Trabzon
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Tips
9 places on the map
Free things to do
- 1
Main city square and hub of life in Trabzon
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Good evening people-watching
- Lots of cafes nearby
- Transport hub
📷 Photos
- 2
City park popular for strolling and sea views
- Tip: At night
3 tips
- Relaxed stop
- Good for evening walks
- Near the museum
📷 Photos
- 3
Hilltop tea gardens with panoramic city and sea views
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Go at sunset
- Take a taxi or dolmus
- Try local tea
📷 Photos
- 4
Ottoman mosque complex and tomb from the 16th century
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Avoid prayer times
- Short stop on the walk
📷 Photos
- 5
Former Byzantine church turned mosque in the old centre
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Short stop
- Check prayer times
📷 Photos
- 6
Old fortified quarter between two ravines
3 tips
- Wander the old lanes
- Step-heavy terrain
- Good views at the edges
📷 Photos
- 7
- 8
Market where village women sell local produce, cheese and butter.
📷 Photos
- 9
Seaside park with a walking path along the Black Sea.
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Trabzon tips
Transportation
- Ride dolmus from Meydan: Shared minibuses leave from around Meydan Park for the airport, Boztepe, Akcaabat and the coast road; pay the driver as you go.
- Use the airport shuttle routes: Trabzon Airport sits right next to the city on the coast, so dolmus and taxis reach the centre quickly and cheaply.
- Book a tour to Uzungol and Sumela: Mountain roads are steep and foggy, so day tours from the centre are an easy way to reach Uzungol lake and Sumela Monastery.
Security
- Agree taxi routes: Most Trabzon taxis use meters; ask the driver to start it, and for longer trips to the plateaus, agree the price before you leave.
- Take care on mountain roads: Routes to the yaylas and Sumela are narrow, misty and steep; if you drive, go slowly, use low gears and avoid driving after dark.
- Check conditions before hiking: Fog and rain sweep the Pontic Mountains quickly; carry a map, warm layers and tell someone your route before heading out.
Saving
- Eat at local lokantas: Small restaurants around Uzun Sokak serve hamsi, pide and Akcaabat kofte for far less than places aimed at tour groups.
- Buy tea and hazelnuts in the bazaar: The old carsi near Meydan sells Rize tea and Black Sea hazelnuts at local prices, great for gifts.
- Use dolmus instead of taxis: Minibuses along the coast road reach Akcaabat, the airport and many sights for a fraction of what a taxi would cost.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for rain any time: The Black Sea coast is green because it is wet; autumn is the rainiest season, so bring a waterproof jacket and quick-dry shoes.
- Layer for the yaylas: Even in summer, highland plateaus like Uzungol can be cool and misty, especially in the morning; bring a fleece and long trousers.
- Expect humid summers: July and August on the coast are warm and muggy; breathable cotton clothing is best, with a scarf for mosque visits.
Cultural
- Dress modestly at Hagia Sophia: Trabzon's Byzantine Hagia Sophia now functions as a mosque; cover shoulders and knees, women bring a scarf, and avoid prayer times.
- Taste Black Sea cuisine: Try kuymak, melted cheese stirred with cornmeal and butter, hamsi anchovies and Laz boregi, a flaky custard pastry.
- Accept the tea: Cay is offered everywhere, from shops to homes; accepting a small glass is polite and often the start of a friendly conversation.
Local Hacks
- Go up to Boztepe at sunset: This hill above the city has tea gardens with sweeping views over Trabzon and the Black Sea, reachable by dolmus or taxi.
- Visit the Ataturk Pavilion: The white mansion in pine woods above town has elegant gardens and period rooms, a quieter stop than the main sights.
- Time Sumela for the morning: The cliffside monastery in the Altindere Valley is busiest at midday; go early and check opening status, as restoration work can limit access.
1-day itineraries in Trabzon
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.