, once an important stop on the historical silk road as travelers journeyed between Europe and Asia. Once the capital of the Empire of Trebizond, the city is full of historical places to see but none more impressive than Trabzon Castle or the Walls of Trabzon that enclose the old town of the city.

Uzungöl

This stunning lakeside town is set in the midst of a mountain valley with beautiful views of the mountains beyond. Similar to somewhere in the midst of the Swiss Alps, Uzungöl has clear Turkish characteristics with mosques and Turkish buildings dotted around the town. It's also much less popular than similar places in Switzerland, offering incredible scenery and hiking trails without the crowds you'll find at European destinations.

There are buses that leave from Trabzon to Uzungöl, mainly stopping on the way in Çaykara.

Sumela Monastery

One of the most incredible historic sites outside of Istanbul, Sumela Monastery is said to date back as far as the 4th century. Built on a small ledge on the side of a steep cliff-face, the sight of the monastery is impressive with mountains towering in the background.

Getting to the Sumela Monastery from Trabzon

You'll find a number of travel agencies in Trabzon offering tours to Sumela from the city, often including lunch. Tours are fairly cheap and are offered by a number of different companies. If you're going by car it's a fairly easy drive mainly along the E97 and then turning onto the Maçka Yolu from the nearby town of Maçka. You can also take a public bus from Trabzon to Maçka and then a taxi from Maçka to Sumela, although this will more expensive and more of a hassle than joining a tour.

Pokut Highland

Further to the east of Trabzon near the city of Rize, Pokut Highland is one of many beautiful highland scenic spots in the area but one of the most famous.

A popular spot for Instagram photographers, there are a number of places in the small village of Pokut YaylasI that offer a full Turkish breakfast as a kind of picnic spread outside, with incredible views out towards the mountains.

Trabzon Hagia Sophia

Trabzon also has its own Hagia Sophia, like the famous structure of Istanbul, it was first built as a church and later repurposed as a mosque. While the Hagia Sophia in Trabzon might be less grand and impressive than in Istanbul, it's a fantastic example of Byzantine architecture and the inside is beautiful.

How to Get to Trabzon and the Surrounding Region

Trabzon is fairly well connected with the rest of Turkey, the easiest way to get there is to fly into Trabzon Airport (TZX) from major airports such as Istanbul or Izmir.

Search

Customer Support

The Top Places to Visit Around Trabzon, Turkey