TÜRKİYE IN COLOUR · REGION GUIDE
🍃 The Black Sea in Colour
Green mountains, tea fields and a monastery on a cliff
Written by Fatih, Turkish language and literature graduate & linguist
The Black Sea coast is a different Türkiye: rain, mist, endless green, wooden houses, tea plantations and people famous for their humour and their kemençe music. The west has the best-preserved Ottoman town in the country. The east has mountain lakes and high plateaus (yayla) where summer feels like spring.
At a glance
- Best time
- June to September. It rains often, but that is why it is so green.
- How long
- 4 days for the east (Trabzon, Uzungöl, Rize, Ayder). 2–3 days for the west (Safranbolu, Amasra).
- Airports
- Trabzon (TZX) and Rize-Artvin (RZV) for the east. For the west, drive or bus from Istanbul or Ankara.
- Getting around
- A rental car is by far the best. Mountain roads are narrow but beautiful.
- Suggested route
- East: Trabzon → Sümela → Uzungöl → Rize → Ayder. West: Istanbul or Ankara → Safranbolu → Amasra.
The places
TRABZON
2 days · The capital of the eastern Black Sea
Sümela Monastery
A Greek Orthodox monastery hanging on a cliff in a misty forest valley, 45 minutes from the city. One of the most dramatic places in Türkiye. Expect a steep walk.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Hagia Sophia of Trabzon
A 13th-century Byzantine church with frescoes, now a mosque, in a garden over the sea.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Uzun Sokak
The main street for shopping, hamsi (anchovies) and Trabzon's famous butter.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
UZUNGÖL
1 day · 1.5–2 hours from Trabzon
Uzungöl lake
A mountain lake with a mosque on the shore, wooden chalets and mist on the slopes. Walk around the lake.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Viewpoint (Seyir Terası)
Walk up for the classic photo over the lake and the village.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
RIZE & AYDER
2 days · The tea country
Ziraat Tea Garden, Rize
A garden on a hill above the city where you drink fresh tea among tea bushes.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Fırtına Valley
A wild river valley with stone Ottoman bridges. Rafting in summer.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Zilkale
A medieval castle on a rock high above the valley, often in the clouds.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Ayder Plateau
A high green plateau with wooden houses, waterfalls and hot springs.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
💡 Local tip: Visit in May or June to see the tea pickers in the fields.
SAFRANBOLU
1–2 days · 3 hours from Ankara, 5 from Istanbul
Old town (Çarşı)
A UNESCO town of white and timber Ottoman mansions. Sleep in one.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Cinci Han
A huge caravanserai from 1645, now a hotel. Climb to the roof for the view.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Glass terrace at Tokatlı Canyon
A glass platform hanging over a deep canyon, 10 minutes from town.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
💡 Local tip: Buy saffron Turkish delight (safranlı lokum), the town's speciality.
AMASRA
1 day · 1.5 hours north of Safranbolu
Amasra Castle
Walls built by Byzantines and Genoese on a small peninsula over two bays.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›Kemere Bridge
A small stone bridge to the little island, with sea on both sides.
📍 Open in Google Maps ›
🍽️ What to eat and drink
- HamsiBlack Sea anchovies, fried in cornmeal. The king of the region, best in winter.
- Kuymak / muhlamaMelted cheese with cornmeal and butter, eaten from the pan with bread.
- Akçaabat köfteFamous meatballs from a town next to Trabzon.
- Laz böreğiA sweet custard pastry, a Rize and Trabzon classic.
- TeaFresh Rize tea, straight from the fields.
- Safranbolu lokumTurkish delight with saffron.
✅ Good to know
- Bring a rain jacket even in summer.
- Mountain roads are slow. Plan fewer places per day than the map suggests.
- On weekends Uzungöl and Ayder are crowded. Weekdays are calmer.
- Sümela is popular. Arrive early to avoid groups and check opening times before you go.
🗣️ Speak a little Turkish
Locals light up when you try. Tap a phrase for audio and a full lesson.
- Merhaba!mehr·hah·bahHello!Listen
- Teşekkür ederim.teh·shehk·kewr eh·deh·reemThank you.Listen
- Lütfen.lewt·fehnPlease.Listen
- Bu ne kadar?boo neh kah·dahrHow much is this?Listen
- Tuvalet nerede?too·vah·leht neh·reh·dehWhere is the toilet?Listen
- Hesap lütfen.heh·sahp lewt·fehnThe bill, please.Listen
- Burası çok güzel!boo·rah·suh chohk gew·zehlThis place is beautiful!Listen
- Afiyet olsun!ah·fee·yeht ohl·soonEnjoy your meal!Listen
▶ Video lessons
Turkish guides for your trip
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What's next
Next destination🕌 Istanbul🧭 Türkiye travel essentials
Istanbulkart, taxi apps, airport transfers, tickets, a SIM, money, 112 and the official e-Visa — plus the Turkish phrases you need.
Information checked in November 2026. Opening hours, ticket prices and visiting rules change often, so check the official site before you go.
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Photo credits
- Uzungöl, Black Sea, Türkiye — Hamdigumus, CC0
- Sümela Monastery, Black Sea, Türkiye — Hamdigumus, CC0
- Tea fields in Rize, Black Sea, Türkiye — Koliva, CC BY 3.0
